Thunder Won’t Look To Move Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren remains a fixture on the Thunder roster despite his underwhelming performance in the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City has no interest in dealing away Holmgren, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

While the Thunder face some difficult roster decisions over the next few weeks, including team options on Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort and Kenrich Williams, a Holmgren trade is not a consideration.

Holmgren was badly outplayed by Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in the conference finals, as he averaged 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in the series. That included a Game 7 clunker in which he contributed just four points and four rebounds in 33 minutes.

Holmgren, who was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team this season, will enter the first year of a five-year max extension next season. Fischer notes that Holmgren’s length and impact on defense, paired with his floor-spacing ability, is difficult to replace.

Oklahoma City could be active on the trade market but are more likely to make some moves regarding its draft picks. The Thunder hold the Nos. 12, 17 and 37 picks in this month’s draft. Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins could be dealt to help the team avoid the second tax apron.

League sources tell Fischer that Oklahoma City remains unlikely to enter the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. While they have the young talent and draft picks to make a serious offer to the Bucks, Sam Presti isn’t the type of GM who would surrender that type of capital for a star player, particularly one already past the age of 30.

The Bucks are trending toward an Antetokounmpo trade between now and the draft because Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam essentially established such a timeline in early May with various public comments.