The Thunder came up one game short of their NBA title defense on Sunday, when the team lost to Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. Anything short of a championship is a loss for Oklahoma City, which now has a crucial offseason ahead to set its roster up for further success both next year and well down the road.
General manager Sam Presti has already positioned the Thunder roster to continue as one of the NBA’s powerhouses for years to come, even with the Spurs’ emergence. The core trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren is locked down through the end of the decade, with key contributors like Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain all under team control for at least two more seasons. Plus, Presti and the Thunder are still reaping the benefits of their treasure trove of draft picks acquired through masterful trades, which can be used to bring in additional depth or to further improve the roster as needed.
