The Thunder could be more than $20 million under the cap next season, meaning it has the space to take on contracts with additional years without as much consequence.

Reason No. 1 why the Thunder could be inactive: average player assets. Yes, Oklahoma City has the expiring contracts of Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith, Desmond Mason, Robert Swift and Mo Sene. But those players don't have much value if a team is interested in more than just dumping salary.

Wilcox and Smith could help a competitive team in the second half, but Mason is out for the season, Swift can't be traded without his consent and Sene is still a project.

Reason No. 2 the Thunder could be active: its other assets. Oklahoma City has five first-round draft picks over the next two years, including three this year. The Thunder also has the draft rights to Serge Ibaka, who has drawn interest from around the league.

Reason No. 2 the Thunder could be inactive: those assets are all either too valuable to part with or won't pay off for at least a few seasons. Unless the Thunder gets extremely eager, or finds a partner willing to be patient, it's unlikely these will come into play.

Reason No. 3 the Thunder could make a trade: needs. At last check the starting shooting guard is a rookie, and the starting center is a power forward.

Reason No. 3 the Thunder could not trade: disinterest. GM Sam Presti might be shopping for a shooter and center, but that doesn't guarantee there is quality available at those positions.

Reason No. 4 the Thunder could make a deal: Presti. The guy was born to make deals. His trade count is up to 10 in less than two years on the job.

And reason No. 4 why this trade deadline could pass the Thunder by: Presti. He's only fleeced a few (Orlando, Phoenix and Denver), but you can believe he's got the rest of the league cautious not to be next.

Wheelers and dealersThree GMs who aren't afraid to pull the trigger on a deal.

Bryan Colangelo, Toronto

The bold moves started during his Phoenix days and have continued north of the border. Some have been boneheaded - sending Jason Kidd from Phoenix to New Jersey for Stephon Marbury - and some brilliant (later flipping Marbury for expiring contracts that led to the free agent signing of Steve Nash). Colangelo's recent history includes trading Charlie Villanueva for T.J. Ford before later trading Ford for Jermaine O'Neal and eventually parting with O'Neal for Shawn Marion.

Sam Presti, Oklahoma City

Ten trades in less than two years on the job certainly will pad the resume. So far, he's been in mostly tear-down mode with his deals, agreeing to anything that will shed salary while possibly adding a future draft pick in return. The names Donyell Marshall, Adrian Griffin, Ira Newble, Francisco Elson and Brent Barry say it all. Time will tell what kinds of deals Presti is capable of fetching when the goal turns into acquiring players who can actually help the team over the long haul.

Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail

Because of this one man, it's become nearly impossible to keep track of the NBA Draft. Pritchard made two trades in the 2007 Draft, sending Zach Randolph to New York for Steve Francis and Channing Frye and acquired James Jones and Rudy Fernandez from Phoenix in exchange for cash. Last year, he swapped top 15 picks Brandon Rush for Jerryd Bayless and later acquired Nicolas Batum for Darrell Arthur and Joey Dorsey.

Bargain basement

Three players who are good bargains.

Keyon Dooling, New Jersey NetsAn explosive guard with two years remaining on his contract after this season at just $7.4 million. He'd be a great fit on expectant playoff teams as a versatile reserve. Backing up San Antonio point guard Tony Parker, for example, or Denver's Chauncey Billups would give a team just one more threat playoff opponents would have to take into account.

Charlie Villanueva, Milwaukee BucksA near 16-point scorer is playing for a dirt cheap $3.4 million this season. But he's in store to get closer to his worth in free agency this summer, which might make teams leery of trading for him. A team such as Dallas, however, with deep pockets owner Mark Cuban could take a chance in an attempt to beef up it frontcourt for the postseason.

Joakim Noah, Chicago BullsHe's making just $2.2 million in the second year of his rookie contract and has seen his immature act wear thin on Bulls fans and front office executives. It wouldn't come as a shock to see teams such as Detroit and San Antonio, two franchises continuously looking to get younger, make a run at Noah.

Say goodbyeThree Thunder players who might be on the way out.

