The OKC Thunder are hours away from the start of a new league year, marking the start of NBA Free Agency. For the Thunder, many expect a large amount of roster turnover this offseason.
Where does the Oklahoma City roster stand right now? Who is likely to re-sign this offseason? Are there any obvious free agent targets for the Thunder in their current state as a team? Which players might be on the chopping block? How many trades will we see this offseason?
The OKC Thunder 2021 Free Agency preview
Free Agency opens up at 6 p.m. EST on August 2nd, 2021. The Thunder will officially be able to talk with free agents, and other teams will get the right to attempt to pouch OKC’s free agents.
First, let’s see where the roster stands right now for the Oklahoma City Thunder:
Guards (8): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kemba Walker, Josh Giddey, Theo Maledon, Lu Dort, Charlie Brown Jr., Tre Mann, and Ty Jerome.
Forwards (7): Darius Bazley, Isaiah Roby, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams, Vit Krejci, and Aleksej Pokusevski.
Centers (1): Derrick Favors.
Roster/Contract notes:
The active roster is currently at 16, this includes Aaron Wiggins who is on a two-way contract. Vit Krejci, who the Thunder brought over this season, is also included due to the CBA rule forcing OKC to give him a guaranteed roster spot.
Charlie Brown Jr is on a non-guaranteed deal, one that OKC can get out of without a penalty which opens up a roster spot that OKC needs.
There is a growing belief Kemba Walker will be moved prior to the start of the 2021-22 NBA Season.
The Thunder also have a ton of versatile players. Mark Daigneault attempted to move Roby to the center position a lot last year. Theo Maledon played well off-ball when sharing the floor with SGA. Ty Jerome also played off the ball at a high rate. Josh Giddey, while classified as a guard, is 6’9 and a “basketball player” positionally, according to Sam Presti.
Do not worry about the positional fits, that is the entire goal of Daigneault and Presti. “Position-less” is not just a buzzword for the organization.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will soon sign his max extension with the organization this offseason.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has not agreed on a contract yet, but with the team inking 55th overall pick Aaron Wiggins, it is safe to assume JRE will be locked up soon. The Thunder spent two second-round picks to earn the right to draft the Villanova product.
I would guess the deal for Robinson-Earl looks similar to that of a late first-round pick, with a few more opt-outs for the organization.
Gabriel Deck, who signed a 3-year non-guaranteed contract with the Thunder before playing just ten games a season ago, is progressing on a deal that will send him back to Europe. This opens up a spot on the roster for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Free Agents for the Thunder:
Mike Muscala and Tony Bradley represent the only unrestricted free agents for the OKC Thunder this offseason.
They are joined by Svi Mykhailiuk, Jaylen Hoard, and Josh Hall as restricted free agents.
I do not expect a Tony Bradley reunion in OKC after the Thunder did not extend the five million dollar qualifying offer. The organization has the right to match any deal Svi Mykhailiuk signs this offseason, but with the roster crunch, will they?
Mike Muscala has expressed his desire to stay with the Thunder, and the team needs depth at the five spot, it just comes down to making a roster spot for the veteran floor spacer.
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Players most likely to not be on the roster after this offseason:
Charlie Brown Jr seems like a player that will be a roster spot casualty this offseason, with the OKC Thunder being able to easily shed his non-guaranteed deal and open up a slot.
Kemba Walker being traded will open up an interesting roster dilemma. There are only a few contracts around the NBA that can allow this move to become a one-for-one swap, so the Thunder will need to create roster spots.
NBA Free Agent Targets:
The Portland Trailblazers have made Zach Collins an unrestricted free agent. The Thunder have been linked to Collins, a former first-round pick with a lengthy injury history, this move by Portland makes it easier for OKC to snag the Gonzaga product.
The most interesting name that has been thrown around regarding the Oklahoma City Thunder is Brooklyn Nets guard, Spencer Dinwiddie. The seven-year NBA veteran played in just three games prior to tearing his ACL.
Dinwiddie, who is already 28 years old, does not make much sense for the Thunder timeline. Some believe OKC could be the team to give him his big payday with hopes of flipping him later on. This seems incredibly unlikely.
The Hornets announced today that they have declined to extend a qualifying offer to Malik Monk, who stroked the trey ball at a 40-percent clip this past year. The Kentucky product would be a fun option for Presti, who loves former Wildcats.
At just 23 years old, and a relatively cheap price point, if Monk continues to progress under Mark Daigneault he would fit the timeline for the Thunder.
Another young reclamation project that makes sense for OKC is Bulls big man Lauri Markkanen. The former top ten pick has not found his footing in the windy city. If the Thunder can turn his career around, as they have with aging veterans recently, it would be a reclamation project the Thunder could actually benefit from.
At 24 years old at a position of need, Markkanen could be a tantalizing free-agent option.
Which player do you hope the OKC Thunder go after this offseason?