The Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the most exciting young cores in the NBA, led by none other than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
OKC recently showcased its talent in the play-in tournament vs. the New Orleans Pelicans. Alongside Shai, the Thunder also have Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort, and Jalen Williams. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg of the true potential of the Thunder.
“This OKC team adds Chet Holmgren, $30 million in cap space and a top 11-15 draft pick (or better) next season.”
This OKC team adds Chet Holmgren, $30 million in cap space and a top 11-15 draft pick (or better) next season.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) April 13, 2023
Yes, that’s right. Chet Holmgren missed the entire 2022-23 NBA season due to an injury. He will be back on the roster for next season and will join the already phenomenal core of the team.
In addition, as mentioned in the tweet, the Thunder will have around $30 million in cap space. Thus, the franchise can attract a big-name superstar in the free agency.
The Thunder have 15 draft picks over the next five NBA Drafts. They can use one of these draft picks to onboard Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Doing so would be a double-headed spear for OKC. Because drafting Bronny could also lure LeBron James to the team in 2024. Now, that’s how you rebuild a team within a matter of years.
Kevin Durant Is Impressed With OKC’s Young Core
Prior to the current core of the Thunder, the organization had a core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden about a decade ago.
The trio went to the 2012 NBA Finals but failed to win the title. Speaking of which, Kevin Durant recently claimed that he wished he had a core like that when during his time with OKC.
“They’re a little bit more versatile… I think when we first got here, it was me, Jeff, Russ, the league wasn’t turned over to this fast-paced, small ball era,” Durant said. “They fit more with the NBA mold right now… They got three or four guys 6-7, 6-8 that can handle the ball. I wish I would’ve had that back when I was here. But, um, you know, they building something special.”
Getting this level of praise from Durant means a lot to the young stars of the Thunder. So much so that Holmgren believes he, Shai, and Giddey can become the next KD, Russ, and Harden.
The new OKC trio surely has the talent to do something special in the league. Hopefully, they can bring a championship to Oklahoma.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
