Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal
If Gilgeous-Alexander is fed up with the situation in Oklahoma City, he’ll surely welcome this deal. Not only does it land him on an already competitive Raptors squad, but it gives him an opportunity to lead his hometown team to glory.
That actually matters to the Raptors. While this well-ran organization has had a lot of success in recent years, they’ve sometimes struggled to attract top-end American talent. Landing the league’s best Canadian player is a smart move from that perspective.
Of course, it’s not the main reason to trade for Gilgeous Alexander. He’s excellent. In fact, he’s one of the best drivers in the league, and he’s flashed potential to double as an elite floor-spacer as well.
Moreover, he fits perfectly with the Raptors’ vision. Last season, they spent plenty of time running Pascal Siakam at the 5. The idea was to double down on long, playmaking wings.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder & Toronto Raptors Updates
The Raptors find themselves at the forefront of the positionless era, and at 6’7, Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the tallest players at his position.
In other words, he’s a perfect fit for his hometown team’s roster. With that in mind, he should be worth any number of first-round picks to this organization.
