Denver Nuggets shooting guard Randy Foye. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Oklahoma City Thunder is all set to make noise this coming season with the return of 2014 MVP Kevin Durant and a healthy Russell Westbrook. However, arguably the weakest link in their starting lineup is the shooting guard position where four players are currently competing for. This led to NBA trade rumors that the team may pursue Denver Nuggets' guard Randy Foye to fill the void.
According to Hoops Habit, the four Thunder candidates for the team's starting shooting guard spot are Andre Roberson, Anthony Morrow, Dion Waiters, and D.J. Augustin.
While this predicament may actually mean that the team has a lot of depth at the position, some analysts believe that Oklahoma may have a lot of shooting guards to choose from but none of them may be the perfect fit to play alongside Westbrook in the backcourt.
Roberson, the interim starter, is a defense-oriented player in the mold of Grizzlies' Tony Allen. The problem with the 23-year-old, two-year pro is that team defenses are likely to intentionally leave him open to disrupt the Thunder offense, much like what Golden State did to Memphis with Allen last postseason.
Morrow is overall a better shooter and offensive player, but his defense had always been suspect, which something that is not acceptable for a championship caliber team.
Waiters is a combination of both in the sense that he is a little inferior to Roberson when it comes to defense and also a tad poorer shooter than Morrow in offense. But the issue with the former Cavalier is his inconsistency.
Lastly, Augustine is a natural point guard and pairing 6-foot playmaker with Westbrook as a starter would make Oklahoma too small.
A recent article at Grantland suggested that the Thunder could trade for the Nuggets' veteran shooting guard, Foye, which "would be a nice fit" to Westbrook.
The write-up said that Oklahoma could offer bench player Kyle Singler and "a future second-rounder" in exchange for the 32-year-old shooter.
Foye is not an All-Star by any means, but his steady shooting touch, nice defense, court smarts, and locker room guidance would be a big boost to the Thunder's cause as they try to contend for the championship this season.
It remains to be seen, though, if Denver is willing to cooperate.
