The Oklahoma City Thunder are doing their best to improve their playoff hopes.
According to The Vertical’s Shams Charania, the Thunder are working on a trade to acquire Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott from the Chicago Bulls. Charania says the Thunder will send Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow to the Bulls for Gibson, McDermott and a second-round pick.
Sources: OKC and Chicago are nearing agreement on a trade to send package centered on Cameron Payne for Doug McDermott and Taj Gibson.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2017
OKC sending Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow, w/ CHI sending '18 second-round pick with McDermott and Gibson, sources tell @TheVertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2017
Gibson is a veteran forward averaging 11.6 points and 7 rebounds per game. He should give the Thunder some extra depth in the frontcourt, particularly with Enes Kanter out. McDermott’s specialty is his three-point shooting. He’s making 44.5 percent of his field goals and 37.3 of his threes this season. Both players should help OKC, while the Thunder aren’t losing a ton.
Payne was the No. 14 overall pick by OKC in 2015 and is a bench player. Lauvergne was a 2013 draft pick who was stashed in Europe but is now in his third NBA season. The center has shown some promise in limited minutes, as he’s averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Morrow is another bench player whom the Thunder shouldn’t miss too much.
