5 NBA teams that must consider trading for Lauri Markkanen

4) Oklahoma City Thunder

Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder shocked the league by securing the top spot in the West after missing the playoffs the previous year. Now, with expectations higher than they've been since the days of Russell Westbrook—which feels far further in the past than it actually is, Oklahoma City appears to be one key piece away from true contention.

The Thunder have already made one significant addition, swapping a noticeably poor fit in Josh Giddey for the far smother complimentary player in Alex Caruso. Still, one area that Oklahoma City continues to lack in is volume shooting from deep. In steps Laurie Markkanen.

Throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, the Thunder did not have a single player attempt more than 5.0 threes a game. Markkanen meanwhile shot 8.0 threes himself, knocking down the shortest of hairs below 40 percent from deep.

As far as their ability to acquire the sharpshooting All-Star, the Thunder have plenty of draft assets and young players in their asset pool, making a move for a player of Markkanen's level a possibility at the very least. With potentially four first-round picks in next year's draft, including Utah's own top-10 protected pick in 2025, and an additional eight first-rounders through 2031, they have picks aplenty.

That's in addition to Cason Wallace, Nikola Topić, Jaylin Williams (not Jalen), Ousmane Dieng, and even Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, who will become eligible to be traded after Oct. 5, 2024. Despite all of those assets, there is still another Western Conference team that can outbid the Thunder.