NBA Insider Howard Beck calls OKC offseason the most interesting in NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder are preparing for an interesting offseason ahead. After a 40-win season, the OKC Thunder head into the summer with top-ten in the league cap space and three NBA Draft picks, with one in the top 12 and two in the second round. The Thunder will still be one of the youngest teams in the NBA next season after two straight years as the absolute youngest team in the NBA (being the youngest team ever in the 2021-22 season). All of this makes Oklahoma City one of the most interesting offseason’s in the NBA.

While the Thunder did not have some epic postseason burnout, fire their coach, or have a disgruntled superstar on their hands, they still have some of the most interesting decisions to make in all of the association this summer.

The OKC Thunder have one of the most interesting offseason’s ahead, according to NBA insider Howard Beck.

Long time NBA insider and media member Howard Beck, previously of Bleacher Report, New York Times, and Sports Illustrated joined me on the Locked on Thunder Podcast to discuss the OKC Thunder offseason.

During the podcast, Howard Beck praised the OKC Thunder for the season they had, while also forecasting them as one of the top-team’s to watch next season in the entire NBA with Chet Holmgren’s return, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s superstar ability, Josh Giddey’s playmaking prowess, and a summer of development for Jalen Williams before Sam Presti adds anything to this roster this summer.

Speaking of this summer, part of why the OKC Thunder have such an interesting offseason is the likelihood that they at least trade up in the 2023 NBA Draft from the 12th overall pick. Sam Presti has made a Draft Day trade every year since 2019 and with four first-round selections in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Thunder have some ammo to move up the draft order this year. In doing so, it brings them to a new tier of prospects with Jarace Walker, Taylor Hendricks, and Gradey Dick some names highlighted as perfect fits for the Bricktown boys.

Then, you get into their 32.2 million dollars in cap space, which is good enough for fourth in the league. While it is unlikely the OKC Thunder make a splash in this lowly Free Agent class, or even bring in some block buster name on the trade block, Sam Presti does not let resources go to waste. With so much cap space available to them, it could allow OKC to bring on a massive contract to gain additional assets as team’s try to shed money in preparation for the new CBA.

It is clear that even with LeBron James teasing retirement, the Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the most interesting offseason’s ahead in all of the NBA.