The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trade signaled a rebuild for the Thunder, propelling the franchise into a new era. Nobody could’ve predicted that Gilgeous-Alexander would be quite this good. He gave Oklahoma City its biggest piece to the rebuild right away.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorite to come out of the West for the second straight season. They've been the first seed for most of the year and will repeat that feat. The rest of the West is bungled together in different tiers.

The Oklahoma City Thunder made their final roster moves during the NBA trade deadline. While they made zero major moves, they completed some on the margins. Considering they sit pretty at the top of the West despite juggling injuries, it's easy to see why they stood pat.

Due to several significant moves at the NBA Trade Deadline, the OKC Thunder's path to a title will be even more difficult in the Western Conference.

Considering all that, it shouldn't be a shocker to see the Thunder make minimal moves at the NBA trade deadline. Sam Presti made a handful of roster changes, but those were on the margins. OKC will ride out with the squad that's led it to its cushy first-place lead.

Maybe the timing of Chet Holmgren’s return to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup, on the morning of NBA trade deadline day, was coincidental. Maybe it wasn’t.

The NBA Trade Deadline is officially here, with just a handful of hours until teams are locked into place for the remainder of the season as it relates to making deals.