NBA Trade Rumors: Brook Lopez To Oklahoma City Thunder? Sources Confirm Inquiry But Thunder Took Dion Waiters Instead! Experts Call A Good Trade

The NBA trade rumors had a postmortem on Brook Lopez drawing interest from the Oklahoma City Thunder. What was the offer and what made them take a different direction? Will they regret passing up on the Brooklyn big man?

The Oklahoma City Thunder is definitely in the hunt for the championship. Everyone knows they only started slow because of the injuries to their two superstars. Now that they are back, observers are reserving the eighth playoff spot for them.

Even then, the Western Conference is very competitive and they want to win a title before Kevin Durant's contract expires. Anticipating the frontline battle in the playoffs, the Thunder reportedly checked in on Brook Lopez. These are the tweets from ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk:

"Was told Nets + OKC recently talked involving Lopez, K. Perkins (expiring deal), P. Jones, L. Thomas but stood pat liking how they've played

Brook Lopez is averaging 20.7 ppg and 8.2 rebounds in last four games. Nets had won 6-of-7 before losing last two close games."

However, the Thunder didn't pull the trigger perhaps they were worried about the effect on team chemistry since they will lose too many players on their rotation. Also, they seem to have confidence in sophomore Steven Adams. In any case, the OKC Thunder went to address a different need-an extra scorer.

They saw an opportunity to grab Dion Waiters from the Cavaliers without giving up anyone substantial. The initial assessment from ESPN:

"Good. Waiters hasn't been good for the Cavs this season, but if he had been, the Thunder probably wouldn't have been able to get him for a nonguaranteed training camp invite and heavily protected first-round pick. Assuming Waiters buys into what Scott Brooks sells him, the Thunder now have one of the deepest, most potent offensive benches in the league to support Durant and Westbrook."

Still, the only way to judge a trade is its effect on the team after a considerable period of time. At the surface, the Thunder is a good, solid team that just got better.

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