The OKC Thunder Desperately Need Help in One Area; Who Can Provide It for Them?

Getty

When looking at the Oklahoma City Thunder through an analytical lens, there are very few weaknesses. As of January 25, they score the third most points per game in the league (121.9), and they are tied for first in field goal percentage and blocks and second in 3-point percentage and steals. The one glaring deficiency is rebounding.

The Thunder are averaging 41.1 rebounds per game, the third lowest mark in the league, and 8.6 offensive rebounds per game, the second lowest. They are one of three teams in the Western Conference that doesn’t have a player on their roster averaging at least 8 rebounds per game.

That would all change if the Thunder went “all in” and acquired the Chicago Bulls’ Andre Drummond ahead of the February 8 trade deadline, according to Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, who proposed a three-team swap in a January 23 story.

Drummond, who is averaging nearly 8.5 rebounds in less than 16 minutes per game, “could be a game-changer off the bench for OKC,” Bailey wrote, proposing that the Thunder would also get Rui Hachimura while giving Aaron Wiggins to the Los Angeles Lakers and Dāvis Bertāns, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick to the Bulls.

“Even in just 15-20 minutes a game, Drummond could have a serious influence” on the Thunder’s poor rebounding rankings, Bailey wrote. “The Bulls are currently snaring almost 40 percent of their own misses when Drummond is on the floor.”

@AOP_NBA | NBANBA Rebounding

Andre Drummond Could Be High Reward, Low Risk

Drummond, 30, is still a monster on the glass, leading in rebound percentage, pulling down 25.7% of all available rebounds. He does lack mobility and his old-school style of play could make it difficult for the Thunder to switch on defense.

The Athletic ranks him as the fifth best center available ahead of the trade deadline and the 26th best player overall. But playing on an expiring $3.3 million contract, Drummond represents little risk.

“Drummond will likely be a popular backup center option if the Bulls put him on the market, if only because his cheap contract helps teams bumping up against the luxury tax or second apron,” Sam Vecenie wrote in a January 24 story assessing the NBA’s “trade board.” “Having a big around who can eat minutes behind a starter is valuable, and Drummond has been effective in that role.”

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, it’s the Lakers who are interested in Drummond as they look ahead to the postseason.

“The Lakers have also considered dealing for players who could address specific needs in a potential playoff matchup, such as Andre Drummond of the Bulls, in anticipation of a postseason rematch with the Denver Nuggets and their big front line of Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon, sources said,” McMenamin wrote in a January 23 story.

Making a Big Splash

The Thunder have a stockpile of draft picks over the next several years, including three firsts this year and four next year.  They may opt to use those assets on someone who not only helps solve their issues on the glass, but significantly increases their chances of competing for a championship.

A prime option would be Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz. Markkanen is currently averaging 8.7 rebounds per game, which would be the most on the Thunder. On top of that, he is scoring 23.6 points per game on great efficiency and would make an elite front-court pairing with Holmgren.

The chances of landing Markkanen may be slim, Action Network’s Matt Moore reported on January 21 that the Jazz will work on a long-term contract extension this summer with the Finnish star. Still, if the Thunder were able to pry him away, they could become a juggernaut in a very competitive conference.