The Oklahoma City Thunder are armed with three first-round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft and a bunch of other assets, and they seem determined to move up. That includes attempting to move up to the No. 1 pick in order to draft Cade Cunningham, with guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander apparently being dangled in an offer to the Detroit Pistons
There was some speculation going around Monday that the Thunder had offered the young star and the No. 6 pick to the Pistons for No. 1, and that it was denied. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer is now confirming this framework:
Flashing forward to this summer, where Oklahoma City proactively called Detroit to offer Gilgeous-Alexander plus the No. 6 pick for No. 1, sources said, in an attempt to land Cade Cunningham—the framework B/R's Jonathan Wasserman first alluded to on Monday. Since drawing the top selection in June, Detroit has consistently messaged to rival teams it would need a first in this year's draft, future draft ammo and an established young star.
The Pistons are reportedly still considering what to do with the top pick, with Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley the three options. The assumption is that Cunningham will be the pick, and Detroit could be leaking interest in all three players in order to create leverage and try to improve trade offers.
As for the Thunder, Fischer is reporting that people around the NBA think SGA could be available in deals outside of this effort for the No. 1 pick, which would be a significant development. It would obviously take a lot to get him after a strong 2020-21 season.
Gilgeous-Alexander is still just 23 years old, and he averaged 23.7 points, 5.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 50.8% from the field and 41.8% from 3-point range in 2020-21. The young Thunder guard is eligible for a five-year extension worth close to $170 million this offseason.
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