ESPN Insider Says OKC Thunder Are Sending “Mix Signals” Ahead of NBA Trade Deadline

The Oklahoma City Thunder are in a prime position to improve their roster ahead of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline based on their standing in the Western Conference. However, General Manager Sam Presti is sending "mixed signals" around the league, according to Zach Lowe.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are primed to be buyers at the NBA Trade Deadline if you look at their 34-15 record. However, given the youthful state of their roster, General Manager Sam Presti is able to send the NBA "mixed signals" this time of year, according to NBA Insider Zach Lowe on his Lowe Post Podcast on the ESPN Podcast Network. 

"Oklahoma City, the intel, much as they would probably like it to be, is just all over the place on Oklahoma City. I have had people tell me, 'Based on our conversations, we think they are going to be aggressive, maybe, I don't know, it is hard to tell.' and I have had other people tell me, 'Based on our conversations they are probably going to stand pat, and just let it ride in the playoffs' and they do want to see what this team does in the playoffs, it is a young team." Lowe said during the final segment of his show. 

Zach Lowe and ESPN analyst Chris Herring debated this topic, trying to predict what the Thunder will do this week. As Lowe said, this is exactly what Oklahoma City wants.  

Sam Presti is afforded the luxury of playing his cards close to his vest because there is no wrong answer. Letting this young team play it out as good as they are is a great call to give yourself enough data points for this offseason to make roster moves. 

However, you could also argue the Thunder are in a position to be an aggressive buyer at Thursday's deadline to help improve this club. With reports surfaces that they are willing to explore grabbing a veteran big man.  

Ultimately, I think the Thunder will make a move at the NBA Trade Deadline, even if it is to improve the team on the margins as they did last year, grabbing Dario Saric from the Phoenix Suns.

Presti is one of the more surprising General Managers in the sport, so no one has him truly figured out. Nothing would be shocking come Thursday with whispers of a big move potentially coming. 

This is the same team that swooped in and trade for Paul George out of nowhere in the summer of 2017. So, rival teams experiencing some misdirection is not that surprising. 

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