The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching and several teams are scouring the market as they look to improve their chances of making deep runs in the postseason. In this piece, we will be examining teams in need of an upgrade in one area or another and candidates to fill them. Let’s begin in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Size and Rebounding
No team has as enviable a young core as the Oklahoma City Thunder. At 25 years old, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an already MVP candidate. He may soon be joined in All-NBA contention by Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. As a result, the Thunder have a +8 net rating and have vaulted into the top four of the Western Conference perhaps a year earlier than expected.
The Thunder have a lot of versatile defenders, which has led to their early season success. However, they are a bit undersized. Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Lu Dort, and Josh Giddey are all 6-foot-6 or shorter. Holmgren is 7-foot-1, but weighs 195 pounds. The Thunder may face Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr, Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Town, and the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and LeBron James in a playoff series. Another big to help Holmgren and co. bang down low in the playoffs may be a worthwhile addition.
Now, Oklahoma City has the draft capital to become a factor for virtually any player that it desires. One player who would fill the need and give the Thunder another star is Lauri Markkanen. However, the recent surge by the Jazz may take him off the market entirely. With Gilegous-Alexander, Holmgren, and Williams en tow, the Thunder may not need another star-level player.
Another player who would give Oklahoma City a combination of size rebounding, and three-point shooting is Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. He is also capable of playing with Holmgren if head coach Mark Daignault wanted to a bigger lineup or if teams sag off Giddey in the playoffs. However, Carter Jr has battled injury this season and like Oklahoma City, Orlando is beginning its upward climb in the Eastern Conference.
Other centers that the Thunder may target include Daniel Gafford, Clint Capela, and Andre Drummond. They may be able to acquire one of them without giving up a first round.
Sacramento Kings
Defense
The Sacramento Kings ended a 14-year playoff drought last season behind one of the most exciting offenses in the NBA. Last season, the Kings led the league in offensive rating. However, their defense lagged behind, ranking and played a part in their first round exit against the Warriors.
This season, the Kings are up to 17th in defensive rating. However, during their four-game losing streak,, they have allowed 125 points per game and a 121.4 defensive rating. As a result, they have slid to the seventh seed in the stacked Western Conference. For the Kings to avoid the play-in tournament and make some noise in the playoffs, they will have to improve at the defensive end.
Now, the Kings do have one of the best perimeter defenders in the league in Davion Mitchell. However, he is shooting 36.6% from the field and 24.6% from three. His offense has been bad enough for him to fall out of Mike Brown’s rotation.
Every team is looking for impactful two-way players and the Kings will likely be among many teams in the market for Bulls guard Alex Caruso. Given the volume, Caruso is enjoying the best shooting season of his career. He is shooting 49.4% from the field, including 41.8% from 3 on over four attempts per game.
Caruso’s shooting will keep him on the floor, but his defense is why he is so highly coveted. He has developed into one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. In Sacramento, his presence would allow De’Aaron Fox to take the easier guard assignment. Caruso also has valuable playoff experience from his time with the Lakers, contributing to their championship run in 2020.
Caruso will likely cost at least one first round pick and possibly a young prospect as well. Another player that may fit the fold for the Kings is Knicks guard Quentin Grimes. However, the Knicks may include him in a larger deal if they look to make another big move after acquiring O.G. Anunoby.
Milwaukee Bucks
Defense
Like the Kings, the Bucks will also be looking to improve their defense. They are currently second in offensive rating, but 23rd in defensive rating. Since 2000, just the 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers were able to win the championship with a defense outside the top 20, finishing 21st that season.
While the Bucks still have Brook Lopez, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bobby Portis defending down low, their perimeter defense has been lacking since trading away Jrue Holiday. They will be looking in the market for a defender at the point of attack to replace him. Caruso would also fit the bill in Milwaukee. However, the Bulls may be reluctant to send him to an Eastern Conference rival like Milwaukee.
A pair of forwards and multi-position defenders who could fit the bill include Dorian Finney-Smith and P.J. Tucker. Finney-Smith will cost at least a first round pick and possibly more. Tucker was a key contributor for the Bucks when they won the title in 2021. This season, he went to the Clippers as part of the James Harden trade. The Clippers are reluctant to include him in a deal, in case they have to face him in a series. However, Tucker, who wants more playing time, could be an option for the Bucks if he is traded and bought out.
Golden State Warriors
3-Point Shooting
This one may be a slight reach considering that the Warriors have Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The Warriors are fourth in both 3s and 3-point attempts per game, but just 14th in 3-point percentage. However, over his past 20 games, Curry is shooting 36.3% from 3, which is solid for mere mortals, but also six points below his career percentage.
Thompson is shooting 38.6% from 3 this season, but in clutch time, he is shooting below 30% both from the field and behind the arc. His future with the team is also up in the air at this juncture. Additionally, outside of the Splash Brothers, the rest of the Warriors are shooting 34.6% from 3, which would tie for 28th in the league.
The Warriors could use another floor spacer around Curry whether they break up the core of their dynasty or not. An in-house option is Moses Moody, but head coach Steve Kerr has had him in and out of the rotation this season. Yet, the Warriors are reluctant to include Moody and Jonathan Kuminga in a deal.
That could preclude them from pulling off a bigger deal like acquiring DeJounte Murray. The Hawks guard -who is 38.2 from 3 on six attempts- would also give the Warriors another ball handler to take pressure off Curry and a perimeter defender.
Murray’s teammate, Bogdan Bogdanovic, may be a more affordable option for them. Bogdanovic has had a rough January, but he is still shooting 36.5% from 3 this season and 38.4% for his career. In Golden State, he could play a familiar role as a bench scorer and is making a palatable $17 million per year through 2027. Additionally, Bogdanovic’s experience in big games -both in the NBA Playoffs and Internationally- could make him a favorite of Kerr’s as well.
