Despite the Oklahoma City Thunder not landing Brook Lopez, they still managed to have a busy day in the hours leading up to Thursday's NBA trade deadline. The Thunder found new homes for Reggie Jackson and Kendrick Perkins, while adding Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter and three other players.
Oklahoma City completed a three-team trade on Thursday with the Detroit Pistons and the Utah Jazz. General manager Sam Presti sent Jackson to Detroit and Perkins, forward Grant Jerrett, draft rights to Tibor Pleiss and a protected 2017 first-round pick to Utah. In exchange, Oklahoma City received Kanter and forward Steve Novak from Utah and guard D.J. Augustin, forward Kyle Singler and a 2019 second-round pick from Detroit.
Utah also received a 2017 second-round pick from Detroit.
Presti's statement (via team website):
"We're extremely pleased to welcome Enes, Steve, D.J. and Kyle. We feel we have added talent, toughness and commitment to our roster and we are excited about the depth and versatility these additions provide. It is a rare opportunity to acquire a player like Enes who will be an added dimension to our frontcourt and has his best basketball in front of him. Kyle, D.J. and Steve are professionals of the highest order and players that we believe will be committed now and in the future. It is important that we all thank Kendrick Perkins for his contributions to the organization. He had a direct impact on the trajectory of our team and helped us grow immeasurably in ways that will be felt years to come. We also want to thank Reggie Jackson for his contributions and wish him the best of luck as he starts the next phase of his career, as well as Grant Jerrett whose work ethic and dedication will carry him far in this league."
Perkins was beloved by his teammates, but Kanter's versatility makes him an upgrade in the paint for Oklahoma City.
*Trade details provided by team website.
