OKC Thunder: 3 individual matchups to watch during first half of schedule

Matchup to watch No. 3) *Insert name here* vs. Steven Adams (December 31st)

The idea of Steven Adams not manning the middle for the OKC Thunder moving forward is simply something fans are going to have to get used to.

A part of the team’s desire to embark on a full-blown rebuild was, unfortunately, trading the likes of the franchise favorite to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for George Hill (from Bucks) , Darius Miller, Josh Gray, Zylan Cheatham, Kenrich Williams, Denver’s 2023 lottery-protected first-round pick, Washington’s 2023 second-round pick, Charlotte’s 2024 second-round pick, and a $27.5 million trade exception.

Now, as a result, Adams will be donning the blue, gold, and red threads of NOLA from here on out, and is expected to make his return to the Chesapeake Energy Arena on New Year’s Eve.

As of this moment, no official word has surfaced in regard to who coach Mark Daigneault plans to roll out in the starting lineups at the pivot — though many believe it will likely be Al Horford, we cannot say for sure — so, because of this, we have simply listed this matchup as *Insert name here* vs. Steven Adams because, frankly, it’s not about who is the team’s starting center in this bout but, rather, just seeing Adams going up against the man who wound up replacing him.