Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 OKC stars that are unlikely to finish the season with the team

Back in April, the Oklahoma City Thunder were eliminated in the first round of the postseason for the third consecutive season. However, with Paul George and Russell Westbrook both in their prime, the team was expected to regroup for at least one more season together.

Nevertheless, George requested a shock trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, and general manager Sam Presti eventually accepted the All-Star's request. Russell Westbrook soon followed PG13 out of Oklahoma City, while Jerami Grant also departed for Denver.

After losing three of their starters from last season, the Thunder are no longer in a position to contend, and Presti has quickly embarked on the first rebuild in the franchises 11-year history in Oklahoma City.

With the Thunder set to focus on developing youth, more departures are expected in the coming months, and here we will look at three players that are unlikely to finish the season as members of the OKC roster.

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#3 Danilo Gallinari

Danilo Gallinari enjoyed a solid Olympics with Italy

Danilo Gallinari arrived as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Paul George to the LA Clippers, and the Italian is coming off the best season of his career. During the 18-19 campaign, Gallinari averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, while shooting 43% from beyond the arc. However, Gallinari turned 31 last month and is entering the final year of his contract.

Gallinari's stock in the NBA is at an all-time high, and the Italian is especially valuable in a league that prizes three-point shooters more than ever before. Gallinari's is owed a sizeable $22 million for the season, although it is likely that a contending team will swoop for the sniper ahead of the trade deadline.

#2 Nerlens Noel

Nerlens Noel has taken on a backup role with the Thunder

Just two years ago Nerlens Noel turned down a four-year, $70 million contract from the Dallas Mavericks. The center believed that he would be able to command a bigger deal 12 months later, and eventually signed a one-year, $4.1 million qualifying offer with Dallas. However, Noel played just 30 times during the 17-18 season and only managed to attract a one-year $1.7 million contract from the Thunder last summer.

In Oklahoma City, Noel has been fielded as a backup to Steven Adams and averaged just 13.7 minutes per game during his first season with the team. Nevertheless, Noel has impressed during his time on the court and is signed to an extremely team-friendly deal worth just $2 million.

Noel will also become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and a draft pick should be enough to convince the Thunder to part with the former Philadelphia star. Interest is also likely to materialize as teams attempt to add depth, and only a Steven Adams trade could keep Noel with the Thunder.

#1 Chris Paul

Chris Paul was let go by the Houston Rockets after just two seasons

Chris Paul signed a four-year contract worth more than $150 million with the Houston Rockets last summer, and the former All-Star was expected to spend his remaining prime years competing for a championship alongside James Harden. However, Paul was sent to the Thunder as part of the trade for Westbrook after reportedly falling out with his backcourt partner.

Paul is still among the NBA's best point guards, but the former All-Star turned 34 earlier this year and is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. The Thunder are also keen to field the recently acquired Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at point guard, and Paul himself is unlikely to want to spend the end of his prime years with an out of contention team.

Ultimately, Paul's presence in Oklahoma City isn't doing much good, and it is unlikely that he will see out the season with the Thunder.