As the NBA trade deadline nears, the Oklahoma City Thunder should focus on touching up the corners — if that. No need to fundamentally change the painting. The Thunder have been the league's best team this season.

The NBA Trade Deadline is officially here, with just a handful of hours until teams are locked into place for the remainder of the season as it relates to making deals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the very best team in the Western Conference and one of the favorites to win the NBA Finals, and they amassed a 40-9 record largely without their second-best player, Chet Holmgren.

With Theis gone, the Thunder now have an open roster spot. They could use it to convert Ajay Mitchell to a standard deal. The two-way rookie has played well despite toe surgery likely knocking him out for the rest of the regular season. No need to risk exposing him to restricted free agency.

The Thunder have waived Daniel Theis, the team announced in a press release. Oklahoma City acquired Theis and a 2031 second-round pick in a trade with New Orleans on Wednesday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder recently found out which All-Star team they will be playing on this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 50 points and the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Phoenix Suns 140-109 on Wednesday night to improve to 40-9. The Thunder said Gilgeous-Alexander became the ninth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points three times in a seven-game span.

Here's what the Oklahoma City Thunder said about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 50 points against the Phoenix Suns.

Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward Chet Holmgren announced his return to the court on social media Thursday.

Chet Holmgren is set to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup Friday night for the first time since suffering a hip fracture in November, according to an ESPN report.