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Oklahoma City Thunder’s summer additions will lead them back to playoffs

By Charlie Spungin

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) /
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Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder Chet Holmgren (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) /

These are the players who will attempt to help OKC return to the playoffs for the first time in a few seasons.

Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren was the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and after being out for the entirety of last season due to injury, he counts as an addition to this Thunder roster. Immediately, Holmgren is expected to jump in that starting center spot for OKC after many players occupied that spot last season: Jaylin Williams, Aleksej Pokusevski, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Mike Muscala.

Now, there will be a sense of stability in that spot. Not only that but Holmgren is expected to be better and more impactful than any of those players from his first day on the floor alongside Gilgeous-Alexander and company. His two-way impact will undoubtedly place him in the Rookie of the Year race, especially considering he will be on a team that will be looking to win some games.

Last season, the Thunder finished as the 14th-best defense in the league despite lacking a true rim protector, which is surprising when looking at the roster on paper. It’s hard to say that they had any elite defenders outside of Lu Dort, who is a complete lockdown perimeter defender but doesn’t offer any rim protection or event creation – such as steals or deflections. Sure, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander improved defensively, and Kenrich Williams and Jalen Williams are quite solid on that end too, but that doesn’t change the fact that OKC did not have a high-level rim protector last season.

Rim protectors are undoubtedly the heart of the defense. Jaylin Williams, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Aleksej Pokusevki all have their flaws defensively, but Holmgren could be entering the league as a top 10 or 15 rim protector. We saw the impact Walker Kessler had last season as a rookie, and it’s not impossible to see Holmgren enter the NBA on a similar level to that.

In three Summer League games so far, he has averaged 13.7 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.7 steals, and 3 blocks on a 51.4 TS% (43.8/11.1/66.7 shooting splits). It’s evident that he’s shaking off some rust, particularly on the offensive end. In his lone season at Gonzaga, he shot 39.0% from beyond the arc on 3.3 attempts per game. His ability to stretch the floor as a 7’1” center while also being able to attack closeouts and operate as a roller will do wonders for the Thunder offense.

Holmgren is the exact player that the Thunder were missing on both ends of the floor. There aren’t really any players league-wide that fit onto this roster much better, and he is going to do wonders for a team that will look to be a top 6 seed and avoid the Play-In. It really wouldn’t be surprising to see them take the leap to a top-10 defense, either.

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