Over the last several years, the OKC Thunder have cultivated a collection of draft picks that would likely rival virtually any other throughout the history of the NBA. From valuable pick-swaps to flat-out unprotected rights, with these luxuries Oklahoma City has set themselves up for quite a lucrative future.
However, utilizing the picks on themselves isn’t the only way they may be of service to the organization, as they have the rights to package any combination of them into some sort of outbound trade that could help their agenda in the more immediate future.
Though Sam Presti and company have proven reluctant to pursue any sizable, in-season transaction over the years, the mere idea of them doing so is something that is having a significant impact on the landscape of this year’s trade season, as Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes believes such a move would “put even more distance” between themselves and the rest of the Western Conference
Thunder trading picks would have them ‘seize control’ of trade market’
Already, the Thunder find themselves once again reigning supreme within their respective conference standings. Through 37 games played Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company boast a top-seeded record of 31-6, an enviable six-win cushion between them and the second placed Houston Rockets (25-12)…