The Thunder have done a lot this offseason, and this offseason the Thunder have been at home with a continuous recruitment process, robbing Hartenstein in free agency and trading Giddey for Caruso. The two operations have increased the intensity of defense inside and outside, but for the Thunder, who are vowing to challenge for the championship in the new season, this lineup is still lacking.
At this stage, there are not many big fish in the free ball market, and there are only LaVine and Markkanen at present! The Thunder, who are in dire need of a scorer and have an endless number of first-round picks, are negotiating a trade with the Jazz!
The Thunder are said to be willing to give Markkanen a handful of chips. The American media bleachers posted a trade plan: Thunder gets: Laurie Markkanen; Jazz get: Rookie Nikola Topit, Usman Dieng, Kenrich Williams, 2025 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick.
Markkanen, the basketball talent from Finland, has risen rapidly in the NBA with his excellent physical fitness and all-round skills, and last season, he played in 67 games for the Jazz, averaging 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2 assists per game, showing great potential to become a top star in the league.
A part of the fans believes that the addition of Markkanen will really raise their level. His ability to open up space fits perfectly with Alexander's breakout ability and Holmgren's interior play, which will allow the Thunder to play richer offense and create plenty of misalignment.
The starting lineup is likely to be point guard Alexander, shooting guard Caruso, small forward Markkanen, power forward Holmgren and center Hartenstein. Offensively, Markkanen and Holmgren will open up a breakout route for Alexander and create opportunities for Caruso and Hartenstey near the basket.
Defensively, Markkanen, Holmgren and Harden can establish a no-fly zone up front, and Caruso and Alexander can put pressure on the guards, which will make the Thunder a more competitive and well-rounded team. Such a Thunder lineup is too terrifying!
Another part of the fans thought that the Thunder would not make such a big deal, and they shouted: "The Thunder is a bloody investment!" "Markkanen is good, but it's a bit confusing to exchange it for a 9-for-1 luxury gift package.
You know, in the NBA world, the first-round pick is the hope of the future, and the second-round pick also hides a lot of surprises. The Thunder's wave of operations is simply betting on the draft picks in the next few years to bet on the present, which is arrogant, but it also makes people sweat.
Perhaps, the Thunder's calculations may go further. They may have seen a lot of potential and immediate power in Markkanen, and believe he could be an important piece of the puzzle for the team's rebuild.
Moreover, the management of Thunder has always had a unique vision, and behind this wave of operations, there may be some far-sighted thinking that we outsiders can't see.
After all, there has never been a shortage of such earth-shattering reversals and miracles on the NBA stage. As for whether it is "wronged", it will depend on Markkanen's performance and the Thunder's team record in the next few years to verify. In short, this deal is enough for our fans to talk about it for a while!