Most of the NBA trade rumors have gone the way of the dinosaur now that free agency itself is all but over, but here is one you likely have not heard yet.

Reports say the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to move center Hasheem Thabeet in order to gain a third trade exception. Suitors for Thabeet’s services are still unknown at this time.

The report comes from John Rohde of The Oklahoman:

The fact $500,000 would stay on OKC’s books even if Thabeet is released could be his biggest leverage to remain on the roster because the Thunder has much better things to do than forfeit half a million bucks to someone no longer on the team. Then again, Thabeet could be dealt to another team and become the Thunder’s third trade exception (roughly $2.5 million for Eric Maynor, which expires Feb. 21, 2014; roughly $6.6 million for Kevin Martin, which expires July 11, 2014).

The finances of his deal should prevent Thabeet from being released outright. Then again, it’s hard to know if any teams will want to trade anything at all for him after what has been a disappointing four years in the NBA to date.

Watch for this one to progress slowly. The Thunder are going to have to convince other teams they have no intention of releasing Thabeet first before a deal can be struck.

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