Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Oklahoma City Thunder
Sam Presti and the Thunder are still in a position to go either direction. They could look to use their massive amount of picks to trade for players to compete now. Or, they could look to build around a young player like Josh Giddey and move on to add more first-round picks and young talent.
Trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be a very difficult move to make. There are very few 23-year-old guards around the league that have the kind of superstar potential that Gilgeous-Alexander possesses. Oklahoma City does owe their young guard a lot of money and might have interest in clearing that off the books if they aren’t ready to try to compete right now.
In this trade, the Thunder would be adding two very intriguing young players. Cam Reddish is a talent that many think could develop into a very good scoring wing. Obi Toppin is a young forward that showed major talent late in the season this year for the Knicks, but simply hasn’t been given a consistent role in New York.
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Add in the two first-round picks and Presti would have to feel good about the return already. New York also throwing in Derrick Rose and Evan Fournier gives the Thunder some options. They could keep both veteran players to be competitive or they could look to flip one or both of those players for more picks and young talent.
One thing that has been very clear over the last few years about the Thunder has been that they like to have flexibility. They are also not scared to wheel and deal.
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While moving on from Gilgeous-Alexander would be a heartbreaking move to make, this is a trade package that could force the Thunder to consider the option. He’s a great player, but getting back that many assets would be hard to pass on for a team that simply isn’t in a position right this minute to compete.
