Oklahoma City Thunder Should Trade For Channing Frye

According to Zach Lowe, Channing Frye could be on the trading block. Only one disastrous year into a four-year contract and the Orlando Magic are apparently ready to give up on him.

Last season’s signing of Frye didn’t make sense from the start. Pairing him alongside Nikola Vucevic was always going to be a defensive disaster. Not to mention Frye being 31 years old at the time of the signing, he didn’t exactly fit the youth movement the Magic were undertaking.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: 25 Best Players To Play For The Thunder

With Aaron Gordon and Tobias Harris likely to see plenty of minutes at power forward this season, it’s going to be hard for Frye to get on the court. The logical solution is to trade him.

More from Oklahoma City Thunder

Could The Thunder Trade For Channing Frye?

Oklahoma City has plenty of second-round picks to throw away on a player like Channing Frye. They can also add a couple of expiring contracts in Dion Waiters, D.J. Augustin or Steve Novak to make the contracts work if they need to.

The Thunder have the assets to acquire him; the question is should they?

Pros For A Channing Frye Trade

With three years and just more than $23 million left on this contract, it’s a relatively cheap contract, especially so when factoring in the cap spike. The Thunder roster could use a stretch 4 who can play alongside Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter or Steven Adams in small-ball units.

Frye would be an immediate upgrade over the current Thunder backup power forwards in Mitch McGary and Nick Collison. He’d also be a great fit in Billy Donovan’s offense, which emphasizes spacing.

Mar 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) shoots the ball during the fourth quarter as Houston Rockets guard Corey Brewer (33) defends at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Magic 107-94. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Cons For A Channing Frye Trade

Channing Frye on the Thunder Roster would be a disaster for Mitch McGary’s minutes. With McGary riding the pine, it could affect his development and value as a trade commodity. Oklahoma City just lost Perry Jones and Jeremy Lamb for virtually nothing; they’d hate for that to happen to another of their young players.

To say Frye’s defense last season was sub-standard would be an understatement. With him on the floor, Orlando had a Defensive Rating of 107.4, with Frye off the floor it dropped to 103.2 — per nba.com. The pairing of Enes Kanter and Channing Frye could be catastrophic.

Live Feed

4 Trae Young trades the Hawks should consider /

FanSided

3 worst starters of the OKC Thunder rebuild eraThunderous Intentions

Patrick Mahomes tabs former OKC Thunder star as his favorite playerThunderous Intentions

Bleacher Reports top 100 list shows why OKC Thunder are primed for breakoutThunderous Intentions

3 Thunder Players Entering a 'Make or Break' SeasonThunderous Intentions

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has golden chance in QuarterfinalsThunderous Intentions

Should The Thunder Trade For Channing Frye

With Serge Ibaka being an elite 3-point shooting big man, the Thunder should explore the possibility of playing five out basketball. To do that they need a stretch-four like Channing Frye. Kevin Durant can play as a power forward, and he’ll certainly spend some time there this season, but it won’t be often.

The addition of Frye would hurt Mitch McGary’s minutes, and would likely mean time spent in the D-League. McGary has potential, but he’ll never be a superstar. Best case scenario he tops out as a solid rotational big, which is what Channing Frye is now.

Oklahoma City are in win-now mode, and if they can upgrade at a position of need, without mortgaging the future, they should jump at the chance. Who knows what happens at the end of the season, Kevin Durant could bolt in free agency.

This season could be OKC’s best chance at a title, they’d be wise in giving it their best shot.

Next: 25 Greatest Individual Seasons in NBA History

More from Hoops Habit

Home/Oklahoma City Thunder