Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was nearly teammates with another former Kentucky star

@LAClippers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be thriving with the Los Angeles Clippers right now, but did you know he was almost part of a draft-day trade that would have had him teaming up with another former Wildcat star?

According to Bob Young of The Athletic, the Phoenix Suns had a trade in place for Gilgeous-Alexander, but upper-management overruled it at the last minute in favor of another deal.

The move would have been for the No. 16 pick and another future selection. Instead, they opted to trade the rights to Zhaire Smith and a future pick for Mikal Bridges.

It’s worth noting that the Suns wouldn’t be in this fix if Robert Sarver, the club’s managing partner, had not reportedly overruled his then-general manager, Ryan McDonough, on draft night.

McDonough reportedly planned to package the club’s pick from Milwaukee and a player taken with the 16th pick to move up and draft Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a point guard from Kentucky.

When Philadelphia offered the rights to Mikal Bridges for the rights to Zhaire Smith and Miami’s unprotected 2021 first-round pick, Sarver pushed for that deal. So the Suns moved up six spots to add their fourth young wing player.

Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the same team? That’d be one heck of a way to make up some ground with the BBN after  cutting ties with Tyler Ulis.

Instead, SGA has started in 19 of 28 games for the Clippers, leading the team to the fourth-best record in the west at 17-11.

Meanwhile, the Suns are stuck with no answer at the point guard position and four wing players. Oops.

(The Athletic)

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