Would this trade make sense for the Oklahoma City Thunder?

Where this NBA trade scenario loses traction is when viewing it from the lens of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who would be parting with their franchise cornerstone for spare parts.

There is no reason for the Oklahoma City Thunder to trade Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at this time. He has shown impressive growth as a player since being dealt to the team. He is still only 23-years-old and is in the midst of a highly impactful season.

Let’s say the Thunder were to trade Gilgeous-Alexander, why do it for spare parts when the team’s war-chest of assets already has too many of those?

What Oklahoma City needs is to find more players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, not moving them for the mystery box. Tyrese Maxey may be putting up numbers in an increased role but he’s clearly a less dynamic and layered talent.

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Taking a downgrade at point guard along with a mystery box to do so doesn’t help a franchise in need of more building blocks. There also isn’t necessarily a talent worth going all-out to tank for in the 2022 NBA Draft, either.