Oklahoma City's Top Priority Remains Development Throughout the Off-Season

The Thunder certainly had a season to remember. Projected to win less than 25 games by nearly every major news outlet and Vegas itself, the team shattered expectations and elevated its current ceiling.

Oklahoma City netted a 40-42 record and snuck into the NBA's play-in tournament at the end of the regular season. The Thunder had an incredibly memorable win over the New Orleans Pelicans before falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road for a spot in the playoffs. For Sam Presti, the process couldn't have gone any better. His plans of making an arrival, not an appearance, are still in tact and looking better than ever before.

After a year falling just short of the playoffs with exciting potential all over the roster, many fans are ready to hit the accelerate button. There are a few veteran stars expected to be traded this summer and an intriguing list of free agents, both restricted and unrestricted. For Oklahoma City, though, internal development should remain the team's main priority.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a picture-perfect representation of that exact strategy paying off. Over the course of multiple patient seasons with the Thunder, SGA took every opportunity in stride and turned it into stardom. The next wave of Oklahoma City's young core is waiting to blossom too.

OKC adds Chet Holmgren back into the equation this summer, who is the highest draft pick of any prospect on the team. Jalen Williams was the Rookie of the Year runner-up in Holmgren's absence, and Ousmane Dieng was a star for the team's G League affiliate. There's plenty of talent untapped potential still waiting to break out on this team, and until the developmental process is close to complete, it's going to be impossible to evaluate the roster's true needs.

Holmgren could be a stretch-forward, playing more on the perimeter and exposing mismatches. He could also be a defensive anchor that doesn't need a ton of weak side help. It wouldn't be effective to trade for a certain type of player without knowing what would compliment his game best. If Dieng steps into the skillset the Thunder envisioned when drafting him in the lottery, plenty of perimeter needs are solved — both on offense and defense.

There's overflowing optimism surrounding the team, and rightfully so. But it's still so early in the process. Allowing internal talent opportunities to learn and grow will pay off later on down the line. With an offseason of improvement, the Thunder will certainly be a better team next season, but it's not time to hit the acceleration yet. Making a big splash too soon could be unintentionally destructive later on.

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