SGA had a valiant 35-point, nine-assist game but witnessed robbery in broad daylight. That’s because Victor Wembanyama and his young San Antonio Spurs won the series while the Alien lifted the Conference Finals MVP trophy. Three Oklahoma City Thunder starters let Gilgeous-Alexander down by scoring just 14 combined. But most of the blame lay with Chet Holmgren and his disastrous 4-point night. This couldn’t have happened at a worse time…

What was more shocking for the big man was that he did not attempt a single shot in the last three quarters! This stat line made him only the second All-NBA player in at least the last 50 years to score four points or fewer in a playoff Game 7, according to Basketball Reference. That’s surely not enough for a player whose five-year, $239.25 million extension will kick in next season. It didn’t take long for calls of a trade to emerge with Giannis Antetokounmpo in sight.

“The Thunder have been gathering future assets for years, and tonight proved it’s time to use them,” NBA insider Brett Siegel posted, proposing the move. “Sam Presti and OKC have the perfect opportunity to move their draft picks this year and Chet Holmgren for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.”

The Thunder should use those picks to trade up in the upcoming draft or, as Siegel suggested, attack their championship window with a key addition. Their current draft capital includes three 2026 picks: No. 12 (via LAC), No. 17 (via PHI), and No. 37 (via DAL), plus ESPN has reported 10 additional incoming future first-round picks. And this doesn’t even count all the seconds or conditional swaps.

At the same time in the East, the Milwaukee Bucks have actually issued a draft-day deadline for the Greek Freak to decide whether he will sign the $62.7 million player option (or a subsequent extension) for 2027-28. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and the LA Lakers have emerged as potential landing spots for Giannis. But there is a caveat at play here. None of these teams has the draft capital intensity that OKC does.

Now, if the Thunder swoop in, the Bucks will get 24-year-old Holmgren in return. He was selected second overall by OKC in the 2022 NBA Draft and has largely impressed during his time with the 2025 Champions. Holmgren can protect the rim, finish plays, and stretch defenses with good floor spacing.

But the reality is, this was a tough playoff run for him. He finished the Conference Finals averaging 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game. That’s starkly different from his regular-season averages, when he posted 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game and earned All-NBA Third Team honors.

And with Jalen Williams sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Thunder desperately needed another offensive contributor alongside SGA. But Holmgren, who had the tough task of sticking with Victor Wembanyama, was a painful no-show. Here’s what sports analyst Stephen A. Smith said in response to the trade calls around the young big man.

“In the event that OKC gets knocked off in this postseason, primarily because Holmgren, who’s due a huge raise, is due $13 million now, and then his new salary kicks in at $41 million,” Smith remarked on First Take. “If you’re OKC, and you’re willing to let go of Holmgren, and one of those young dudes (not J-Dub). If anybody can afford to let go of two young players who are in the rotation, it is OKC. Along with two first-round picks and two second-round picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis in OKC with a Harstenstein, with an SGA, with a J-Dub, with an Ajay Mitchell, potentially with a Cason Wallace.”

The Bucks, once (if) they hear offers for Giannis, will not just want a draft pick-heavy deal. They’ll demand a new face. That is practically why Austin Reaves was linked to Milwaukee a few weeks ago, before rumors claimed that Luka Doncic had asked Rob Pelinka not to even consider that thought.

So, if Milwaukee’s front office insists on a player-heavy trade, GM Sam Presti might genuinely not mind giving up Holmgren, Cason Wallace (rookie contract), and Alex Caruso (veteran extension through 2028-29) while sprinkling a few of those first-round picks as garnish. The Thunder, in return, will receive a world-beater in Giannis and either of his brothers, probably Thanasis.

NBA reporter Nick Wright suggested the possibility of OKC sorting a win-now trade with the Washington Wizards for Anthony Davis. But it’ll be important to factor in injury risk and an impending $62 million player option in 2027-28. For Holmgren, though, a move to Washington could be a positive one, with the big man getting a genuine slow-burning chance to be part of a rebuild alongside Trae Young.

Now, these were the sentiments that echoed loudly after the 111-103 loss in Game 7 on Saturday. And even SGA couldn’t escape them. The reigning MVP was asked about his input to the front office on roster building during the offseason.

“I will give zero input,” Gilgeous-Alexander confidently said. “I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job.”

OKC’s neat business affairs warrant that kind of confidence from its biggest star. Since the 2020-21 season, the Thunder have had the fifth-lowest cumulative payroll. For the sixth straight season, they will not pay a luxury tax penalty. But they’ve been one of the most aggressive teams in the five recent drafts. They moved two spots up to bag Cason Wallace in 2023, who was one of only two players to cross the 15-point mark last night. Presti needs to make decisions on the team options of Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Kenrich Williams.

For now, though, it seems Shai wants to distance himself from trade topics as the Thunder failed to secure an NBA Finals place against the New York Knicks. But the OKC front office will have to eventually get going. And with the deadline for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade inching closer, they’ll have to act fast, if interested.