NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Oklahoma City Thunder could very well be the winners of the 2024 NBA free agency this summer. Despite being the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the Thunder failed to make the Conference Finals losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2nd round. But that could be the motivation they needed moving forward.
It’s hard to argue that the Thunder peeked well before anyone figured they would this season. And for that, they may have become a hot destination for free agents and trade requests.
The NBA is a business and players understand that now more than ever in this era. Players want to play for teams that are either winning or on the cups of doing so. And what team outside of the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Orlando Magic fit that mold better than the Oklahoma City Thunder?
Currently, they are led by Shai Gilgeous- Alexander who averted 30.1 points per game to go with 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists while making $33M per. But it gets much better.
GM Sam Presti has been a mastermind in obtaining assets for this particular moment. The Thunder have 7 first-round picks leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft. That alone could be enticing to teams looking to rebuild their roster and move on from high-salary stars.
As good as the Thunder were this season, they have not reached their ceiling. There is still room to improve and that’s a problem for the rest of the league. The Knicks still must extend Jalen Brunson. They have to pay OG Anunoby, and still have Julius Randle on the books who is also due for an extension soon.
What Will Oklahoma City Thunder Do This Offseason
The Pacers are young but they will have to deal with new contracts as well and there is no way they can part ways with Pascal Siakam. That leaves OKC with a window that’s wide open in free agency.
While this 2024 free-agent class is not loaded, that doesn’t mean there is no talent available. With the talk of the class centered on Paul George, Presti can make a run at George for a second stint with the team. They have the funds and assets to make that happen.
Their main core of players are tied to the team mostly through the 2025 season. However, there are rumors that Josh Giddey’s time is up and Presti will look to move him. Luguentz Dort is set to take home another $16.5M and while he’s a great 3-D player, his contract for what he adds could be better served elsewhere. Chet Holmgren will be entering just his 2nd season and Jaylen Williams is a stud in the making.
The Oklahoma City Thunder finished the season scoring the 3rd most points in the NBA while surrendering the 11th fewest points. They have the foundation but winning is never easy and it comes at a price. The loss to the Mavericks will sting all offseason and Presti will look to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
What the Thunder is lacking despite being one of the best scoring and three-point shooting teams in the league is a true No. 2 option bedside SGA. Yes, George will fall into that category. Hell, they could also make a move for Donovan Mitchell. Darius Garland could be on the move and the same can be said of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks. if there was a team with the right pieces to pull off either one of these trades, it would be the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Presti has done a great job at securing the Thunder’s future and with their current stock, those first-round picks will do them no justice. Contending now means doing whatever it takes to stay atop the NBA and that will mean departing with assets.
Adding a proven veteran or a young player on the verge to help SGA, holgren, and Williams should be a top priority right now. However, Presti may be a bit cautious. He remembers what happened the last time one of his young upstart Oklahoma City Thunder teams was right on the cups of greatness. And we all know how that turned out
