Valley Suns trade pick to Oklahoma City Blue for former Alabama guard Jaden Shackelford

The Valley Suns on Wednesday announced a trade for Oklahoma City Blue guard and former Alabama Crimson Tide star Jaden Shackelford. The Phoenix Suns’ G League affiliate sent back a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA G League Draft.

The move saw the Suns’ G League affiliate trading away future picks for immediate help and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s affiliate accumulating draft capital. Both sides embodied the philosophies of their respective NBA franchises.

Suns fans may recognize Shackelford’s name from when he terrorized the Summer Suns in Las Vegas to the tune of six threes, three assists, and one steal with no turnovers off the bench in a 100-99 Suns win.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard averaged 14 points (37.1% on 8.6 3PA) over 60 regular season games (43 starts) with the Blue over the past two seasons.

He has not yet made his NBA debut, as he went undrafted in 2022 and signed an Exhibit-10 deal with the Thunder before being placed on the Blue’s opening night roster.

Early in the following season, the Thunder signed Shackelford to the NBA roster before waiving him that same day. He was back with the Blue less than two weeks later.

In three seasons at Alabama (2019-22), Shackelford started 83 of 97 games in a Nate Oats offense that resembles an NBA pace-and-space system. He made nearly 250 threes and attempted over 700 during his collegiate career.

The Valley Suns begin their inaugural season with a road back-to-back against the Santa Cruz Warriors on Nov. 8-9. The home opener is on Nov. 11 against the Stockton Kings at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena.

Click here for the full schedule and here for tickets.