With an outstanding 30-5 record and an active 15-game winning streak, the Oklahoma City Thunder are a clear favorite to win a championship this season. The current roster is extremely deep, with superstar talent at the top and two-way impact throughout.

With the NBA Trade Deadline being exactly a month away, Oklahoma City certainly doesn’t need to make a trade, but will still be active on the market to keep a pulse of who could become available. Thunder GM Sam Presti is always looking to make quality trades, especially those he has leverage in or can acquire pieces for an attractive price.

Oklahoma City does have to be careful with its trades in the near future, as maximum contract extensions loom for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. As such, adding significant long-term money to the Thunder’s books in any move might not be something the Presti is open to doing regardless of the situation.

Even with how loaded the Thunder roster is, added flexibility and optionality are key for playoff matchups, especially when tactful adjustments need to be made. Furthermore, added depth as insurance is something OKC could consider, especially given how many injuries the team has faced this season. Even if there’s a player who wouldn’t be in the regular rotation when the roster is fully healthy, the reality is that franchises can’t bank on that being the case throughout an entire playoff run. As such, sometimes, a surplus of depth can save a season or a championship push.

There are very few players who will be available leading up to the deadline who are seamless fits in OKC. Even fewer will make sense from a financial standpoint. But whether or not Presti pulls the trigger on a trade at the deadline, here are a few players that he should at least explore in the coming month.

Johnny Juzang (Utah Jazz)

At just 23 years old and on a very cheap, declining contract, Juzang provides a lot of bang for his buck. Although it’s on a bottom team with limited expectations, the 6-foot-7 wing is averaging 7.3 points per game while shooting 41.0% from deep on 4.1 attempts. Juzang is under contract for three more seasons beyond the 2024-25 campaign at a figure less than $3 million (with non-guarantee language), which makes him an interesting buy-low depth piece. He wouldn’t be the big splashy name that makes waves in the headlines, but there’s a lot to like with Juzang and very minimal risk.

Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets)

Signing Johnson would be a home run swing that would make the Thunder an even bigger favorite to come out of the Western Conference, but he will have one of the steepest prices on the trade market in the coming weeks. Given his positional versatility at 6-foot-8 with the ability to impact both ends of the floor and knock down threes at a very high clip, the 28-year-old would fit seamlessly on nearly any team in the league. Combine that with the fact that he’s on a team-friendly deal between $20 and $23 million per season over the next three seasons (including the 2024-25 campaign) and it’s no surprise that he will spark a bidding war. He likely won’t produce at the level he’s been able to in Brooklyn as a primary piece, but Johnson will move the needle for any contender, with the ability to start or come off the bench.

Malik Beasley (Detroit Pistons)

Streaky shooting has been a problem for the Thunder this season, which has resulted in the team being in the bottom third of the league in 3-point accuracy for most of the current campaign. One player who could help solve that problem — while being on a very manageable $6 million expiring contract — is Beasley. He’s a 28-year-old veteran with nearly 600 games under his belt who has shot better than 40% from beyond the arc in consecutive seasons. Given the recent injuries in the backcourt for the Pistons, combined with the fact that they’re now .500 on the season and look like they may have the chance to make the postseason, it’s unclear whether or not Detroit would even consider trading Beasley now. But if Oklahoma City could secure him for the right price as a one-year rental, he could be a huge spark off the bench even if he doesn’t score at the rate he’s currently producing at this season— more than 16 points per game.

Collin Sexton (Utah Jazz)

Again, there have been numerous times this season in which Oklahoma City has clearly needed another scoring punch — especially off the bench. The Thunder has plenty of guards and wings who can finish plays and knock down shots, but a lack of self-creation outside of the team’s primary stars has been glaring in certain moments. Sexton would likely require a fairly lucrative package to pry away from Utah, but he would be well worth it. He is on the books for roughly $18.4 million this season and will be playing on an expiring deal next season at around $19.2 million ahead of free agency in the summer of 2026 when OKC will need to start being a bit more cautious with its payroll. Sexton is a dynamic scorer and underrated passer, averaging 17.7 points and 3.9 assists per contest while shooting 42.8% from deep on nearly five attempts per game and having the ability to create his own shot.

Nick Richards (Charlotte Hornets)

After years of not having a quality center, Oklahoma City now has two starting-caliber bigs (Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein) along with a solid backup in Jaylin Williams. Even then, given that is the position that’s plagued the Thunder most this season in the injury department, adding depth is never a bad thing. Richards is a true 7-footer and is just 27 years old, averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per game this season. He’s a quality shot blocker, which is something that’s proven especially key to have on the floor with the way Oklahoma City plays defense schematically. If Holmgren and Hartenstein are fully healthy in the playoffs, Richards would be a redundant piece. But if not, he’s a great insurance policy who wouldn’t cost much to acquire on the trade market, especially since he only has one year left on his deal at $5 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 campaign.

Robert Williams (Portland Trail Blazers)

The Trail Blazers are seeking direction and already have a crowded frontcourt, which could mean Williams could be acquired at the right price. After this season, the 27-year-old will have just one more year on his contract worth roughly $13.3 million before becoming a free agent, so trading for him isn’t a long-term risk. He’s never been known for being a dynamic offensive talent — and he’s struggled with significant injuries over the past few years — but Williams is a very good defensive player who, at 6-foot-9, can play power forward or center. He’s only played in 11 games this season but would be an interesting player to consider for the right package at the deadline.