The NBA offseason inches closer every day, and although the young Thunder squad fell short of the postseason by one win, the future in Oklahoma City is bright. With plenty of cap space and all the assets in the world, Sam Presti and OKC could be in line for a busy offseason.
Another luxury for the Thunder is star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ties to multiple players in this upcoming free agency class. If the team decides to reunite their star with any former teammates, a handful of free agents could be good fits in Oklahoma City.
Ranking five free agent targets with ties to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
5. Trey Lyles
Although Trey Lyles and Gilgeous-Alexander haven’t shared a court as teammates, Kentucky ties run deep among Big Blue Nation alums. Lyles has had an exceptional year off the Kings’ bench and has proven to be a solid rotational piece.
While Lyles is a bit older than other options, the ability to add a talented big man off the bench for every team is seemingly a luxury in today’s game. The 27-year-old averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, shooting 45.8% from field goal range and 36.3% from three on the season. So if the Thunder had any interest in adding a stretch big for the bench, Lyles would be a good fit for how Oklahoma City likes to play on offense.