Oklahoma City Thunder Waive Intriguing Big Man

Carlson appeared in just seven games for the Thunder this season. Initially with the Raptors 905 of the G League, the Thunder signed Carlson for big man depth. With this move, the seven-footer can now return to the Raptors 905 since they still hold his rights.

The Utah native is a legitimate big man who can stretch the floor. Though his Thunder run was forgettable, there is no doubt Carlson has talent and could provide value to another team down the line.

Oklahoma City Thunder Waive Branden Carlson

The Oklahoma City Thunder Are Legitimate Title Contenders

Waiving Carlson does not move the needle for the Thunder one way or the other. The Thunder currently own the best record in the West and second-best in the NBA overall. They are in the midst of a 15-game winning streak, including a resilient victory over the reigning champion Boston Celtics, and have won 19 of their last 20 games. As it stands, Oklahoma City ranks as the best defensive team in the NBA (and the eighth-best offensive team). What makes their run most impressive is they are doing it all without standout big man Chet Holmgren, who suffered a hip injury in November. Though he has no concrete timetable, Holmgren is expected to return this season.

The Thunder are easily the best team in the West and arguably the best in the league. They are elite at all levels and are led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After earning the No. 1 seed last year, the Thunder have advanced to another level. Much of this has to do with their offseason additions, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. A lot can happen until the playoffs, but at this point, there is no reason to believe the Thunder will not be playing basketball in June.

The Last Word

The Thunder are approaching a relatively difficult stretch in their schedule. They begin a four-game road trip on Wednesday against the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. The game after, they will take on the New York Knicks. This comes after their battle against the Celtics. Nonetheless, the Thunder have proven they are well-equipped to take on any challenge ahead of them. Either way, with the trade deadline less than a month away, it will be interesting to see if they make any moves.

So far, the Thunder have been linked to Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson. Johnson would provide the Thunder with a great three-point shooter and a solid defender. Until the trade deadline, the Thunder remain a team to monitor. However, even if they stand pat, the Thunder are in a great position to return to the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade.