There are a couple more teams that could try and make a run at OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Seeing that he’s only 22 and getting better and better, he’s going to have no shortage of teams. Here are more trade destinations for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Bulls, Pelicans and the Heat. Here are some trade packages from each team.
Coby White started one out of 65 games in his first season with the Bulls last year. This year, he started a career-high 54 out of 69 games. Despite averaging career-highs in every category, coach Billy Donovan often turned away from him and instead started Tomas Satoransky. While Satoranksy is a better defender and facilitator, White was more of an offensive presence who gave them some good minutes. Still, White is the seventh overall pick from last year’s draft who was averaging a healthy 15 points, four rebounds and five assists a game. While benching him ruined his momentum and resulted in several mediocre games, the same can be said for Lauri Markkanen. Markkannen was benched for Daniel Theis at the trade deadline and this resulted in him averaging career-lows.
Presenting a good buy low moment, OKC could possibly trade Gilgeous-Alexander for some promising players in White and Markkannen. Both are high-potential offensive-oriented players and it makes sense. Plus, general manager Sam Presti is always looking for more picks, especially first rounders. For Chicago, adding a player like Gilgeous-Alexander would be huge. A young star to pair with Zach Lavine and Nikola Vucevic would hopefully bring this team to the playoffs.
The Heat have been known to try and go for star players every offseason for the past couple years. Tyler Herro had a mediocre playoff run this year so he’s been in the rumor mill ever since. Trading him and Duncan Robinson (now, both were going to be involved in a Harden trade and Pat Riley said no) could be a possibility. OKC would probably want more in return for Gilgeous-Alexander simply because Robinson’s already 26 and their first round pick is going to land anywhere from 20-30. If they were to include young pieces like Precious Achiuwa and/or Kendrick Nunn, that would strengthen their chances of landing Gilgeous-Alexander. Nunn is a very good prospect that should be their starter full-time but Riley wants a star at the one. Having an injured Victor Oladipo and an aging Goran Dragic makes this trade a little easier.
No strangers to one another, OKC and New Orleans could make another deal. Trading their young pieces to acquire Gilgeous-Alexander would help Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram tremendously. A guard who can create his own offense and be able to handle the rock is what this team needs. It’s Lonzo Ball’s last season under contract also so he may be walking in free agency. Since he’s been apart of the rumor mill a ton since he came to New Orleans, he’s more than likely looking for another fresh start with a new team. Besides him, they have Eric Bledsoe as a point guard so they’re in desperation mode right now. They need to improve in that area and trading for a young budding star and Gilgeous-Alexander would make a lot of sense. Like Chicago, having a big three that includes Gilgeous-Alexander would be dangerous.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a true star in the making. The fact that he’s on the trade block on a rebuilding team and only happens to be 22 years old is crazy. It’s not as crazy when considering the fact that he may be looking to move on from OKC. They’re looking to rebuild and since he’s way too good to be on a rebuilding team for a while, he could be on the move as a free agent later on.
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