Rockets Land Lauri Markkanen
Thunder Offseason Moves
Draft Ja'Kobe Walter |SG/SF| (12th)
Trade Lindy Waters III to CHA for a Second-Round Pick
Trade Josh Giddey, Jaylin Williams, Ousmane Dieng, and a First-Round Pick to UTA for Jordan Clarson and Taylor Hendricks
Re-sign Gordon Hayward
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Trade Explanation
Though Giddey is extension eligible and may not be part of OKC's long-term plans, Clarkson's veteran bench scoring may not be enough to get a deal done. The real draw for the Thunder is Hendricks, theoretically a floor-spacing defensive disruptor who'll be able to man either forward spot. Utah should highly value the guy it picked ninth in 2023, which is why OKC is tossing in a first-rounder, its own potential lottery ticket in Dieng and Williams, who'd add frontcourt versatility and defense.
The Hornets have already shown an affinity for dudes who can't crack the Thunder's regular rotation—see: Tre Mann, Aleksej Pokuševski—is a happy bonus.
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Oklahoma City Thunder Potential Rotation
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander/ Cason Wallace
SG Jordan Clarkson/ Isaiah Joe/ Ja'Kobe Walter
SF Luguentz Dort/ Aaron Wiggins/ Kenrich Williams
PF Jalen Williams/ Gordon Hayward/ Taylor Hendricks
C Chet Holmgren/ Mike Muscala
Hornets Offseason Moves
Draft Donovan Clingan |C| (3rd)
Draft Alex Karaban |SF| (42nd)
Trade a Second-Round Pick to OKC for Lindy Waters III
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Trade Explanation
Pushing 27, he is neither especially young nor a household name. But Charlotte should feel obligated to surround Brandon Miller and a healthier LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams with as much shooting as humanly possible. And Waters can shuh-oot.
Through his first three seasons, in admittedly limited action, he's averaging over 11 three-point attempts per 36 minutes and downing them at a 37.7 percent clip. He ups the intrigue even further with the chops to score off motion and his knack for relocating mid-possession into better sight lines for his ball-handlers. And while self-creation isn't his thing, he has shown the ability to skitter into the lane, maintain his dribble and find floaters or scoring opportunities for others.
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Charlotte Hornets Potential Rotation
PG LaMelo Ball/ Vasilije Micic/ Seth Curry
SG Cody Martin/ Tre Mann/ Nick Smith Jr.
SF Brandon Miller/ Lindy Waters III/ Bryce McGowens/ Alex Karaban
PF Grant Williams/ Aleksej Pokusevski
C Mark Williams/ Nick Richards/ Donovan Clingan
Jazz Offseason Moves
Draft Dalton Knecht |SG/SF| (8th)
Draft Tyler Kolek |PG| (29th)
Draft Pacome Dadiet |SF/PF| (32nd)
Trade Lauri Markkanen to HOU for Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, a First-Round Pick, and a Second-Round Pick
Trade Jordan Clarkson and Taylor Hendricks to OKC for Josh Giddey, Jaylin Williams, Ousmane Dieng, and a First-Round Pick
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Trade Explanation
The Houston Rockets are further down the rebuild road than the Utah Jazz, which makes the soon-to-be 27-year-old Markkanen a more sensible fit for the former. Just look at the players leading each respective team at the point guard position; Fred VanVleet is a 30-year-old title-winner, while Keyonte George is a decade younger with only a single inefficient struggle of a rookie campaign under his belt. There's no mistaking which squad is more committed to stacking wins in 2024-25.
Between Keyonte George and Collin Sexton, the Jazz's backcourt scoring department is in good long-term shape. That makes Jordan Clarkson expendable, and he goes to the Thunder here for a package headlined by Giddey, a pass-first jack of all trades who could ease the playmaking burden on Utah's young guards.
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Utah Jazz Potential Rotation
PG Josh Giddey/ Kris Dunn/ Tyler Kolek
SG Collin Sexton/ Keyonte George/ Johnny Juzang
SF Cam Whitmore/ Dalton Knecht/ Brice Sensabaugh
PF Jabari Smith Jr./ Ousmane Dieng/ Pacome Dadiet
C John Collins/ Walker Kessler/ Jaylin Williams
Rockets Offseason Moves
Draft Reed Sheppard |PG/SG| (9th)
Draft Jaxson Robinson |SF| (44th)
Trade Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, a First-Round Pick, and a Second-Round Pick to UTA for Lauri Markkanen
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Trade Explanation
Houston has Green and Sengün's extensions to think about, so adding Markkanen, who'll likely need a nine-figure deal of his own in short order, might be a little intimidating. But if the Rockets are serious about taking the next step, it's time to give up some of their future assets for someone who can make a real difference now.
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Houston Rockets Potential Rotation
PG Fred Vanvleet/ Reed Sheppard
SG Jalen Green/ Jae'Sean Tate
SF Dillon Brooks/ Amen Thompson/ Jaxson Robinson
PF Lauri Markkanen/ Tari Eason/ Jeff Green
C Alperen Sengun/ Steven Adams/ Jock Landale