Oklahoma City Thunder Must Trade for Depth to Go Alongside Pair of Superstars

The Oklahoma City Thunder has one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA—Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Aside from those two players, and 2012 Sixth Man of the Year front-runner, James Harden, the Thunder don't have much production on the offensive side of the ball, which is a major reason why they failed to make it to the NBA Finals last year, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.

While the Thunders' rotation is effective and productive the way it is now, there's no doubt that moving forward they need to add depth, especially offensively, if they want to be the elite team in the NBA in the next few years.

The Thunder lack depth, and the best way to add depth is by trading for the needs that exist on your team's roster, which is what the Thunder need to do.

Just take a look at the production that the Thunder get out of players not named Durant, Westbrook or Harden.

Durant, Westbrook, Harden - 68.6 points per game, 71.4 combined PER, 48.5 FG%

Ibaka, Sefolosha, Cook, Perkins - 23.8 points per game, 45.2 combined PER, 44.7 FG%

While those numbers aren't terrible, it's not the kind of production that can carry the Thunder to an NBA title this year or in the years to come, for that matter.

If Oklahoma City wants to be a more complete team, it has to move around some of the talent they  have, and a smart way for them to do that would be to make a move before the Mar. 15 trade deadline.

Here's the first player that the Thunder should target as the trade deadline approaches.

Minnesota Timberwolves SF Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley isn't the most consistent or efficient small forward in the NBA, but he would certainly be a major upgrade over who the Thunder have coming off the bench at the position.

Beasley's average production so far this year, of 11.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, are the kind of numbers that could help the Thunder turn the corner in the Western Conference.

The Thunder could realistically land Beasley for their first-round draft pick, which wouldn't be too hard to part with, since the Thunder don't have needs that they can immediately fill by drafting a player in the  draft, especially with the spot they'll be at.

While the Lakers are reportedly still pursing Michael Beasley, the Thunder would be wise to jump in and shake things up, by offering what the Lakers wouldn't, a 2012 first-round draft pick for the potentially productive small forward.

Utah Jazz PG Devin Harris

Devin Harris has been a shell of himself since being traded from the New Jersey Nets to the Utah Jazz, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have solid production left in his game.

While the Thunder would have to part with more than just a draft pick for Harris, he would be a solid option coming off the bench for the Thunder at both point guard and shooting guard. 

The Jazz are reportedly open to moving Devin Harris before the trade deadline, but the Thunder would have to put together an enticing package to get the Jazz, a rival in the Western Conference, to send them their starting point guard.

Oklahoma City might be able to get Harris by sending the Jazz Eric Maynor and a first-round draft pick, which would be a solid move for the Thunder to make.  While this move is unlikely, it's still something that the Thunder should consider as the trade deadline approaches.

If the Thunder want to contend in the West, and with teams like Chicago and Miami in the East, they're undoubtedly going to have to make some adjustments to their current rotation, and they can start by pulling off an under-the-radar trade before Mar. 15 passes.

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