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Okc Thunder

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The Uncontainable Fire of Russell Westbrook
sports8 days ago

The Uncontainable Fire of Russell Westbrook

The piece commemorates Russell Westbrook’s 18-year, high-octane career—from UCLA to OKC and beyond—celebrating his fearless, hyper-energetic style, record-breaking triple-doubles, and pivotal moments that defined a generation, while acknowledging the debates around efficiency. It argues that his relentless drive and willingness to risk it all left basketball brighter, louder, and more alive, making him one of the defining players in modern NBA history.

via The Ringer|
#nba#okc-thunder#retirement
Thunder Trim $323M Off 2026-27 Cap After Three Trades
sports1 month ago

Thunder Trim $323M Off 2026-27 Cap After Three Trades

The Oklahoma City Thunder shed about $323 million in 2026-27 cap space and tax payments by trading Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe, giving them long-term financial flexibility to extend players like Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell while keeping Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. They also drafted rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz to help sustain the window, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.

via Bleacher Report|
#financial-flexibility#nba#okc-thunder
Three-team swap lands Dort in Atlanta; Risacher heads to Dallas
sports1 month ago

Three-team swap lands Dort in Atlanta; Risacher heads to Dallas

A three-team deal sends Lu Dort from Oklahoma City to Atlanta, Zaccharie Risacher from Atlanta to Dallas, and multiple future second-round picks to the Thunder. OKC trims expensive contracts and clears second-apron risk, Atlanta bolsters its wing depth and cap flexibility, and Dallas takes a buy-low swing on a former No. 1 pick with upside. The piece grades the moves as solid for OKC, practical for Atlanta, and a low-risk, high-reward bet for Dallas.

via CBS Sports|
#atlanta-hawks#dallas-mavs#lu-dort
Three‑Team Swap Sends Dort to Hawks as OKC Trims Payroll
sports1 month ago

Three‑Team Swap Sends Dort to Hawks as OKC Trims Payroll

In a three‑team deal, the Thunder send Lu Dort to Atlanta and Zaccharie Risacher to Dallas, while acquiring three future second‑round picks to slash payroll and avoid the luxury‑tax second apron. Atlanta lands Dort and guard Ryan Nembhard, Dallas receives Risacher, and OKC picks up the Bulls’ 2027 second plus two Hawks seconds (2031, 2032) to maintain future flexibility. The moves are widely graded as favorable for OKC (A) and Atlanta (A), with Dallas getting a low‑cost upside bet (B). Dort’s lockdown perimeter defense and his expiring contract were central to Atlanta’s appeal, while OKC’s aim is long‑term asset preservation as it navigates the second apron.

via SB Nation|
#atlanta-hawks#dallas-mavericks#nba
Three-team swap sends Dort to Hawks and Risacher to Mavericks
sports1 month ago

Three-team swap sends Dort to Hawks and Risacher to Mavericks

Three-team deal sends Luguentz Dort to the Atlanta Hawks, Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks, and Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta; OKC will receive Chicago’s 2027 second-round pick and two favorable 2031/2032 seconds and create a $17.7M trade exception to stay under the second tax apron, while Dort provides defensive versatility for Atlanta, Risacher adds upside for Dallas via their traded-player exception, and Nembhard supplies guard depth for Atlanta.

via Hoops Rumors|
#atlanta-hawks#dallas-mavericks#luguentz-dort
Pistons land sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to bolster floor spacing
sports2 months ago

Pistons land sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to bolster floor spacing

Detroit sent two future second-round picks to Oklahoma City for guard Isaiah Joe, a 6-4 wing who averaged 11.1 points and shot 42.3% from three last season, adding a high-volume 3-point threat to boost floor spacing alongside Duncan Robinson. Joe has two years left on a four-year, $48 million contract (2027-28 club option). The trade follows the Pistons’ draft of Ebuka Okorie and the Isaiah Stewart-for-futures move, as Detroit — built around Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson — pushes for more shooting after a 60-22 season ended in a seven-game loss to Cleveland.

via Detroit Free Press|
#isaiah-joe#nba-trade#okc-thunder
Thunder Swap Aaron Wiggins for Hawks' Draft Capital
sports2 months ago

