The Thunder Acquired Thabo Sefolosha for a Future First
On February 19, 2009, Chicago traded wing defender Thabo Sefolosha to Oklahoma City for a 2009 first-round draft selection. The Thunder’s official announcement specified the least favorable of two picks it held from Denver and San Antonio, while Chicago’s own release confirmed the basic terms. The selection eventually became No. 26 and was used to draft USC forward Taj Gibson. Chicago was replenishing its young frontcourt while Oklahoma City sought a defensive-minded perimeter player to accompany Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. There was no major existing scorer coming back to the Bulls on the day of the trade; its principal return was a future draft opportunity, not a guaranteed veteran rotation player. The teams were building different complementary pieces for their developing cores.
Gibson Became a Durable Bulls Frontcourt Contributor
The Bulls selected Gibson at No. 26 in the 2009 draft. He made an immediate impression with rebounding, defensive effort and reliable frontcourt minutes, later becoming a key member of Chicago’s competitive Derrick Rose-era teams. His Chicago career extended across many seasons, including deep postseason runs. Gibson was particularly useful as a reserve power forward and occasional starter, providing interior defense while more prominent scorers handled the offense. That long-term Chicago production supports an A+ inherited grade without requiring that the second-half 2009 trade itself produced a scorer right away. It is the drafted player’s sustained team-specific contribution that distinguishes this deal. The selection did not become an unexercised conditional pick: No. 26 was used on an actual NBA forward with significant Chicago playing time.
Sefolosha Also Helped Oklahoma City Become a Contender
Sefolosha was far from a wasted Thunder acquisition. He became a regular starting guard or wing on a roster built around Durant and Westbrook, defending opposing perimeter scorers while providing lower-volume offense. Oklahoma City advanced to the 2012 NBA Finals during his tenure, with Sefolosha part of the main rotation. The inherited D grade for the Thunder therefore seems unusually harsh compared with his long tenure and role on a Finals team. That does not erase the value Chicago obtained from Gibson, but it makes the winner less one-sided than the grade gap implies. A complete hindsight analysis must distinguish the future pick’s Chicago impact from Sefolosha’s real Oklahoma City games instead of treating the Thunder’s side as no return. The record still identifies Chicago as the winner in the original evaluation.
Final Verdict
Bulls Win in the inherited A+ Chicago to D Oklahoma City assessment. Chicago drafted Taj Gibson at No. 26 with the received first-round pick, securing years of frontcourt production. The Thunder obtained Thabo Sefolosha, a meaningful defender on their 2012 Finals team, so the existing grade gap may overstate the difference.