NBA Trade Rumors: Why OKC Thunder Should Hold on to First-Round Pick

When you're the Oklahoma City Thunder, what's the 28th pick in the draft going to get you?

As they apparently see it, not much.

According to HOOPSWORLD's Alex Kennedy, OKC is looking to deal its pick in the upcoming NBA draft:

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The Thunder hold pick No. 28, but it’s unlikely that they’ll keep it. Sources close to the situation say that Oklahoma City is satisfied with their young core and they aren’t interested in paying a prospect guaranteed money when he likely won’t be part of the rotation. The Thunder will likely trade or sell the pick. If they aren’t able to move the selection, expect them to draft a foreign player who they can keep overseas for several years.

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Of course, there's at least some logic to the notion of maintaining the status quo, but it's hardly an unassailable one. For one thing, this is a deep draft, deep enough enough to find immediate help late into the first round.

For another, the Thunder are by no means a complete roster.

OKC could use bench scoring to ease the pressure on James Harden to do it all as the sixth man. The club similarly needs interior depth behind Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka, perhaps even a guy with better scoring ability than Nick Collison—St. Bonaventure's Andrew Nicholson comes to mind.

If a low-post scorer like the red-flagged Jared Sullinger remains, that wouldn't hurt either.

The notion that the Thunder need to save money by foregoing a late first-round pick doesn't make a lot of sense, not when that pick could potentially replace a more expensive piece on OKC's roster.

Besides, what difference does another million bucks per season make over the long-term, even with luxury taxes tacked on?

General manager Sam Presti understands the potential value of a late first-round pick as much as anyone. After all, he's the guy who—while working in the San Antonio Spurs' front office—encouraged general manager R.C. Buford to take a chance on Tony Parker.

Parker was taken with none other than the 28th pick.

There's always a chance to land exceptional value late in the first round, and affordable value at that.

With guys like James Harden and Serge Ibaka due significant raises in the not-too-distant future, taking a shot with someone who will be locked into a rookie contract for the next few years would help expand the organization's options.

Sure, there are no guarantees.

But, that's not a reason to give up on a prospect without first seeing what he can do for Oklahoma City.