Goodbye, Hami

Hamidou Diallo is headed to Detroit in exchange for Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a 2027 second round pick. In the first of what could be several trades as this season’s deadline approaches, Thunder VP & GM Sam Presti once again swapped a more known commodity for upside on the horizon. Diallo was set to enter restricted free agency this summer, when the Thunder would’ve had to choose between committing to the athletic fan-favorite or letting him go without compensation.

Moving on from Diallo, just 22, reinforces our understanding that OKC is  very focused on the long-term rebuild, over and against any goals for the present year. The third-year wing was enjoying a breakout year with career per-game highs in points (11.9), rebounds (5.2), and shooting percentages across the board (48% FG / 29.1% 3P / 62.9% FT), even developing some experience as a backup point guard.

Mykhailiuk is actually one year Diallo’s senior, but represents a better fit for the Thunder philosophy of the future–skill and shooting–in contrast to the recent era of ball domination and lack of spacing. The 6’7 small forward has averaged 36.9% in career three-point shooting and just registered a career-high in assists (8) for the Pistons in his fifth start of the season.

More about the trade and its fallout will surely be coming. Stay tuned to Daily Thunder for more coverage.