The NBA’s deepest team is about to run into the kind of problem every franchise dreams about having. The Oklahoma City Thunder have too many good players, and eventually, that kind of depth becomes expensive.
Oklahoma City has built one of the best rosters in basketball, but keeping it together will only get more difficult. This offseason, the Thunder are set to move deep into the luxury tax, with major extensions kicking in for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
The Thunder also have Cason Wallace entering the final year of his contract. Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Joe will be entering the second-last year of their deals. Each player brings something slightly different, but they all fit the same general mold. They can shoot, handle the ball and hold their own defensively.
Those are exactly the kind of players Toronto should be looking for. The Raptors took a major step forward this season, but their playoff run revealed some holes this front office needs to address.
Toronto needs more shooting and reliable ball handlers. If the Thunder decide they need to move one of their guards before a future financial decision becomes uncomfortable, the Raptors should be ready to call.
How would one of the Thunder’s guards help Toronto?
Each guard would help Toronto in a different way.
McCain and Joe would provide huge boosts to this team’s spacing, but neither player fits perfectly with the Raptors’ defensive culture. Wallace is the best defender of the group, but he is more limited offensively. Mitchell is the least consistent shooter, but he is the most complete two-way option and the most comfortable creating offense off the dribble.
Mitchell has two years left on his contract and has shown comfort playing with the ball in his hands. That would probably give him the highest asking price, but he would also address the most needs for Toronto. His offensive creation, passable shooting and defensive ability would make him a seamless fit.
Wallace would also make plenty of sense. He can defend at a high level, handle secondary playmaking responsibilities and knock down open shots. He also has enough size to play alongside Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter off the bench.
McCain and Joe are less versatile than Mitchell and Wallace. However, their shooting alone would be a huge boost to this offense. They do not fit perfectly into Toronto’s defense-first identity, but the playoffs showed how badly Toronto needs more consistent shooting. Having another sharpshooting option off the bench would be meaningful for the Raptors.
Something that should not be overlooked with Mitchell, Wallace and Joe is their postseason experience. They were all part of the Thunder’s championship roster and are making another potential championship run this year. That matters for a Raptors team trying to create a winning culture.
What should Toronto be willing to pay?
Each player would immediately address needs for Toronto and fit well into the team’s long-term rotation. This front office should not be afraid to give up draft compensation to trade for a player like that.
A future first-round pick and a couple of second-round picks would be a reasonable place to start negotiations with Oklahoma City. Toronto should not be reckless, but it also cannot hold onto its draft picks forever.
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