As Oklahoma City celebrated its first-ever NBA title Sunday night, speculation began about how many more this version of the Thunder might be able to get, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. The Game 7 win over Indiana made OKC the second-youngest champion in NBA history, and Reynolds points out that the organization is set up very well for the future.
The Thunder are built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who completed the rare feat of winning MVP, Finals MVP and a scoring title in the same season. SGA and just about other every important player on the roster are under contract for next season, and rookie scale extensions are looming for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City has a treasure trove of draft assets, including the No. 15 and 24 picks this year, along with Nikola Topic, a 2024 lottery pick who sat out the entire season due to injury.
“We definitely still have room to grow,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That’s the fun part of this. So many of us can still get better. There’s not very many of us on the team that are in our prime or even close to it. We have a lot to grow, individually and as a group. I’m excited for the future of this team. This is a great start, for sure.”
“There’s no guarantee you end it the way that we did,” Daigneault said. “I just wanted it so bad for them. I was just so thrilled that we were able to get that done and they get to experience this because they deserve it. The way they approach it, the professionalism, competitiveness, team-first nature, like I said, I wanted it so bad for them.”
There’s more from Oklahoma City:
- An offseason trade for Alex Caruso added to the Thunder’s collection of elite defenders, notes Kelly Iko of The Athletic. Caruso’s versatility and his willingness to do things that aren’t glamorous made him an indispensable part of the championship run. “I think just through my career, I figured out that I can do stuff that’s not necessarily sexy or not necessarily the mainstream offensive or even defensive skill set that people recognize,” Caruso said. “I just leaned into it. I practiced being great at the stuff that nobody else does, carving a role for myself in the league. I think through the years, I’ve just kind of perfected that stuff.”
- Holmgren set a record Sunday night by blocking five shots, the most ever in an NBA Finals Game 7 since blocks began being recorded in 1973/74, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN. It was a satisfying conclusion for Holmgren, who missed more than half of the regular season due to a hip injury. “Honestly, I never really play for records,” he said. “I never play for stats. All that will be forgotten. But us winning is forever. It’s immortal. I’m just so happy we were able to do that together as a team.”
- Luguentz Dort would normally be a strong extension candidate, but it won’t be an easy decision for the Thunder, who already have extension decisions to make on Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Williams, Bobby Marks of ESPN writes in his offseason guide. Marks also expects OKC to aggressively look for trades involving its two first-round picks and one second-rounder in Wednesday’s draft.
I think OKC needs another ball handler in the 2nd unit, they have a few shooters off the bench but in terms of another ball handler who can create his own shot. I would be targeting with the 15th pick of the draft.
Congrats to OKC though. Helluva year and the best team all season. SGA was making the correct play yesterday rather than forcing his shot. West be a gauntlet next year with a healthy Luka in LA, an upcoming Houston Rockets team and a Spurs team that should be in the mix as well.
They look like they could really use another 3pt shooter. Where was Isaiah Joe in this series? I was surprised that he barely played.
Felt like the entire team shot terribly from 3 actually. Luckily they have a great defense but it’ll be interesting to see how that plays out in a year or two after the massive extensions.
Just funny how the CBA just sort of knee caps teams for drafting well, etc.
That’s what Topic is likely going to do so they have that.
As for dynasty talk? Who knows, but the team isn’t getting any worse next year.(barring injury). More than likely they’ll be competing for it at least.
I heard that Topic is a bigger version of Steve Nash which is insane. I think maybe they get an athletic 4? Front line needs some athleticism?
Likely….they’re gonna draft a replacement for ihart I would guess. Then let him walk after next season due to cost. Extensions for SGA, JW and Chet will be the priorities.
Agree with you on IHart. He wasn’t what they were looking for at least from the Finals stand point. SGA, JW and Chet will likely be extended. I’m interested if they move Wiggins/Joe this offseason for further draft capita, both players are on team friendly extensions as well, and I have always been high on Joe. He shoots the 3PT shot so well and can be a weapon for other teams.
Yeah, they had a lot trouble handling Siakam.
Yeah they lack the 4’s that have lateral movement, maybe if CMB falls to them at 15, he would be an ideal player for that position? Offensively he can come along slowly but on defense, he just needs to be active and versatile.
raz427,
Other than Nicola Topic, I’ve seen OKC call Caruso their backup PG. Knowing that you’ve seen a lot of Caruso with the Bulls, do you not believe he can create offensively?
Aristole, I think they need another ball handler to be honest. Caruso is good in spurts but I don’t think he will last handling the backup PG duties along with defense. His body will eventually give out and he’ll get injured.
I’m hyped for Topic, he looks promising.
raz,
The fact that OKC obviously restricts Caruso’s minutes supports your view.
I’m interested to see how Topic works out. He’s reportedly a basketball genius, but he’s only 19 years old and was reportedly not NBA-ready physically when drafted 1 year ago. OKC likes to develop their young players very deliberately, so he may not be a rotation player this coming season.
And, although Topic is more of a true PG than Josh Giddey, he is, like Giddey, more offensively than defensively inclined, which is one reason why Giddey was moved.
