1. Hamidou Diallo
Now I already mentioned the overwhelming amount of options at shooting guard. Abrines is the more established option, but if you’re looking to toss some upside into a possible deal, Hamidou Diallo is the man who could make a trade happen.
It obviously wouldn’t be ideal, as the Thunder see a lot of potential in the 2018 second round pick. While there’s a lot of concern about his shooting abilities, his elite athleticism, scoring potential on the break and raw defensive weapons make him a moldable piece of clay.
Diallo may be an inferior shooter compared to Abrines, but his potential is sky-high. Prior to deciding to return to college, he was seen as a likely 2017 first round pick. A rough year at Kentucky, however, cost him significant draft stock as his shooting woes became all too apparent. Still, with the proper coaching, Diallo could emerge as one of the biggest draft steals in recent memory.
So let’s say Diallo displays improvement as a shooter early in the season. When the 2019 trade deadline rolls around, he’ll have enough value to entice other clubs who liked what they saw from him during the pre-draft process. If that’s the case, he can absolutely be used as a trade chip in any talks the Thunder may have.
With Roberson and Ferguson already ahead of him on the depth chart, it makes sense for Oklahoma City to at least entertain the idea of trading Diallo if it improves either its roster or its financial situation. Losing him would be a bummer, but Ferguson is a similar player who can fill the void.