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NBA: Off-season weakness each star should have worked on

By Josh Cornelissen

Mar 22, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) chats with Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) during the first half of an NBA game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) chats with Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) during the first half of an NBA game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images /

24. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder – Ball Security

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a team with losses on the mind. They are in the midst of a bold and drastic rebuild. It doesn’t have the branding or the complete tear-down of Philadelphia’s “Process” or a classic MLB fire sale, but the Thunder are mostly made up of prospects and fliers as they angle to maximize a couple of bad years in order to set up long-term success.

The one glaring exception is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just signed a maximum rookie extension after a year when he showed he is one of the best young guards in the league. Just now entering his fourth season, Gilgeous-Alexander has plenty of time to continue to grow into an All-NBA level player.

Last season he improved as a jump-shooter and as a playmaker. The next step forward is with ball security. With increased responsibility came increased turnovers, both in raw totals but also in turnover percentage. He wasn’t necessarily sloppy with the ball, but for a player whose strength used to be ball security, “SGA” needs to find a way to increase his workload and scoring without increasing his turnovers.