Thunder could trade for former Knicks All-Star to help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Everyone's got their eyes on the Oklahoma City Thunder these days.

It's for good reason. OKC is now tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA's best record at 36-7 after the Thunder defeated the Cavs on Wednesday night behind 54 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

SGA is 26 years old and playing at an MVP level, but does he have enough proven scorers around him for Oklahoma City to make a serious NBA Finals run?

Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are two stellar Robins to SGA's Batman, but they're young. J-Dub is 23; Holmgren, 22.

Historically, teams with that young of a core don't advance far in the playoffs. OKC fit that bill last year when they were outclassed by a more experienced Dallas Mavericks squad in the postseason.

If Thunder GM Sam Presti is going to make a move before the trade deadline, it would be to swap out some of OKC's youth for a veteran presence, thereby enhancing the Thunder's win-now capacity.

One controversial -- but potentially beneficial -- trade idea for Presti and Oklahoma City would see them acquiring Minnesota Timberwolves big man Julius Randle. 

A former top-eight MVP candidate and three-time All-Star with the New York Knicks, people forget that Randle is in the prime of his career at age 30.

He's also a proven bucket-getter, averaging 19.1 points per game on his career and 18.9 points per game this season despite his shot attempts dropping significantly from last season. Two seasons ago, this is a guy that averaged 25.1 points per game for the Knicks.

Randle could come in and provide not only scoring but toughness on the boards for an OKC team that -- beyond Isaiah Hartenstein -- isn't physically imposing upfront.

For all of Holmgren's talent, he's undoubtedly a liability physically on the glass, and Randle could offset some of that with his rugged style of play and career 9.2 rebounds per game capabilities.

OKC wouldn't benefit by trading any of their stars for Randle, of course, but the Thunder might be able to convince the Wolves to fork over Randle for some of their valuable draft capital along with a trio of Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Kenrich Williams.

Joe and Wiggins are both rotational-level wings that could help Minnesota bolster their depth, and Joe, in particular, would thrive as a spot-up shooter beside a guy like Anthony Edwards.

Randle has his flaws as a player, for sure, but the things he's great at happen to align with what might really help OKC during the upcoming playoffs.

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