With the NBA’s trade deadline set for 2 p.m. Thursday, rumors are swirling around the league.

Perhaps the most absurd one is that LeBron James will get traded. KTLA’s David Pingalore reported Thursday that the four-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP is at “the top” of the Lakers’ list to be dealt.

James’ agent, Klutch Sports Group founder Rich Paul, denied the report on Friday with a direct statement to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

“LeBron won’t be traded, and we aren’t asking to be,” Paul said.

Still, that hasn’t stopped people on social media from speculating which teams would be capable of prying James from Los Angeles.

A common name that has been thrown out is the OKC Thunder, which has a wealth of young prospects and 37 draft picks (15 first-rounders) in the next seven years.

Here’s a look at what it would likely cost OKC to trade for James and why a deal would never happen.

OKC Thunder mock trade for LeBron James

Los Angeles receives: Josh Giddey, Davis Bertans, Lu Dort, Aleksej Pokusevski, a top-four protected 2024 first-round pick via Houston and a 2025 first-round pick

Oklahoma City receives: LeBron James, Taurean Prince and Christian Wood

Why OKC wouldn’t do the deal

The biggest obstacle, aside from realism, for this trade is that OKC would struggle to match the $47.6 million James is making this season.

The Thunder would have to give up a key glue guy in Dort ($15.3 million), and Giddey ($6.6 million) would also likely get thrown in. That combination plus multiple first-rounders is a steep price for OKC, which isn’t desperate to dig that deep into its pockets.

Despite having the second-youngest roster in the NBA, the Thunder (35-15) is tied for first in the Western Conference standings. It’s a fun team with a bright future, and it shouldn’t disrupt that by giving up the farm for a 39-year-old James.

It’s also important to remember that James has a $51.4 million player option next season. He could end up being a one-year rental, which makes this trade far too risky for OKC.