After an impressive 2023-24 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will now need to figure out how to navigate this offseason.
The youngest team in this year's postseason failed to get past the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals, losing the series in a Game 6 nail-biter.
Despite a less-than-ideal conclusion to their season, the Thunder showed that they were way ahead of schedule, securing the No.1 seed in a challenging Western Conference. Additionally, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also has emerged as one of the NBA's top players.
Now, the OKC Thunder will look ahead to the offseason, seeking to build on their early success of this year.
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Thunderous Free Agency
The Thunder, who finished this past season with a 57-25 record, have some big decisions to make this coming season to find the right pieces around their young trio of SGA, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams.
Four players will be hitting the open market this summer. Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Gordon Hayward, and Josh Giddey will all become free agents this offseason.
If one player is to be retained throughout the offseason for the Thunder, it has to be Joe.
Isaiah Joe proved to be big in crucial minutes when his number was called, shooting 42% from three and giving them an offensive spark that carried throughout into the postseason.
"Yeah, always shooting," Joe said via Inside The Thunder.
"Going into this offseason working on my body and durability. I am working on ways that I can help the team, being a gravity shooter, being a catch and shoot, that nature, and being in with the coaches a lot. They've got a lot of insight. So just continuing to grow that way," he added.
Joe has a $2.2 million contract option that could be an absolute steal for the Thunder for next year.
Trade Josh Giddey?
With the Thunder seeing massive improvements on their roster, the franchise may look to move on from starting combo guard Josh Giddey.
Giddey was one of the focal points on this young Thunder team, averaging 16.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 48% from the field. However, his numbers dipped to 12 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists throughout the postseason.
He is entering the final year of his rookie deal, during which he will make $8.3 million, and could be looking for an extension this summer.
Giddey has been reliable for the Thunder but has yet to progress his game in OKC, as his struggles in the playoffs did him no favors. He struggled mightily throughout the second-round matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, which resulted in his eventual benching.
Josh Giddey was picked sixth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, he can be seen as a potential trade piece for OKC, as Giddey has some buzz around the league if Oklahoma City would look to move on from the three-year pro.
The Next Best Move
The Thunder will be looking to make a title contending move next season; but what is that move?
They are in one of the best cap situations in the league and have tons of draft capital moving forward.
Some may say the Thunder should chase stars in the offseason, possibly bringing back a name like Paul George.
Would they consider other big names in the market, like DeMar DeRozan or Klay Thompson?
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