2019 NBA Trade Deadline: 10 teams that should trade for Anthony Davis

7. Oklahoma City Thunder

Steven Adams would be a serious All-Star candidate if he played for an Eastern Conference team. He’s a nightly double-double threat, an excellent rim-runner, an underrated passer and all-around athlete, and his screens are like running into a brick wall.

With that being said, if using him as the centerpiece for an Anthony Davis trade became a possibility, the Oklahoma City Thunder would be foolish not to seriously consider it. General manager Sam Presti has shocked the league before (remember the Paul George trade?), so don’t count OKC out.

The problem is figuring out what the Thunder could surround Adams with, which would have to be an attractive young player (Terrance Ferguson) and multiple first round picks.

The soonest Oklahoma City could offer its first round pick 2024, since it owes first-rounders in 2020 and 2022 to the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks, respectively. It’d take multiple first-rounders with only Adams and Ferguson on the table, all but depleting the Thunder of their draft picks for the foreseeable future.

However, a core of Russell Westbrook (currently averaging a triple-double), Paul George (currently playing at an MVP level) and Anthony Davis (ditto) would be undeniable. They’d need to add some depth and 3-point shooting, but that kind of Big 3 would rival what the Thunder had in their prime contending days with Russ, Kevin Durant and James Harden.

Unfortunately, those picks might be too far out to be enticing for New Orleans, even though that’s likely past the time when OKC’s championship window will still be open. Adams is a great player, but there will be better packages on the table.