The Spurs not only caught up to the Thunder sooner than expected but surpassed them by eliminating the defending champions in Oklahoma City on Saturday night, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. The big question now facing the Thunder is how the team can solve the unprecedented challenge that Victor Wembanyama presents.
While a major roster overhaul would be shocking considering the Thunder were 71-14 against every other team in the league in 2025/26, they went just 4-8 against San Antonio in what could be the beginning of a long rivalry.
League sources have told Amick throughout the season that Oklahoma City is not expected to pursue Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, though speculation will undoubtedly pick up on that front in the wake of the Thunder being eliminated. Amick has also heard “chatter” for some time about the Thunder being interested in Evan Mobley, whom Cavaliers president of basketball operations (Koby Altman) recently called “part of our future.”
As Dan Woike of The Athletic writes, one key player who really struggled under the bright lights of Game 7 was big man Chet Holmgren, who was named to the All-NBA Third Team and finished runner-up to Wembanyama in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Holmgren finished with just four points (on 1-of-2 shooting), four rebounds, two steals, two blocks and two turnovers in 33 minutes.
“They’re a unique team in terms of personnel, what their personnel does,” Holmgren said softly after the game. “I don’t think there’s another team that has the same kind of play style.”
Holmgren’s struggles against Wembanyama and the Spurs aren’t a new development, as he was largely ineffective during the 12 combined times the two teams faced off in 2025/26. The 24-year-old center/forward averaged 10.7 points, 7.1 and 1.1 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game with a shooting line of .510/.273/.769 during the Western Conference finals, a far cry from the numbers he posted during the first two rounds of the playoffs (18.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 1.4 SPG on .600/.387/.885 shooting).
“That’s not all on him,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “I actually thought he played his minutes pretty well. You know, I thought that run at the end of the second quarter that got us back going and cut into the (lead), I mean, he was a huge part of that in ways that may not be in the box score visibly.”
While Daigneault certainly wasn’t wrong in that assessment of that stretch, Woike points out that Holmgren was unable to sustain that level of play throughout the game. Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman (subscriber link), graded Holmgren’s Game 7 performance as an “F,” while her colleague Joe Mussatto gave Cason Wallace an A+.
“There’s no running from improvement,” Holmgren said, per Woike. “I always look at it as no matter what — good, bad, win, loss, whatever it might be — you have to continue to improve. So, that’s the mindset.”
The Thunder will face some difficult roster decisions this summer, with the five-year, maximum-salary extensions for Holmgren and Jalen Williams set to begin in 2026/27 and sizeable team options on Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort and Kenrich Williams.
Still, Alex Caruso was defiant in his belief that the Spurs aren’t a problem that can’t be solved, Woike adds.
“There’s nothing that needs to be solved,” Alex Caruso said. “We could have won the game (Saturday), and we would have been asking them maybe the same thing. I don’t think there’s this huge narrative of, like, this is a bugaboo. … We should have played better and won the game and been in the NBA Finals.
“They’re a good team, they’re young. We’re a good team, we’re young. Both will probably be around for a while, so we gotta get better and try to win next time.”
If the Thunder are interested in Evan Mobley, I wouldn’t trade Chet for him. I would trade other pieces and picks. Mobley and Holmgren are too similar but the two together would be tremendous defensively and offensively if one can consistently space the floor. With that being said though, I would move Dort and Hartenstein for other pieces. They are too expensive and not worth the money. Cason Wallace is Lu Dort’s replacement and Thomas Sorber is Hartenstein’s.
I don’t think it’s legally possible for the Thunder to acquire Mobley unless they sink beneath the 2nd apron first. The 2nd apron prevents teams from aggregating more than one player in a deal, or taking in more than they send out. And Mobley makes more next year than anyone on the Thunder (including SGA, whose salary, btw, starts EXPLODING in 2027-28). Maybe if they decline the options on all or at least two of their free agents, and renounce them, then try to sign them back as pure free agents? Good luck. Would be very challenging.
So, my “I will stop talking about Giannis to GSW if OKC say they are going to go after him” challenge lasted like, 12 hours lmao
In a multi-team deal, GSW depositing Jimmy, Podz and 3 FRP gets Giannis and a couple other pieces. It’s only 1 year of Giannis too. Many people acting like its for the rest of his career. It might be for GSW, but nothing is written in stone, its not for everyone. MIL’s asking price is probably a lot lower than many think. Jimmy will be ready by the playoffs, someone like Detroit could use him, Detroit would love to see Giannis in the West, I’m sure.
Is it worth it though? You’re giving up Jimmy and what the first man off their bench + 3 1sts. If the Warriors were on the cusp okay makes total sense but who do they have? Curry okay but he’s gonna be a year older and Father Time catches everyone. Draymond who okay good player but still another year older and isn’t he expected to sign for like 75 mil? So add Giannis to that what else is there? Sure other moves could be made but that roster doesn’t even seem top 5 in the NBA so why give up all that for someone who you said is there maybe only one year
Spurs are only going to get tougher as they mature. The 4 rotating from PG to SF (Fox, Castle, Vassell, and Harper) is difficult to handle when all 4 are excellent perimeter defenders. And if you happen to get past them, then there’s the big guy. Offensively they just need another 3 point shooter off the bench to give them the depth they need in that area.
The reason that spurs could beat OKC is that OKC drives to teh basket and Wemby was there to block those shots. Now if the Spurs goes against a outside shooting team it would be a tougher match up for teh Spurs but that team will need a physcial center over 7 feet to keep Wemby from making easy baskets.
The thunder absolutely should not trade for Giannis. Just not a good fit for multiple reasons mostly financial. Plus that just isn’t a Sam Presti move.
Okc cant handle the pressure
Indy would have been champs if hali doesnt tear his achilles
Thunder barely beat a depleted squad
And got crushed last nite