OKC Thunder give Steven Adams help, trade for Taj Gibson?

Because Indiana passed on trade offers for Paul George, and because George appears headed to the Lakers first chance he gets, the Butler-to-Boston rumors can resume as soon as the lottery determines where the Nets’ first-round pick gets slotted.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma City Thunder have added some help for Russell Westbrook acquiring Chicago Bulls forwards Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott just before the National Basketball Association trade deadline.

What’s similar with these three newly acquired players for the Bulls is that they are all bench players. He’s shooting 37 percent from 3 and will fill a significant area of need for the Thunder as a perimeter shooter and scorer. Gibson has started 55 games for the Bulls this year.

The Chicago Bulls have finally made a trade. Gibson likes the idea of joining a victor, and he’s excited to play with Westbrook, the league’s leading scorer. The 31-year-old has averaged 11.6 points and seven rebounds for the campaign, and will seemingly replace the young Domantas Sabonis in order to aid the Thunder on defense.

The Bulls will get immediately worse with the trade, but they still have a very good shot at making the playoffs.

Giving the ball back to the Bulls, they hold the No. 7 seed in the East thanks to their 28-29 record.

Gibson, a free agent this summer, has long worked as one of the league’s more underrated players as a combo center/forward.

From an enjoyment perspective, it hurts to lose Gibson.

In exchange, the Bulls will be receiving a litany of players headlined by point guard Cameron Payne.

Payne averaged 5.3 points in 20 games for the Thunder. From the incredible support that we get every night at the United Center to the reaction I always receive walking down the streets, it would be impossible for all of you to make me feel more special.

Payne has only played 1,018 career minutes, so his future is far from determined. Highlighting the deal, the Bulls will be sending swingman Doug McDermott and veteran big man Taj Gibson to the Thunder. He’s also dealing with foot injuries.

The Phoenix Suns sent a protected second-round pick and cash to the Atlanta Hawks for forward Mike Scott (2.5 ppg., 2.1 rpg.) and the draft rights to Cenk Akyol.