For the last few seasons, the Thunder have been a paper tiger.
Top executive Sam Presti built a head-spinning stash of future draft picks through his wheeling and dealing. Oklahoma City is still owed 10 future first-rounders and even more second-round picks – it could easily create two additional teams in the next couple of years with all those selections.
The on-court performance began to perk up last season, as the Thunder collected 40 regular-season victories and won a game in the play-in tournament before getting eliminated by Minnesota.
Oklahoma City appears poised to make an even bigger mark this season. The Thunder sit second in the Western Conference and have won eight of their last 10 games.
Even a 30-0 Dallas run on Saturday didn’t deter the Thunder, as they emerged with a 126-120 victory.
A stable lineup, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has facilitated the hot start. Gilgeous-Alexander, a first time All-Star and All-NBA First Team selection last season, is once again filling up the stat sheet. He’s averaging 29.9 points, 6.3 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals while keeping his turnovers down (2.2).
After missing a full season due to foot issues, Chet Holmgren is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year. He’s posting quality numbers across the board – 17.6 points, a team-high 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
Jalen Williams is also averaging 17.6 points and the lineup is filled out by Josh Giddey and Luguentz Dort. Giddey gives the lineup another adept ball-handler – though he’s currently being investigated by law enforcement and the league for an alleged improper relationship.
Dort has had to sacrifice offensive opportunities after averaging 17.2 points per game two seasons ago but he’s still a key to their defense. Isaiah Joe is the team’s sixth man and rookie Cason Wallace has also made an impact.
That brings us to our topic of the day: What is the Thunder’s ceiling this season – can they make a deep playoff run? Should they trade some of the future draft picks from their stockpile for another impact player? If so, what do you think they need the most?
Please take to the comments section to weigh on this topic. We look forward to your input.
I’d like to start the discussion by pointing out that that “paper tiger” is basically the exact opposite of what the Thunder have been. The Clippers? Always. The KD/Kyrie/Harden Nets? Sure. The Thunde have explicitly and openly tamped down expectations at every opportunity. Really hard to argue they’ve been attempting the “tiger” part.
Already better then my clippers and control their next 3 drafts when clippers are already the oldest team in rhe nba !
SMH never bought Kawhi would have went to lakers if they didn’t trade for pg13 teaming with lebron and ad was smarter basketball wise then pg13 and Trezz and Lou
I would usually say first round appearance and exit, but this team is different. No reason they can;t make the finals and lose to the Celtics
Thunder could be a top 4 seed but will make it to 2nd round and lose in the playoffs best case this season. They should keep building through the draft and keep picks as trade bait when they are ready to contend for a championship. Next season is even a possibly with how good these draft picks have been playing lately.
Utilize the picks for a seasoned player or two that can be an on & off court presence. Someone like a Chris Paul, and swing something big for a guy like Beal (obviously those aren’t likely). Players like that will go leaps and bounds to improve playoff productivity.
If they make a move I would hope they target players that stay healthy. CP3 and Beal are playoff ghost.
This team is a top tier team in the West along with Denver and Minnesota. They have a MVP candidate in Shai, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are legit secondary options. They play both offense and defense well. The only thing I see missing is maybe a little more bench depth and playoff experience. Maybe trade for veteran big man to come off the bench but they don’t really need another big name player. I think they’re good enough to make it the Western semis and possibly the WCF If some key players on other teams get hurt like they always do they could make it all the way to finals
I said before the season they will lock up a for sure playoff spot. They can be 4-5 whether they advance is match up dependent. They don’t have bigs that can handle Jokic, Towns, Sabonis, or even Gobert when they want to be physical.
OKC must hit shots to make those teams go small. I would like to see them accelerate their progress by making a trade. Not many of the picks are truly good since the protections on them.
Even with all the protections they will still get somewhere between 9-15 firsts and upwards of 27 seconds over the next 7 drafts.
Half of those 2nds will be moved for cash if they truly want to contend cause they have too many roster spots that’ll be spoken for over the next 7 years. They should aim for a crowder type of trade with them and get a useful veteran for 5+ 2nd rounders.
We shall see what they do with there picks they dropped a couple players this year because they had to many players. Dano would be a good pick up vet. Brogdon woukd be good to. Portland needs picks.
In fairness, those dropped players were guys just acquired in other trades (mainly from Houston) for yet even more 2nds. They kind of dumped JRE, but even that was still a trade and he was a former 2nd.
They have to do something with those picks. But what? There’s no true impact player on the market. Do they make a godfather offer to some team that isn’t seen as a seller? So many teams are in win-now mode and couldn’t sell their fan base on a rebuild.
I think they wait till next year to make the big swing . This year they should jus use a couple picks to get stopgap help like bogdanovic, McDermott, brogdon, sexton, someone like that or 2
Altho positionally they need another big so I’d target guys like Drummond, gafford, whichever clippers center doesn’t play when plumlee returns, bamba or boban if they’re desperate , etc
I would really like Markkanen for this team, but I would not be looking to trade him as the Jazz, of course. Maybe if he asks out later or something.
They are legit to play in the conference finals. They only need to take the tamp off the expectations and start blowing teams up to make it.
Love the OKC’s roster, they’re another star(or player leap) from true contenders.
Although I didn’t like the obvious and unpunished tank tactics in recent memory, SGA is a superstar, and Chet/Williams/Giddey all have the upside to become top guys in this league. The question is do they make a big splash? They have the young talent and more picks than anyone to make it happen. If they do, I doubt it would be for anyone less than a top 10 player. And if so no one can outbid them. Big future for this team.
OKC has three sizeable contracts it could upgrade by adding some picks. Bertans for 17 million (only 5 next year), Pokusevski (5m) and maybe also Micic at 7.7 million (3 years).
I think they should try it, while watching out that the personality fits well with the rest of the team.
An upgrade on C or PF for a good defender might be a good option. But who’s available for those assets that fits the timeline contract wise?