3 Oklahoma City Thunder trades to get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a co-star

3 Oklahoma City Thunder trades to get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a co-star: DeMar DeRozan

This is one of the more unlikely trades of the bunch, as DeMar DeRozan will be 34 years old heading into next season. However, it could actually make some semblance of sense.

The value of a veteran on a young team is often undervalued around the league. Andre Iguodala played the role for the Golden State Warriors. Udonis Haslem has been that for the Miami Heat. Patrick Beverley did it for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Two first-round picks may seem like a pretty penny to give up, but with how much youth the Oklahoma City Thunder have on their squad, it could be worth it.

DeRozan has been a consistent face in the playoffs throughout the course of his career, and even more importantly, he’ll still be able to help take some pressure off of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the offensive end.

The Thunder could simply treat Chet Holmgren as their rookie this season, giving up their lottery pick for a guy who would undoubtedly help them compete next season.

On top of the wisdom and leadership DeRozan would bring behind the scenes, he would also help the team push for a playoff spot, which would give them invaluable experience. Plus, he’s heading into the last year of his deal, so it wouldn’t be a long-term investment for Oklahoma City.

Having a veteran like DeRozan on the roster may not make sense to some fans, but the value he would bring the team could end up helping this Thunder core for years.

Potential Thunder starting lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, DeMar DeRozan, Chet Holmgren

Editors note: The Thunder would prioritize youth over DeRozan