No one has any idea what's next for the Oklahoma City Thunder
Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr discuss the next possible steps for the Thunder to head back NBA Finals in 2027. Check out the full conversation on “The Dunker Spot” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen .
Video Transcript
The other downside to OKC not only losing the series, but losing the series the way it did, is that it does open up this offseason in which the Jalen and Chet max kick in.
They're gonna be deep in the second apron without making some moves.
Think team option for Isaiah Hartenstein, team option for Lou Dort.
They have some salary to move around, and so I am curious to see how OKC navigates this offseason.
Is this going to be declining both the team options for Lou Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and trying to renegotiate a little bit lower to keep them, either get them out of the apron or just get them closer away from it?
Are they letting those guys walk and just trusting some of these younger guys on rookie scale contracts to step into bigger roles?
Are they going to make a trade?
Like, I don't think-- I've seen the noise.
Like, I don't think they're going to move Chet.
I don't think they're going to move Jalen Williams.
Can't rule anything out with Sam Presti, but if I had to guess, I don't think they're going to go that drastic.
Like, they almost made the finals despite missing Jalen Williams and AJ Mitchell.
I don't think you overreact, but I am curious to see what they do with their core guys and how they absorb the series overall.
We talked about this a little bit on Friday, Steve.
Like, regardless of if OKC wins or loses the game seven, they have to look at this first group like, "They gave us some problems this year, and we're gonna have to contend with them if they're healthy for a very long time."
And so now that we, now we know it's officially a loss, how do they soak that in?
What do they do around that?
That's kind of what I'm curious about as we move forward.
I mean, the, they, they built this up a certain way, and they'll find a way to continue to build it the way they want to.
And for me, I don't, I think it's not necessarily you don't have to focus your moves on specifically San Antonio.
I think you have to continue to add to what you've built so far and maybe have a little bit more versatility, maybe have some more options.
But I mean, you gave yourself a chance with people missing to a degree, and you fought all season long.
So I don't think you have to change too, too much.
You just gotta continue to evolve and find the right fits to continue to kinda get back to where you wanna be, on top of the NBA.
