The Oklahoma City Thunder made the right decision by keeping Danilo Gallinari

Despite the intrigue of returning assets and an expiring contract looming, the Oklahoma City Thunder made the correct decision by keeping Danilo Gallinari this past trade deadline.

Entering this Thursday’s trade deadline, it was unsure if Danilo Gallinari would be dealt or stay a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Throw in intrigue by the Miami Heat — or specifically, Pat Riley, one of the league’s most decorated executives who rarely misses when his eyes are set on the target — and speculation rose ten-fold.

However, when all the dust settled and the theatrics came to a halt, nothing ended up materializing. Which was secretly the best possible outcome for the Thunder.

With an expiring contract looming, Gallinari’s immediate future is still clouded by uncertainty. Given his skill set as a versatile wing that has multiple avenues to his offense and is efficient beyond the perimeter on impressive volume — it made sense why a contender would want to snag him.

But the logistics of a deal between the Heat and Thunder were overwhelming and nothing came to fruition. Though returning assets would have likely included a late first-round draft pick, perhaps a couple of nice prospects and additional capital, the team could still look to deal him this summer with the potential of a similar return.

Though he’ll be 32 years old this August, his game seemingly improves and refines with age. He doesn’t heavily rely on athleticism and is a skilled scorer than can maneuver to his spots; his versatility complements nearly any offense. Likewise, he’s not a liability on the other end of the court. He’s not exactly a lauded defender, but he’s capable, and that’s enough.

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It still won’t be simple, sign-and-trades rarely are, but that still represents an intriguing outlet to take. But for the time being, Gallo’s service will greatly help the Thunder’s playoff push.

His base stats of 19.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on .442/.410/.903 splits are impressive in their own right. He shoots the 3-ball efficiently and can find his way to the charity stripe. He’s essentially an analytical dream — proven by his 61.9 true shooting percentage, which is 22nd in the NBA.

Under the tutelage of Billy Donovan, the Thunder’s combination of savvy veterans and youthful talent has meshed beautifully as the season progresses. They’re only 1.5 games behind the Utah Jazz and the fourth seed, which means the potential of hosting a playoff series at Chesapeake is still within reach.

Forfeiting Gallinari, a player that can play within the flow of their offense and put up gaudy stats, would’ve made that task increasingly more difficult.

Though this shouldn’t act as a reason to not make a move, I can’t lie: this team is just plain fun. They’re a joy for any basketball purist, casual fan, or those who routinely see themselves cheer for the underdog to watch. Their chemistry is something to behold, they play as a collective unit. Breaking that up prematurely would have been disappointing, especially with playoff implications on the line.

It’s still likely that Gallinari is dealt this summer, but passing on any transaction this trade deadline works in favor for the time being.