Thunder Swap Aaron Wiggins for Hawks' Draft Capital

The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks — the Hawks’ 2030 second-round pick and the less favorable of the Hawks’ or Lakers’ 2032 second-round picks — to ease a roster squeeze and reduce the Thunder’s tax bill. Wiggins, 27, was the 55th pick in 2021 and had a career-best 12.0 PPG during OKC’s 2024-25 season, though his role diminished in 2025-26. He’s on a five-year, $45M contract with $9M next season, $8.2M in 2027-28, and a team option at $8.2M in 2028-29. Atlanta can use an $11M trade exception to fit the salary, and the deal could close after July 6. The move adds wing/guard depth for Atlanta and lowers OKC’s projected tax from about $213M to $152M, with OKC still weighing options on Hartenstein, Dort, and Williams.

via Hoops Rumors|
#atlanta-hawks#nba#okc-thunder
Holmgren's Offseason Mission: Grow, Gain Confidence to Meet Wembanyama
sports2 months ago

Holmgren's Offseason Mission: Grow, Gain Confidence to Meet Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama exposed Chet Holmgren’s limits in the conference finals, underscoring a clear offseason mission for Holmgren: add bulk modestly, quicken his release, diversify and sharpen his offense, and rebuild confidence. Oklahoma City will also reassess roster and finances as SGA’s supermax looms and Holmgren’s max extension arrives, making Holmgren’s growth essential if the Thunder want to keep pace with Wembanyama’s rising trajectory.

via Sports Illustrated|
#chet-holmgren#nba#offseason-development
Thunder Season Declared a 'Failure' After Game 7 Loss to Spurs
sports2 months ago

Thunder Season Declared a 'Failure' After Game 7 Loss to Spurs

Oklahoma City’s bid for back-to-back titles ended with a 111-103 Game 7 loss to San Antonio as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the Thunder with 35 points, though no other player reached 20. SGA averaged 27.6 PPG in the playoffs, Ajay Mitchell added 15.6 PPG as the second-leading scorer, and Jalen Williams battled injuries, limiting him to five postseason games. Despite the setback, SGA expressed confidence he’ll return stronger in 2026-27 to chase a title.

via Bleacher Report|
#nba#okc-thunder#playoffs
Thunder seize 3-2 lead as SGA's rough start fuels balanced win over Spurs
sports2 months ago

Thunder seize 3-2 lead as SGA's rough start fuels balanced win over Spurs

OKC Thunder beat the Spurs 127-114 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead and move within one win of the NBA Finals. Despite calling his start the worst of his career, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still poured in 32 points and 9 assists as a balanced lineup—Holmgren, Caruso, and Jared McCain among others—carried the scoring load, setting up a likely Game 6 in San Antonio.

via Thunderous Intentions|
#nba#okc-thunder#playoffs
Thunder’s McCain Trade Pays Off as Rookie Guard Becomes Playoff Lift
sports3 months ago

Thunder’s McCain Trade Pays Off as Rookie Guard Becomes Playoff Lift

Oklahoma City acquired Jared McCain from Philadelphia at the February trade deadline in exchange for four draft picks, and the move is paying dividends as the 22-year-old started in a pivotal Game 5 against the Spurs, scoring 20 points and helping push the Thunder toward another Finals run. The haul Philly sent—minimal salary relief and several late picks—has drawn scrutiny as McCain has produced at a higher level than expected, prompting reevaluation of Morey’s “selling high” rationale.

via Sports Illustrated|
#jared-mccain#nba#okc-thunder
Thunder Smother Wembanyama as Spurs Struggle to Find Rhythm
sports3 months ago

Thunder Smother Wembanyama as Spurs Struggle to Find Rhythm

OKC’s aggressive, early-rotation defense crowded the paint and disrupted Wembanyama, limiting his scoring and forcing the Spurs to rely on outside shots. San Antonio showed sporadic kickouts but couldn’t sustain efficient offense as the Thunder’s physical, floor-shrinking approach kept him uncomfortable and denied clear paths to the rim. The result in Game 5 highlighted the Spurs’ spacing and finish problems and suggested that future games will hinge on whether San Antonio can create higher-percentage looks and sustain defense, while OKC can continue to shelter its rim and punish any over-penetration.

via The Ringer|
#nba#okc-thunder#playoffs