OKC doesn’t have a true PG. Caruso isn’t one.
Their offense is not built for a true PG. it’s based on motion and outlets. What happens in playoffs. The game slows down. So you see more iso.
They do need another playmaker. And every team can always use shooting.
> Their offense is not built for a true PG. it’s based on
> motion and outlets.
OKC is absolutely not a motion offense. It’s the opposite. It’s an isolation, drive-and-kick offense, also using lot of spread-pick-and-roll.
OKC passes the ball less than 2/3’s of the league. During yesterday’s broadcast, it was announced that for the series OKC was averaging 220 passes per game versus Indiana’s 335 passes per game. In the regular season, OKC averaged 260. That is NOT a motion offense.
OKC’S offense is built expressly to be run by a ball-dominant PG that can get to the basket. When SGA is not in the game, OKC’s offense drops from 118 pts 94 pts per 100 possessions.
That’s why raz427’s point about needing a better back-up PG makes a lot of sense.
Fans and media did this two years ago with the Nuggets and Last year with the Celtics. Pump the breaks on Dynasty. If\when they win one next year then we can talk about it.
i was just about to say the same thing. Wait until a team wins 2 in a row before talking dynasty.
DarkGhost, the dynasty talk is much more justified with OKC because they are so young. These players aren’t in their primes yet! Every player on the team (other than Caruso) projects to be better next year, and the year after that, and the year after that, etc…
Everybody knew at the end of last season that the Celtics had exactly 2 more years before the CBA would force tearing it down (which got moved up by 1 year with Tatum’s injury. The best the Celtics could have done was 3 years.
But, before this summer is out, OKC is expected to have Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren locked in for 6 more years (this coming year under the rookie scale and then 5 more under the rookie extension scale), and SGA signed to another extension. It’s unprecedented.
Then you’ve got the 50 billion extra draft picks…
The new CBA is to make sure dynasties in the NBA are done. OKC will have to pay their guys and eventually trade some down the line, we’ll see if they can withstand it
> the new CBA is to make sure dynasties in the NBA
> are done. OKC will have to pay their guys and
> eventually trade some down the line, we’ll see if
> they can withstand it
Not so…unless you want to wait until 2032. The real story here is that OKC has defeated the CBA:
– They will not be forced to lose one of their top 4 players for least 6 years Expect them to have locked up SGA, Williams, and Chet for the next 6 years by the beginning of next season. (It’s because the CBA sets the maximum for rookie extensions much lower than for veteran max deals).
– Their mid-level players — Dort, Wiggins, Joe, and Kenrich Williams — are already locked into team-friendly long-terms.
– They have ~25 extra draft picks between now and 2031, a guaranteed pipeline of inexpensive young bench strength.
Dynasty talk is boy who cried wolf now. Every champion this decade was supposed to be a dynasty outside of Warriors and Lakers. OKC needed two game 7s including one against a Nuggets team who blew it up before the playoffs. This is no dynasty
I’d argue the Nuggets, Bucks, and Celtics all could have been dynasties if they didn’t ruin their draft equity and cap space with short sighted transactions.
Same is true about OKC. They can be a dynasty. But unlike those other teams, OKC has a real front office that values sustainability.
the new CBA is buolt to break up any team that dominates. next year they can bring back teh same team to be a top 4 team but with spuirs, Rockets and even nuggets in that top 3 it will be tough.
Dynasty talk one day after winning a chip has got to be a new record.
Disrespectful to the word ….. really. Clueless
Dynasty talk is ridiculous. Let them win three before we start throwing that around geeeeezzz !!
Thunder don’t have a true PG. Their offense doesn’t really need a pass first player. They use playmakers to run offense. In today’s game a lot of teams do this. Really copying Kerr model offense. Cause he was so successful with Warriors.
Phil Jackson triangle lols. Don’treally need a traditional PG. Celtics did this back back in the day with Sam Jones and their offense. Read your history. A true PG is always needed. Its why Pacers are here Hali is one. But with the offenses today. You want more spacing and shooting. And playmakers running point. Like Williams and SGA do. Talent will always dictate in the playoffs or close games. Cause the game slows down.
Best thing about OKC. They look real. Their humility and team camaraderie. They are absolutely a team in motion. They play as 5 on O and D. Their age tells you they can still be better.
IHart is the reason Chet grew up this year. That was the whole point of getting him. Thunder can find a young big in draft. Can trade or let IHart walk. But he is a big part of this. They don’t win it without him.
It’s amazing that next year two of youngest teams. Rockets, Thunder could be battling for West. OKC has a chance to rewrite history. Just have to play year to year …….
It was an off year for the team East, I wouldn’t get too exited it if I were OKC. Healthy Celtics handle them no problem. Indiana was a turnover machine and just had a few minutes in 3Q of 7-10pts in terrible calls and 9pts or hot OKC shooting and they win that game. Plus OKC got a ton of good calls late in game 4.
SGA was jump passing his way to a terrible night and teams will see you just have to let him flop his way to missing 15-20 shots or OKC missing 75% of 3s.
This finals was nearly has bad as when the Cavs won when league suspended draymond in game 5 while up 3-1 at home.