OKC Thunder big man Chet Holmgren is not Giannis Antetokounmpo. That much is clear. But at age 24, he is gradually developing into a star in his own right.
The blockbuster deal on Monday night centered around Giannis just redefined how the league values its perennial superstars. The Bucks received a massive return, including a plethora of first-round picks, a large chunk of Miami's respectable second unit, and All-Star Tyler Herro. In short, Miami decimated its roster to secure the franchise player and teammate Bobby Portis. Such a haul raises a question that general manager Sam Presti must be asking himself: if this is the new going rate for power forwards, what kind of return would Chet Holmgren warrant?
Unfortunately, though, the genius GM has made it clear that Chet Holmgren is unavailable this summer. Given the updated market value for big men, that stubbornness might be a mistake.
While it's clear Holmgren is not of the same caliber as Antetokounmpo, the Thunder shot blocker has a few things going for him that Giannis doesn't.
Thunder hold key Holmgren advantages that could lead to major return
First, he has a three-point shot. His ability to stretch the floor on offense is something the Greek Freak simply does not, and will not ever do. Holmgren also hasn't even entered his prime. He is still in the process of tapping into his ceiling, while the former Buck is 31 years of age and has probably already seen his best days on the court, especially given his physical play style.
Presti also has something that Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst didn't, despite pulling off the deal: leverage.
For years, Antetokounmpo had been rumored to be unhappy with the organization, and the Bucks had been shopping him around accordingly. Everybody knew that Milwaukee was verging on desperation, as the alternative was to try to convince the disgruntled superstar to sign an extension with them.
Meanwhile, OKC has full control over Holmgren's future, and there is no immediate need to deal him. With rumors circulating about opposing teams' interest in him, it might be the perfect time to capitalize on the market and the league's interest in the Gonzaga product.
Thunder putting Holmgren on trade block would be no risk/high reward
Even if Presti were to pick up the phone on some of these calls, there is no need to make a deal, and that in and of itself is all the leverage he would need. If the offers fail to impress, the worst he could say is "no."
This strategy is something the Thunder have built their franchise around. The last time they cashed in on an advantageous situation, they received superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a bundle of assets from a Clippers team that was in dire need of another superstar to pair with Kawhi Leonard. If recent memory serves correctly, that move worked at pretty well for the blue and orange.
As of now, though, it seems that Presti has closed the door on a potentially ground-breaking opportunity. Teams are desperate for star power, and the Thunder have stars to spare. The general manager claimed in his end-of-season press conference that his transactions are more about acquiring value than following a specific plan. If that truly is the case, it might be in his best interest to start listening to what other teams have to say.
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