Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: F Michael Porter Jr., 2023 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2023 First-Round Pick (DAL), 2027 First-Round Pick (NYK)
Denver Nuggets receive: G Derrick Rose, G Alec Burks, 2025 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Here, the Oklahoma City Thunder sacrifice a first-round pick for the sake of picking up a player on their timeline. They still get their two extra shots at the 2023 draft in the process.
Meanwhile, Michael Porter Jr. should still be enough of a downgrade from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to let them finish with top-5 lottery odds.
If he even gets on the floor at all, that is.
In light of his recent injury concerns, the Nuggets may be having buyer’s remorse over awarding Porter Jr. an almost $30 million annual salary. If they are, this deal corrects that mistake. It also nets them two useful veterans on moveable contracts, and a first-round pick to boot.
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Finally, the Knicks get a superstar. Gilgeous-Alexander could be the centerpiece of this team for a decade. He should return them to relevance instantly. Provided he does, the Knicks could suddenly become the hot free agent destination they should have been for the last 20 years.
For their long-suffering fanbase, that might be worth any number of first-round picks. On the other hand, the Thunder may value nothing more.
