The Toronto Raptors did not make a huge trade in the offseason, though they were linked to names like Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander somewhat regularly in the summer months. A few weeks into the 2022-23 season, those whispers have not died down.
While the Thunder have been better than a lot of preseason predictors could have imagined, they will still likely be in the hunt for Victor Wembanyama when the season ends. After another season in the lottery, the two parties could look to start new eras elsewhere.
With Gilgeous-Alexander one of only a select few players averaging well over 30 points per game this season, he’s hitting his peak as a player. Given the ultra-difficult Eastern Conference, some Raptors fans are eyeing a trade for the Toronto native, who could be the final piece of this (potentially) championship puzzle.
A few factors are working in Toronto’s favor that could theoretically get the Gilgeous-Alexander trade rumors started back up. However, the Raptors have some obstacles that need to be cleared before a deal can be consummated. Will a trade come to fruition?
2 reasons the Toronto Raptors will trade for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Why they will: The Thunder’s direction
The Thunder will likely end the season in the bottom half of the standings, which will have to frustrate a player like Shai that is facing his finest individual season. Even though Gilgeous-Alexander continues to produce, he is not the only long-term piece OKC has acquired in the last few years (or could acquire in a Raptors deal).
A long-term core of Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren, some of the pieces they get back from Toronto, and whomever they add in this draft would be quite the intriguing option. With two other lottery picks from this year in Jalen Williams and Ousmane Dieng, this new-look Thunder team could thrive in a weak West with a few years of seasoning.
Toronto Raptors: Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tire of the Thunder?
Gilgeous-Alexander is clearly the best asset Oklahoma City has right now, but the fact that they continue to lose games with him at the helm and Giddey playing well shows that this team has a very hard ceiling on it as it is currently constructed. Could that get Sam Presti motivated to deal?
Gilgeous-Alexander has already got the stats that prove he’s an elite talent, and he;’s earned his big multi-year contract. If he’s eyeing a spot that can get him closer to a championship, all while bringing him back home, he could try to force his way over to the league’s lone Canadian team.