NBA Trade Rumours: 3 Players the Thunder could target in January
After the OKC Thunder lost their first-round playoff series with the Utah Jazz back in April, many NBA insiders and experts believed that the franchise had blown their opportunity to compete for a Championship, and claimed that the team was in need of a major rebuild.
Carmelo Anthony was quickly traded from the team, while many expected Paul George to follow, leaving Russell Westbrook as the only remaining member of the 'OK3'. However, despite all the gloom, Paul George opted to commit the best years of his career to the franchise, and the OKC Thunder look to be in their best shape since Kevin Durant left.
The team has made an impressive start to the 18/19 season, as the Thunder sit third in the Western Conference thanks to a 22-12 record. Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Steven Adams are all currently playing at an All-Star level, however, the team still has room for improvement as they chase a first NBA Championship. With the trade window open until February, here we will look at three players that the Thunder could target over the coming weeks.
#3 J.R. Smith
The Oklahoma City Thunder still face the issue of squandering big leads whenever Russell Westbrook comes out of the game. Dennis Schroder looked to have solved this issue, although the 25-year-old has recently been playing long spells alongside the 2017 MVP.
J.R. Smith has been told that he can find a new team, and the Thunder would benefit from the 33-year-old's ability to lead from the bench. Smith has the recent experience of winning a Championship with the Cavaliers, and if the veteran can agree to a buyout with the Cavs, Sam Presti should pursue a short-term deal.