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Oklahoma City has one of the most promising rosters in the NBA. It’s more than evident in the media’s preseason projections. The Thunder are a trendy pick to win the Western Conference and make the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2012.
The Thunder’s depth is a big reason for the hype, especially with the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. The two elite role players join a cast of bench studs in Oklahoma City. But obviously, the biggest reason for the Thunder hype train is found within the team’s big three: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
Bleacher Report recently published a story detailing 10 potential surprises ahead of opening night, and Oklahoma City was included. The Thunder could surprise the league by netting three All-Stars.
“There should be enough shots and touches to go around in the Sooner State for Williams and Holmgren to continue upping their output,” Zach Buckley wrote. “It's easy to get carried away thinking how that might look, since Williams just averaged 19.1 points and 4.5 assists while Holmgren posted per-game marks of 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 threes.
“Those numbers don't need that much growth to enter the All-Star discussion, particularly if OKC uses the next few months to separate itself in the crowded-on-paper Western Conference.”
It’s hard to fathom a team having three All-Stars, but in Oklahoma City’s case it makes sense. If the Thunder has the success it’s anticipated to have, the players will get the respect they deserve. When we’ve seen juggernaut teams in the past, star role players have been generously selected to the All-Star game. In the Thunder’s case, all three players are stars — it’s not a role player situation with those three.
The Thunder will have one All-Star penciled in with Gilgeous-Alexander, assuming he’s injury free. But Williams and Holmgren aren’t too far off. There’s a real chance the Thunder have three All-Stars representing the surging team this season.
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Jeff Hafley hints at Lukas Van Ness growing into a problem
Luka Van Ness has been through two seasons in the NFL, but the Green Bay Packers linebacker hasn’t quite yet lived up to the hype that came with him when the team took him 13th overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star played in 17 games and recorded four sacks. He took a step back in 2024, recording just three sacks in 17 games. His Pro Football Focus grade slid down from 64.0 in 2023 to 53.8 in 2024. But at least he’s been durable for Green Bay, having not missed a game thus far in his career. Availability is one thing, though. It’s what he does when he’s on the field that the Packers want to see improve. Year 3 for Van Ness could be where he truly breaks out, an exciting thought for the Packers, who were 12th in 2024 with a defensive sack rate of 7.42 percent. Packers DC shares 2025 outlook for Van Ness Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is entering his second year in the role with the team, is feeling optimistic about Van Ness. Here’s what Hafley said about Van Ness, via Green Bay’s official website. “He’s a year older. He’s got another year in the scheme. I think he’s starting to understand the position, how to use his hands, how to set edges, some pass rush tools, some counter moves. It was a good offseason for him truthfully. He did a good job at OTAs and then he left here and he put in a lot of work. He came back in really good shape, he’s healthy. I think he’s starting to feel comfortable. DeMarcus (Covington) has done a really good job with him and that entire group, but again, it’s still early.” At just 24 years old, Van Ness likely hasn’t reached his peak yet, and if he does take a leap in 2025, that should be a huge plus for the Packers.
