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2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
Feb 3, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Randy Foye (4) shoots the ball during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma City Thunder

Randy Foye’s season numbers — 6.0 PPG, 19.8 MPG, 35.1 FG%, 29.6 FT% — aren’t particularly encouraging, but the Oklahoma City Thunder may have found a decent bench scorer to put on the wing in a trade that also saved them tons of salary cap space.

For one thing, Foye is a career 37 percent shooter from three-point range and unlike in Denver, he won’t have to create his own offense in OKC. No offense to rookie Emmanuel Mudiay, but having someone like Russell Westbrook or Cameron Payne distributing could make a major difference.

Foye is not a great defender, and he’s slightly undersized for the shooting guard position. But he’ll get his chance to contribute on a championship contender, which is a win-win compared to his situation with the Nuggets, where he was ousted from the rotation for the younger players.

The luxury tax savings are also substantial:

However, even with the luxury tax savings, I’m not sure how much Foye moves the needle in a seven-game series with the Warriors or Spurs. It’s also hard to avoid wondering about what might have been if the Thunder had wised up and pursued Courtney Lee or a similar two-way player on the wing.

The Thunder freed up a roster spot, their tremendous drafting of Cameron Payne made D.J. Augustin expendable, and OKC hasn’t lost a single player in their rotation.

But giving up two second-rounders is a considerable ransom to pay for a player like Foye, even if the first round is really where OKC makes its money. In any case, as decent an individual move as this is for the Thunder, I’m not sure it moves them any closer to the Warriors and Spurs in the top tier.

Grade: A-

Next: Orlando Magic