Joe Smith

He has the most value because of his expiring $4.7 million contract and also because of what he can add to a playoff team. The Thunder has already reportedly offered Smith to Sacramento for guard/forward John Salmons. A future first-round pick could also be enticing enough to part ways with Smith.

Chris Wilcox

Teams likely are interested more in his expiring $6.75 million contract than what he can do for them on the court in the second half. It's unlikely Wilcox alone could bring back much value. But if he's packaged with Smith and, say a draft pick, it could lead to a young quality defensive-minded center such as New Orleans' Tyson Chandler or Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert.

Earl Watson

The tricky part is finding a taker for the $6.6 million he'll earn next year. The Thunder has searched high and low for Watson a new home and came close when he was almost sent to Charlotte in a three-team deal that would have brought in Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse.

Say helloThree players who might be on the verge of joining the Thunder.

Tyson Chandler, New Orleans Financial concerns in New Orleans have the Hornets ready to part with one of the game's best young, defensive big men. Chandler is earning $11.3 million this season, and a deal for Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith would work under the league's collective bargaining agreement rules.

John Salmons, Sacramento Oklahoma City will have to offer more than just Smith to land this multifaceted swingman. The Kings are admittedly open to trading anyone not named Kevin Martin, but Salmons has driven the price up with his career-high 18.3-point scoring average. Still, his manageable contract, at just $11.2 million over the next two seasons, makes him a worthwhile acquisition.

Marquis Daniels, Indiana He has an injury-riddled history, but a nice all-around game and would add some perimeter D. A straight-up trade for Chris Wilcox would work under the salary cap. The Pacers, with shooting guards Mike Dunleavy and rookie Brandon Rush, could be in a position to send off Daniels.

Trading to saveThree teams that might trade to shed salary.

Phoenix

The arrival of Shaquille O'Neal and his $20 million salary this year and next season has effectively hamstrung the franchise. It's put the Suns well over the luxury tax line with more than $75 million in salaries on the books this year and next. To recoup some of that coin, the Suns have put All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire and his $34 million contract over the next two seasons on the block and are asking for a mix of expiring deals, young talent and future draft picks in exchange.

Milwaukee

The Bucks have committed more than $180 million to Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and Dan Gadzuric. And they took on the final three years, $42 million of Richard Jefferson's deal in the Yi Jianlian trade. All this only to be on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third straight year? Bucks owner Herb Kohl started dumping salary in last summer's three-team trade that sent Mo Williams' remaining five-year, $43-million contract to Cleveland. While Milwaukee's likely stuck with the injured Redd, Kohl could sign off on shipping Jefferson to a needy playoff team like Houston to help the Bucks continue climbing out of the hole they've dug themselves.

New Orleans

It was only a matter of time before the five-year, $64-million contract Peja's Stojakovic signed in 2006 backfired. Now, the Hornets are going through financial wrangling with the state of Louisiana, underachieving on the court and can't trade Stojakovic. Worse, New Orleans has more than $76 million tied up in salaries next season, and Stojakovic's $14.2 million in 2009-10 sets the pace. The Hornets might be forced to deal center Tyson Chandler.

Trading for a championshipThree teams that might trade to increase their championship chances.

Boston

Are they really banking on Tony Allen and Eddie House to replace James Posey and Leon Powe and Glen Davis to do the same for P.J. Brown? The Celtics have long been rumored to be interested in a player such as the Thunder's Joe Smith, who is playoff tested and can consistently hit an 18-footer while playing solid defense at the other end.

Houston

Tracy McGrady can't stay healthy, and the window of opportunity is rapidly closing. A report on a Houston radio station over the weekend said the Rockets are discussing a deal with Utah that would send Carlos Boozer to Houston in exchange for Ron Artest and Luis Scola.

Cleveland

Might that 0-2 mark against the Lakers have opened some eyes? Think Amare Stoudemire could help? The trade winds of Stoudemire to Cleveland started blowing hard over the All-Star Weekend, and the Cavs would have a great shot at winning it all if they added Stoudemire to a mix that includes LeBron James, Mo Williams and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.