OKC Thunder: 4 second-chance players team could still trade for
By Mark Nilon
Player the OKC Thunder could target No. 3) Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Now, we have the second-year wing for the New Orleans Pelicans and the 17th overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft, Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Logging 12.6 minutes per game during his first season in the league, the 22-year-old posted averages of 5.7 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds on 35 percent shooting from deep.
Typically speaking, with a player picked in the teens of a draft, when they come into their sophomore season teams tend to want to thrust more minutes their way in an effort to see how they’ve managed to progress after a year of experience now under their belt.
Unfortunately for Alexander-Walker, however, an uptick in minutes may be reletively hard to come by, as now he has the likes of Josh Hart, JJ Redick, and the recently acquired Eric Bledsoe to compete with for a rank within the pecking order.
Because of this, NWA made be reletively easy to acquire, should the OKC Thunder dangle the likes of veteran forward and NBA Champion, Trevor Ariza in front of this eager to win NOLA squad.
Despite his reletively underwhelming rookie campaign, the former Virginia Tech standout is still a young prospect with a stellar shooting stroke, defensive versatility, and impressive size (6-5, 205-pounds).
Add in the fact that he’s the cousin of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and you have both the potential and family aspect as to why the Thunder should consider pursuing the Pelicans’ young baller.