The Thunder were unable to defend the championship they won last year, and there’s an expectation around the league that their roster will look different in 2026/27, writes Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).
However, none of the rival executives Stein has spoken to “strongly believe” Oklahoma City will pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo in the wake of the Thunder being eliminated from the postseason. That more or less echoes previous reporting from Sam Amick of The Athletic.
President of basketball operations Sam Presti has frequently taken a long-term approach to team-building over the past several years, Stein notes, and the Thunder came close to winning the Western Conference finals despite missing Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell for much of the series.
The Thunder certainly have the assets to make a blockbuster trade if they want to, but a deal for the Bucks superstar “would genuinely shock” people around the league, according to Stein. That’s partly because Antetokounmpo’s presence could dramatically change the meticulously developed culture Presti has helped foster in Oklahoma City.
Here are a few more rumors related to the Thunder:
- Amick reported that there’s long been “chatter” about the Thunder’s interest in Evan Mobley, and league sources tell the Stein Line that OKC tried to acquire the third pick in the 2021 draft in order to select the former USC big man. However, the Cavaliers “rebuffed” those efforts, according to Stein, who points out that president of basketball operations Koby Altman tried to preemptively shut down potential inquiries on Mobley at his end-of-season press conference last week. Altman called the 2024/25 Defensive Player of the Year a “a huge part of what we do” and “consistently our best player throughout the playoffs,” per Stein.
- Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman (subscriber link) recently suggested the Thunder are likely to decline their $28.5MM team option on Isaiah Hartenstein with an eye on re-signing their starting center to a long-term deal. Stein has heard similarly, writing that early indications point to Harteinstein remaining on the team in ’26/27, even if that option is declined.
- Multiple reports have indicated that the Thunder are expected to be aggressive with their two first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 17), perhaps with a goal of moving up to select Cameron Boozer. However, rival clubs have gotten the sense that Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies and Bulls are determined to stay in the top four, according to Stein, who says a “more realistic trade-up target” for Oklahoma City could be Aday Mara.
Unless they can move Chet there is no need for the Thunder to chase Giannis…
They have a deep and talented team… They just need to take care of their books…
Thunder just need to be healthy to really compete. Which you can say that about all teams. Mobley isn’t going anywhere. Cavs move anyone it will be Allen.
Chet and Williams are good talents. But neither has proven anything yet. Except getting paid. Then To not show up for biggest games. You want a guarantee. You go get Giannis.
Mara can be had at #12. But what are you saying to IHart. What are you saying to Sorber. Thunder the One year Wonder. Already got them reevaluating their team. That’s a laugh lols. A top 4 pick is what gives Thunder what they need most. For that you might as well trade for Giannis. Clippers would probably trade out. But there are only guards there. Lendeborg is a great pick. But he could be gone. So it’s going to be real interesting to see what Thunder do now. Do they panic and overthink this.
This is what i do. I take Lendeborg. He’s gone I take Steinbach. He’s gone I take Mara and trade Sorber to Bulls for that #15 pick. And I take Carr.
You make some good points. But the fact is the likelihood of Steinbach, Mara,or Lendeborg ever being as good as Chet, JW or Giannis is very, very low. OKC already has way too many decent players than they can use. They need to figure out how to consolidate their assets into a smaller group of very good players.
Giannis would be the way to go. Thunder seem skeptical about him. I don’t think they want to give up that much. They think they can do it with their assets and youth. That’s still a maybe. You already lost this year betting on Chet and Williams. And if rumors are true they want Boozer or Wilson. That says you already are questioning Chet. That’s unfortunate cause the coach is as culpable. Imo both Williams and Chet are overrated. I’d give up both for Giannis.
As far as draft. Lendeborg gives them what Chet can’t. I think Steinbach will be there. If Lendeborg is gone. Thunder have Sorber and Topic coming back next year. So they have plenty of options to this right. Just don’t panic.
Again, Those draft picks have a 10% chance of becoming as good as Chet or JW. Those are long shot moves. Presti should not be focusing on long shots as his primary strategy.
For you maybe. I would argue Lendeborg can give major mins now. In a year could be a big part of team. I follow talent and draft. I have seen Chet since HS. Lendeborg is older than Chet.
Why is OKC looking at Boozer and Wilson. Ask yourself that. Chet will never level up till he gains 35-40 lbs
Oh sure, Lendeborg can be a good rotation player, probably. But Boozer and Wilson have a good chance to become stars.
OKC does not need more rotation players, they already have the deepest roster in the league. They need to use their depth and draft assets to add another star.
Lendeborg is better than any rotation big they have right now. Their depth just lost a seven gm series. Now you are talking another star ?? Isn’t that what they told you Chet and Williams are.
Well I think we’ve got the Lendeborg conversation where it belongs. He may be better than Jaylin Williams, but he also may not be. The two are the same age. How good do you think Williams would have looked this year if he was still in college? And Jaylin has proven he can play at the NBA level. Yaxil has not. He would be cheaper for sure, which is important. Still, I think OKC would be better off trading that #12 pick as part of a bundle, than to use it for a maybe upgrade at 3rd string forward.
P. S. I think the reason Thunder lost is because they couldn’t stop Wemby on either end.
I’m not here to compare players. Thunder were hurt and almost beat Spurs. So they are right there as a contender. This year also showed the truth about them. One of those is Lendeborg would be an upgrade for team. So going back to me original post. If the chatter is true about them want to trade up for a 4. What dies that tell you about Chet. Read my original post.