The Oklahoma City Thunder had an incredible season in 2023-24, going from the draft lottery to the top seed in the Western Conference.
Will Isaiah Hartenstein Fix Rebounding Woes?
Last year, OKC struggled with rebounding, ranking fourth-worst in the NBA. However, their high shooting percentages made it hard to grab offensive boards. Their playoff exit against Dallas highlighted this issue when they gave up six offensive rebounds in the final eight minutes after leading by 17 points.
To address this, they signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $87M deal. Known for his rebounding skills, Hartenstein is expected to start alongside Chet Holmgren. Holmgren’s ability to shoot threes should help maintain floor spacing even with two big men on the court.
Wing Rotation Dilemma
This season will likely see Jalen Williams playing more at small forward, potentially moving Lugentz Dort to a bench role. The team added Alex Caruso for defensive prowess and has other key players like Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe vying for minutes. Coach Mark Daigneault will need to balance playing time carefully to keep everyone happy.
Fans are excited but also a bit worried about how all these changes will play out.
The Thunder have shown great team spirit so far; they often crash each other’s postgame interviews. But with many players fighting for minutes and future contracts, tensions could arise.
Big Trade on the Horizon?
OKC has been patient with its young core but might need a big trade soon. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is up for a huge contract next summer worth $294 million over four years. Holmgren and Williams are also nearing rookie extensions. To stay competitive without breaking the bank, this might be the perfect time to use their stash of draft picks for a star player acquisition.
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