The Oklahoma City Thunder, once again, have taken the NBA by storm. Last season, they managed to clinch the No. 1 seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, finishing with an impressive 57-25 record. Led by the dazzling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the brilliant Mark Daigneault, who was a strong candidate for Coach of the Year, the Thunder truly made their mark. However, their dream run came to a halt in the playoffs when they were defeated by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round. But fear not, Thunder fans, for this team is on the cusp of greatness.
The offseason saw some intriguing moves being made by the Thunder front office. In a surprising trade, the Thunder sent Josh Giddey packing to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the defensive star, Alex Caruso. This move raised eyebrows among the Thunder faithful, with many questioning the decision to let go of Giddey, a young and promising talent. One individual who was particularly affected by this trade was none other than Thunder’s big man, Chet Holmgren.
In a recent interview on Paul George’s podcast, “Podcast P With Paul George”, Holmgren opened up about his feelings towards the trade. He admitted that he was deeply “hurt” by the decision to part ways with Giddey, hinting at a strong bond between the two players.
While the trade may have come as a shock to some, there were underlying reasons behind the move. Giddey’s lackluster performance in the playoffs last season may have played a significant role. With averages of 8.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in just 18.1 minutes per game, Giddey failed to make a substantial impact when it mattered most. His defensive shortcomings were glaring, leading to his demotion to the bench halfway through the Mavericks series.
Thunder’s GM, Sam Presti, shed some light on the situation, revealing that the team had plans to utilize Giddey in a reserve role for the upcoming season. However, it seemed that Giddey was not on board with this idea, prompting the Thunder to explore trade options.
Despite the mixed emotions surrounding Giddey’s departure, the Thunder are setting their sights on bigger things. The addition of Caruso, a defensive stalwart, is expected to bolster the team’s chances of contending for a championship. With Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge and Daigneault calling the shots from the sidelines, the Thunder are poised for a memorable season ahead. The journey to greatness continues for this resilient and determined team.