Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 players OKC should trade next

Dennis Schroder, PG

The Oklahoma City Thunder currently have three point guards on their roster.

All three are starting-level caliber.

With Chris Paul likely beginning the season with the Thunder, it is safe to assume that he will be the starter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — while only 21 years old — represents the future of the franchise and should get ample time to progress.

That makes Dennis Schroder the odd man out.

Schroder made his way to Oklahoma City via the Carmelo Anthony trade in July of 2018. That trade allowed the Thunder to trim a significant amount of money from their salary tax bill while Atlanta got to collect a draft pick and open up playing time for their rookie point guard Trae Young.

The situation in Oklahoma City this summer seems similar for Schroder; a veteran point guard on a rebuilding team.

Before Sam Presti agreed to the Anthony-for-Schroder swap he and head coach Billy Donovan spoke to Schroder about his possible role on the Thunder.

It’s assumed that conversation centered around Schroder’s willingness to play off the bench for a contending team and that both sides felt good about the situation.

Now will Schroder want to stay in his same role for a team that will most likely miss the playoffs? And does Oklahoma City want to keep a third point guard — who makes $31 million over the next two years — on the roster?

Logically, all signs point to a Schroder trade.