The Oklahoma City Thunder have been thrown into chaos by the injuries to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, and league chatter is already pointing them toward the trade market.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst, executives around the NBA expect Oklahoma City to make a move before the 2027 NBA trade deadline if it wants to patch things together after losing two key young pieces. One potential path, MacMahon reported, would send the Thunder toward New Orleans and two very familiar names: Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III.
"If Presti does elect to pursue a deal, multiple executives identified the New Orleans Pelicans as a potential trade partner with defensive stopper Herb Jones or 3-and-D wing Trey Murphy III as possible targets," MacMahon wrote. "The Pelicans have set a high asking price for Murphy in recent transaction cycles, making it clear that multiple first-round picks would need to be involved to pique their interest, according to league sources."
That is a hefty price tag, but it also tells you the kind of players OKC would be chasing. Murphy III has become one of the league’s most coveted wings for years, and he’s putting together another strong season: 14.2 points on 46.4% shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists, plus 35.5% from 3 on 6.2 attempts. Jones has been in trade speculation for years as well, and this season he’s averaging six points on 46.2% shooting and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 22.2% from 3 on 1.8 attempts.
On paper, either Pelicans piece would make sense as a way to stabilize a shattered rotation. But the fit is only part of the equation.
Murphy III is on a three-year, $87 million contract, and Jones is set to start a three-year, $67.6 million deal next season. That is a serious financial commitment for a team that would be making what amounts to a stopgap move.
As one Eastern Conference executive told ESPN, "That's not who they are," adding, "I think they'd rather play their young guys and see what they have."
That’s the tension here. Oklahoma City may be forced to explore help, but a major long-term swing feels unlikely with Williams and Wallace still viewed as core pieces even after their injuries. If the Thunder do act, a rental seems more realistic than a heavy contract that clogs the books.
Still, rival executives clearly believe something is coming. The size of that move - and whether it happens at all - will depend on how the next few months unfold. Even in the middle of this wreckage, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives the Thunder a puncher’s chance against anybody.
In Other News...
Shais New Thunder Burden Could Be Costing OKC Its Biggest Edge
Early in the 2026-27 season, the Thunder are already juggling a thinner rotation than they hoped for, with Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace out long term and the burden spreading across the roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had to absorb more on both ends, and the extra defensive load is showing up in the way Oklahoma City is trying to survive these stretches without losing the edge that has made it so hard to beat.
The concern is that the added responsibility may be trimming into the part of his game that usually carries the Thunder most. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 26.0 points per game, and Oklahoma City is still waiting for Chet Holmgren to return and help restore some balance. Until then, the Thunder are counting on their star to keep producing at his usual level while doing more of the heavy lifting defensively, a combination that could determine how long they can stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Addressed A Growing Problem On The Wing
With wing injuries piling up and the roster already stretched thin, the Thunder are moving to add some immediate depth by bringing in free agent swingman Ochai Agbaji. The 2022 first-round pick was recently waived by the Knicks, and Oklahoma City is expected to bring him in on a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary deal as it tries to stabilize a position group that has taken a hit in recent days.
For a team trying to keep its flexibility intact while navigating a rash of absences, the move is as much about roster management as it is about one players fit. Agbaji gives the Thunder another body on the wing and keeps the front office positioned to explore additional short-term help if the injury situation continues to demand it. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Suddenly Face A Chet Holmgren Problem They Can't Ignore
The Thunders injury picture got a lot more complicated this week, and Chet Holmgren is now at the center of it. Oklahoma City announced that Holmgren underwent a biological treatment for a small patellar tendon tear in his right knee, adding another significant absence to a roster that is already dealing with injuries and surgeries for Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, along with other players currently sidelined.
For a team built on depth, flexibility and constant lineup churn, the timing is especially awkward. Oklahoma City plans to sign Ochai Agbaji to fill its 15th roster spot, and the front office may also need to explore a hardship exception if the injury list keeps growing. The Thunder have managed roster turbulence before, but this stretch is forcing them to navigate more than just a short-term patch job. [Read more 🡒]