According to the US "BR" report, the Thunder will have up to 12 first-round rookies at their disposal between 2024 and 2027. It's clear that over the next four seasons, they will get an average of three premium signings per year.
What's even more exciting is that in 2024 alone, they can have as many as four first-round picks. However, analyzing the lineup found that the team's advantage is not just signing rookies.
This team of Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers has specially established an elite league composed of young players such as Shay Kyrgyzstan Alexander, Josh Keady, Chet Holmgren, Jaylen Williams and so on.
Surprisingly, although they were all small forwards or defenders, they possessed amazing game performances such as super offensive strength and defensive awareness.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have accumulated a wealth of draft experience, producing three rookies like Kevin Durant, Sakin Westbrook and James Harden, Gallo. Today, these players are still thriving in the league, and this notoriously talented team will be expected to regain the glory of the Three Young Boys period. The point is that they can quickly become professional basketball players with center potential. Although the NBA league limits each team to 15 regular players, general manager Sadie Presti's role is to turn first-round picks and talented players into actual combat effectiveness and help the team rise quickly.
US media outlet Fadeaway World revealed that the Rockets, Thunder and Mavericks are planning to negotiate a three-way deal this summer. Once the negotiations go smoothly, Luka Doncic may travel to Oklahoma City to assist the Rockets in fulfilling their desire to sign talented Australian point guard Keady. The specific trade options currently known will include: 1. The Thunder with Josh Keady, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Joe, 2023 Thunder first-round pick (12th pick), 2024 Clippers first-round pick (1-4 pick), 2024 Rockets first-round pick (1-4 pick), 2025 76ers first-round pick (1-6 pick), 2026 Clippers first-round pick for Luka Doncic; 2. The Rockets sent four players, including Kevin Porter, as well as first-round picks from the 2023 Clippers (20th pick) and 2026 Nets, in exchange for Josh Keady and Lou Dort; 3. The Lone Rangers sent Doncic in exchange for Chet Holmgren, Kevin Porter, Usman Garuba, Isaiah Joe and seven first-round picks.
There's no denying that the biggest winner in this deal is clearly the Thunder. And Doncic is the youngest of the NBA's promising future stars. As a centre-forward, he has excellent scoring ability and attacking power. This season, he averaged 36.2 minutes per game, contributing 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.4 steals and shooting 50% from the field. He is able to combine the qualities of a center and a defender to not only achieve regular scoring but also create more opportunities for his teammates. In offensive planning, he controls maturity beyond his age, especially in passing and shooting. He has superb basketball skills and combines point guard, center, and guard. He also has considerable talent on the defensive end, not only cutting off the opponent's passing line, but also interfering with the opponent's shot. Although he put more energy into the offensive end, the performance on the defensive end was not fully recognized. If Doncic and Alexander make the All-NBA First Team, the backcourt duo will make a new splash in the league.
Compared to Doncic's brilliance, Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone is about to face a number of scorching tasks, the first of which is to find a good playmaker to stimulate the team's offense. In addition, it includes measures to adjust the tactical system and strengthen the team's defense. And Keady, who is at the top of the league, will be a big boost for the team. He is a traditional point guard with excellent playmaking and passing skills, a high basketball IQ and excellent judgment. Keadie is averaging 21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.7 steals and shooting 46 percent from the field this season. With his incredible speed and agility, he was able to create space for his teammates on the offensive end and deliver ammunition to the Rockets' offense. At the same time, he has enough potential on the defensive end to create pressure on opponents and reduce their scoring percentage.
In addition to Keady, the Rockets also acquired Lou Dott from the trade. Dort is a young small forward with increasing playing opportunities who can provide the Rockets with consistent scoring and defensive ability. The addition of two young players is expected to help the team rebuild quickly and move towards a brighter future.
For the Lone Ranger, their loss of a core player like Doncic in the trade is indeed a heavy loss, but they exchanged for three potential stocks such as Holmgren, Porter and Garuba and seven first-round picks, and the ample draft chips also mean that the Lone Rangers have enough capital to attract other top players and provide new impetus for the team's development.
Overall, this three-way deal has a good benefit for all three teams, whether in terms of draft chips, the development of young players or the adjustment of team tactics. How to fully release new talent, and how to hone them into a strong team, will also become a key topic in the new wave of these three teams.