Analyzing Oklahoma City's Biggest Need After the Season
Oklahoma City has prioritized its future throughout the entirety of the rebuild. Even this season, as the Thunder is streaking towards the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the team could have two lottery picks and cap space to find the perfect fit.
As a team, the Thunder have no glaring, detrimental weaknesses. If anything were that bad, this squad probably wouldn't be one of the best in the NBA. Chet Holmgren filled Oklahoma City's front court hole and Jalen Williams' leap has given Shai Gilgeous-Alexander another star. With the core players locked in, there's no pressing need. This team will always be solid with that big three.
However, if there's a disappointing early exit that ends Oklahoma City's season, it might expose a postseason flaw or two that needs to be addressed. And that'll be the most important fixes over the next few years if the Thunder wants to truly contend.
Greg Swartz wrote about dream offseason trade scenarios for every NBA team, and included additional front court help from Chet Holmgren under his Thunder section. Holmgren has taken care of OKC's glaring need for an anchor at the center spot, and the team excels when playing small ball around him. Adding a bigger, more physical forward to stick next to him could certainly be in the cards, though.
"The Thunder are probably still a starter or two away from becoming a championship team," Swartz wrote. "And finding the right front court partner next to Chet Holmgren is going to be key to their title chances over the next decade.
"OKC still gets pushed around by bigger and stronger teams, an issue that's going to become even clearer during the playoffs. The Thunder rank just 28th overall in both offensive and defensive rebounding, with Holmgren's 7.8 boards leading the team."
It's hard to say the Thunder are a starter or two away from being a championship team when truthfully nobody knows. All the data there is to go off of points to Oklahoma City as a contender this season.
Taking the load off of Holmgren and making his life easier on both ends of the floor doesn't seem like a bad decision though. If the starting spot being replaced is Josh Giddey's, it could allow Williams to slide back to the three spot and add a physical rebounder that can shoot at the other forward spot. That has always felt like the most comfortable fit on paper.
The good news for the Thunder is the team will have options. With contracts, prospects, draft picks and cap space, Oklahoma City will go after exactly what they need.
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