Best Potential 2016-17 NBA Trade Deadline Targets for Oklahoma City Thunder

At 22-16, the Oklahoma City Thunder are seventh in the Western Conference and six games in the clear for the playoffs. With a real chance to compete for first-round home-court advantage, it's only reasonable to explore the trade market.

The Thunder entered the season with a young roster and unclear expectations, but Russell Westbrook's heroics have propelled the team forward and OKC could look to bolster its roster immediately.

Perimeter shooting remains shaky, and despite Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams being excellent players, the team still lacks a reliable secondary scorer. According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, that's what OKC is looking for, but finding the right trade could be tricky.

OKC could make noise in the playoffs with a solid veteran addition, but it may come at the cost of developing talent. One way or another, wing depth remains a huge weakness following Kevin Durant's departure in the offseason.

The candidates in the following slides all come at different price tags, and they're listed in no particular order.

Paul Millsap

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The Atlanta Hawks are exploring their options, and they might end up shopping Paul Millsap, according to Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Millsap, who turns 32 in February, has reportedly already decided to opt out of his $21.4 million player option this summer.

Millsap is one of the NBA's best power forwards—he can score in the post, has a great shooting touch, can pass and is a superb defender. He can switch onto guards and hold his own, making him an excellent option in any defensive scheme.

Those skills would provide the Thunder a tremendous boost, even despite rookie Domantas Sabonis' solid play there so far. But there are question marks. Would the Hawks be happy with a package that includes Enes Kanter? Would Millsap be willing to re-sign with OKC? Is Oklahoma City even willing to pay his next contract?

Millsap would help the Thunder win now, but paying what figures to be close to a max deal for a 32-year-old big is always scary. However, Kanter hasn't had a great season, and getting rid of his contract wouldn't be a terrible proposition, even if a potential trade would result in only a short-term rental.

While many teams would love to grab Millsap, there shouldn't be a massive bidding war for his expiring contract, and OKC could have a realistic chance to land him. Stein reported that Atlanta is looking for a first-round pick in exchange for the forward, and sacrificing their 2017 selection wouldn't be too painful for the Thunder.

Rudy Gay

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Rudy Gay has a $14.3 million player option next season, and he has reportedly informed the Sacramento Kings of his intentions to decline it in favor of unrestricted free agency, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.

ESPN.com's Zach Lowe reported the Thunder are interested in Gay's services, providing reasonable grounds for the pursuit: "They remain interested in bigger wings, including Rudy Gay, sources say, in part because such a player would slide everyone down to their intended spots: Oladipo to the bench and Andre Roberson back to defending shooting guards."

Gay may not be the optimal solution at small forward, but Lowe has a point. According to NBA.com, the opposition has outscored OKC by a ridiculous 13.0 points per 100 possessions with Westbrook on the bench this season, so another scorer could soften that blow. 

Oladipo hasn't had the opportunity to utilize his playmaking skills while sharing the court with Westbrook, but he could ably orchestrate the second unit and run the offense coming off the bench. Roberson can hold his own against bigger wings, but he would be able to share the defensive burden with Gay.

That said, the Thunder shouldn't break the bank to acquire Gay, especially since he'd be free to walk this summer. Moving Kanter would be fine, but point guard Cameron Payne, perhaps OKC's most valuable trade chip, shouldn't be on the table.

Danilo Gallinari

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With a scoring wing in high demand, players like the Denver Nuggets' Danilo Gallinari should interest OKC. The 28-year-old Italian forward is putting up 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 37.3 percent from deep.

Gallinari is a combo forward who spaces the floor, which would allow the Thunder to revitalize their offense with a stretch 4 on the court. He can create for himself and others off the dribble, and he's one of the craftiest players in the league when it comes to drawing fouls. He ranks 10th among small forwards in true shooting percentage, per ESPN.com.

Availability is a tricky factor here. On one hand, the Nuggets are in the middle of a rebuilding stage, and the team's veterans have seemingly been available at a premium for several seasons. On the flip side, Denver is just 1.5 games out of a playoff spot, so moving Gallinari would most likely mean giving up on the postseason.

Gallinari has a spotty injury history—he had his second ACL surgery in 2014—but he has never relied much on athleticism and hasn't lost a step. He is still just 28, so the Thunder shouldn't be too scared to pay his next contract if he opts out of his $16.1 million deal this summer.

If attainable, Gallinari should be a target; A player of his caliber would fill a crucial void and cement Oklahoma City among the West's elite.

Wilson Chandler

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Wilson Chandler has ironed out question marks after missing the entire 2015-16 season due to hip surgery. He is having arguably his best season, putting up 16.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

Chandler isn't as versatile a scorer as Gallinari or Gay, but he's still a well-rounded small forward who can attack off the dribble, rebound and move the ball. He can knock down threes, although he isn't particularly consistent in that department (33.9 percent career shooter).

Chandler is also a terrific defender. He is strong enough to hang with some power forwards, and he can also be effective when switching onto guards in pick-and-rolls. That positional versatility is valuable in the NBA.

He is on a reasonable contract that pays $12 million this year and includes a $12.8 million player option in 2018-19. That would give the Thunder plenty of time to evaluate Chandler's fit and decide whether he'd be a long-term solution on the wing.

The concern here is whether the Nuggets would listen to bids. If their season turns south approaching the deadline, the timing for OKC to cash in on Chandler's value would make sense.

Terrence Ross

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The Toronto Raptors' Terrence Ross is perhaps the least enticing name on this list, but he does possess a lot of what the Thunder lack. He is shooting a career-high 39.4 percent from three-point range and is the youngest out of these potential targets at 25.

Ross hasn't made a stride since his sophomore season, but he is a terrific athlete who excels in transition. His ability to run the floor and shoot would slot well in OKC's starting lineup where he could feast on the abundance of open looks created by Westbrook's drives. Ross could also get to the basket when defenders close out hard.

There are a couple of factors to be cautious about, though. Despite his athleticism, Ross doesn't exactly embrace contact, averaging fewer than one free-throw attempt per game during his career. He also isn't a great passer; the ball often sticks when it reaches his hands. That eliminates some of the movement, but having Ross as a secondary driving threat on kick-outs isn't a terrible proposition.

OKC wouldn't want to give up much for Ross, who plays behind DeMarre Carroll. Toronto lacks depth at power forward, and the Thunder wouldn't mind cutting ties with Kanter. However, the salaries don't quite match, and Oklahoma City would likely have to include another team or throw in a first-round pick to get a deal done.

A first-rounder may seem like a steep price for Ross, but getting rid of Kanter's contract ($36.5 million guaranteed for two more years) and gaining an athletic wing in return wouldn't be a shabby deal.

All statistics are accurate as of Jan. 8. All salary information is courtesy of Basketball Insiders.