The Thunder have limited options in trying to replace Andre Roberson through trades, writes Kevin Pelton of ESPN. Oklahoma City lost its best wing defender Saturday when Roberson was carried off the court in Detroit with a ruptured patellar tendon. Terrance Ferguson and Alex Abrines are potential replacements on the roster, but both have deficiencies in their games and neither can match Roberson’s defensive prowess. Josh Huestis has similar skills to Roberson, but only shoots 28.4% from 3-point range.
Offseason deals for Paul George and Carmelo Anthony pushed the team over the luxury tax, with a projected $20MM payment due this season. Also, OKC doesn’t have a first-round pick available to trade until 2024. Pelton suggests trying to improve the offense by getting a lower-salary guard like Brooklyn’s Joe Harris, who is making a little more than $1.5MM on an expiring contract, or possibly dealing Abrines for Atlanta’s Marco Belinelli, who has a $6.6MM expiring deal.
There’s more news from the Northwest Division:
- The Thunder have a pair of trade exceptions available, posts Bobby Marks on ESPN Now. However, they are only valued at $2.55M and $1.49M, so the team’s options with those exceptions will be limited.
- Nuggets forward Paul Millsap remains on schedule to return from wrist surgery after the All-Star break, according to Gina Mizell of The Denver Post. Millsap hasn’t played since mid-November because of a torn ligament in his left wrist, but he is able to participate in shooting, ball handling and catching drills and work on conditioning. “There are good days and bad days,” coach Mike Malone said. “He’s a little sore right now from that ramping up his on-court activity, but he’s fired up. He’s working hard.” Millsap, who signed a three-year, $90MM contract over the summer, was averaging 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds before being sidelined.
- Damian Lillard‘s recent meeting with Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen could be the first step in seeking a trade, speculates John Canzano of The Oregonian. Lillard met with Allen without the knowledge of coach Terry Stotts or GM Neil Olshey. They reportedly discussed the state of the team, but Canzano thinks Lillard may have demanded a roster upgrade and given himself leeway to ask for a trade if it doesn’t happen before next year’s deadline.
Two comments: first, Huestis’ 28% 3PFG shooting would actually be a significant upgrade over Roberson’s haha. Second, Harris is on a two-year vet minimum contract, so no trade exception would be needed for him.
You should make a third reason on how much Huestis sucks
Man, all these writers are STILL speculating about Dame demanding a trade. Read any of his comments about how he wants to be the best Blazer ever, how he wants to stay loyal to the Blazers, how that organization supports him completely to be himself and be a rapper, how hard he vouches for Terry Stotts, how invested he is in the team, how they’re going through their best stretch of the season, etc. I could go on forever. These writers will say anything just so they can say they were right in case it happens. Getting degrees in clickbait journalism smh
Aldridge said the same thing.
Yeah and he went to his hometown team because he was jealous that he wasn’t the #1 player anymore. Dame is absolutely the #1 in Portland, is he gonna sign with his hometown Warriors and be the 5th option? When he has stated that he wants to win in Portland and even raps about not wanting to join a championship team and rather building a winner? Dame is not as mentally weak and jealous as Aldridge is
All I’m saying is all this speculation is insane! They did the same thing and said Giannis is gonna leave Milwaukee if they don’t win. It’s really not good journalism and not even a good prediction to write that a great player on a fringe contender MIGHT go somewhere else if his team isn’t a contender. Like duhhhhhhh obviously that’s a possibility!! You’re getting paid the big bucks to make the most mundane speculations? Yet they dropped the Giannis story even though his coach just got fired, the Bucks are underperforming much more than the Blazers, and because Giannis said he wants to stay here? Well Terry Stotts is still there, the Blazers are the 7th seed and every team ahead of them is actually good, and Dame has said over and over he doesn’t want to leave. Why don’t they keep speculating about Giannis leaving? Oh yeah, because it’s stupid and there’s no substance to it. Dame meets with Paul Allen and he wants a trade? Nah, he wants another star player after trying to recruit Melo, CJ trying to recruit PG on Twitter, etc. and they’re going to do it. That team spends and will trade for a star if they think it’ll push them over the top.