Duke Blue Devils basketball legend Jay Bilas told me the Oklahoma City Thunder front office considers Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams to be “untouchable” in trade talks.
Bilas believes that when the time comes, all three will be handsomely compensated on OKC’s payroll.
He also lauded Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti for the job he’s done so far, overseeing the teardowns of the Ray Allen-Rashard Lewis era of the Seattle Supersonics, Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook-James Harden “Big Three,” and failed Westbrook-Paul George experiment before the team’s current rebuild.
“I think I think certain players on that team are untouchable. I think they're going to do everything they can to keep that team together for as long as they can. And add to it. That’s that's the sort of thing when you've got a window, you take advantage of it. You always have to have to make changes. There's nothing static in that league. It's going to be a league of bold moves,” Bilas predicted on Sunday.
“People may not understand it at the time, but I think Sam Presti's decisions and his staff have proven to be really good ones throughout his time. There are especially on not only the talent level, but the character level. I mean, these guys play together, and it's stunning to watch the way they play defense together.
“Williams, I wouldn't imagine him going anywhere. I feel the same about (SGA and Holmgren). As time goes forward, and they get into situations where their contracts are going to rise to the level where decisions have to be made. Who knows what happens? I haven't sat down with all their salary cap information, but the numbers that are going to keep going up, you went to that level, and these players achieve those benchmarks that allow them to be super max players … they deserve to be compensated for it.”
OKC’s untouchable Big Three, and the rest of the roster that is vulnerable to an eventual cap crunch, will take on the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. The Thunder are favored to win the series.
Bilas provided media availability in advance of the 2025 American Century Championship at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort from July 9-13. Bilas will be one of the 91 competitors in Stateline, Nevada, for the annual celebrity golf tournament.