Lakers Interested in $60 Million All-Star Big Man, Under One Condition
The Los Angeles Lakers were hunting for a center for most of the offseason after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They knew they needed an upgrade from Jaxon Hayes. While the Lakers didn't get any of the top centers on the free agent market, they were able to sign Deandre Ayton after he was bought out. Another center would be a better fit, but he wasn't available in the offseason. Nikola Vucevic has been linked to the Lakers dating all the way back to the trade deadline, although Vucevic was not moved. More news: Lakers Make Massive Announcement Ahead of 2025-26 Season The Lakers would only be interested in Vucevic if he were to be bought out, according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints. Los Angeles will not be pursuing a trade to acquire Vucevic. After bringing in Ayton on a two-year deal, it wouldn't make sense to trade assets in order to bring in Vucevic. They want to see what Ayton can do before bailing on him already. The Lakers needed a starting center, as that was their biggest need heading into the offseason. While Ayton isn't the greatest option, he is someone who can help the team with what he brings to the table. The Bulls seem to think that Vucevic can still help them win games and contend for the playoffs in what will be a very weak Eastern Conference next season. If things don't go well by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Bulls might decide to buy him out if they aren't in the playoff picture. That would be the only scenario in which the Lakers bring him in. More news: Lakers Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Luka Doncic Extension The Lakers are always looking to improve the roster whenever possible. They aren't worried about hurting feelings, so they wouldn't hesitate to offer Vucevic a contract if they thought he was better than Ayton. With LeBron James entering the end of his career, the Lakers are going to try to win the title as quickly as possible while he is still on the roster. Last season with the Bulls, Vucevic averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Lakers Castoff All-Star Linked to East Team in Free Agency For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Report: Knicks made a signing based on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade belief
The New York Knicks aren't waiting for the offseason drama surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to end before taking care of a key signing for their roster this summer. Per Shams Charania of ESPN, the Knicks signed Mikal Bridges to a four-year deal worth $150M on Thursday. "New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges has agreed to a four-year, $150 million contract extension with the franchise, agents Sam Goldfeder and Jordan Gertler of Excel Sports Management tell ESPN," Charania posted on X. "The new deal includes a player option for 2029-30 and a trade kicker." Bridges' extension might not have happened if the Knicks believed they had a serious shot to land an elite player in a trade this summer. Per Ashish Mathur of Hoops Wire, the Knicks made their decision to sign Bridges to a new deal after they learned Antetokounmpo plans to stay in Milwaukee. "The New York Knicks got intel that Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t request a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks before signing Mikal Bridges to an extension, an NBA source told Hoops Wire on Thursday," Mathur wrote. "...The Knicks would have pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo had the two-time MVP requested a trade from the Bucks. All signs point toward Antetokounmpo remaining in Milwaukee." Due to the player option Bridges has in his new deal, the guard cannot be traded for at least six months. Mathur's report signals the reality that New York wants to land another star to pair with Jalen Brunson. However, the Knicks might not make a big splash until the trade deadline next year. The Knicks need a big man who can score and play defense at a high level in the playoffs, something Karl-Anthony Towns was unable to do in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Insider predicts how Cowboys, Micah Parsons contract standoff will end
As of the first day of August, there remained no indication that the Dallas Cowboys and star pass-rusher Micah Parsons were close to coming to terms on a contract extension. Parsons is in the final year of his rookie deal, so some understandably have wondered if he could follow in the footsteps of Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin and use a trade request as a negotiating tactic. During Friday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up" program, NFL insider Dan Graziano reported that he still believes "Parsons will be a Cowboy for a long time." That doesn't necessarily mean the two sides will come to terms on an agreement anytime soon. "I don't know, for a fact, that this contract gets done before [the] opening week of this season," Graziano continued. "[The Cowboys] do have the franchise tag available to them for 2026 and 2027 if need be." Graziano mentioned that the Cowboys have a history of getting deals done later than fans would like. Last summer, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb didn't receive his four-year, $136M deal until after Dallas finished its final game of the preseason. The following month, the news that quarterback Dak Prescott had agreed to a four-year extension broke just hours before Dallas' regular-season opener. T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers reset the market for edge-rushers when he agreed to a three-year, $123M extension that included $108M guaranteed ahead of training camp. While it's expected that Parsons would become the new highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL if he signs a deal this summer, it's possible the two sides are waiting to see if Trey Hendrickson accepts an offer from the Cincinnati Bengals before September. It's unclear how, if at all, a Hendrickson deal would impact how much money Parsons hopes to make via his extension. "There's a chance that we could get into this season with Micah Parsons actually playing out the final year of his contract and confronting the possibility of a franchise tag next March," Graziano continued. ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith recently attracted attention when he said Parsons should make it known he's "willing to sit out the year" if he doesn't receive his desired extension. Graziano noted that such a move isn't "feasible" because Parsons' current contract would toll, meaning he'd still have one season left on his deal in 2026. Dallas opens the 2025 campaign with a prime-time matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4. It sounds like Parsons will be in the lineup for that contest even if he doesn't sign an extension before that Thursday evening arrives.
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