It was just two years ago that the OKC Thunder lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals. That particular top-ranked squad had objectively underachieved, and they left the season with one glaring takeaway: They needed help at the rim.
Fast forward to the end of the 2025-2026 regular season, and what was previously their Achilles heel has become the backbone of the best team in the NBA.
The addition of Isaiah Hartenstein has made OKC the toughest defensive interior in the league over the past two years, but the evolution of the front court didn't stop there.
The unexpected progression of other centers has only added to this strength.
Jaylin Williams has come into his own this year. He finished fourth on the team among full-time players in three-point shooting, and he produced All-Star-level numbers when given an increased role. In games where he played at least 30 minutes, he averaged 17.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and just over a block per game.
Just recently, OKC saw the emergence of Brendan Carlson. In the last two games of the season, Daigneault elected to rest most of his roster. As a result, Carlson saw extended minutes, which he took full advantage of.
In the two contests, he averaged 24.5 points and 11.0 rebounds and recorded a whopping five blocks against Phoenix.
And this is all coming with the Thunder's most recent lottery pick, big man Thomas Sorber, having yet to play in a single NBA game.
Thunder will need Sam Presti's best work with embarrassment of riches
While the log jam remains the offseason's problem, Sam Presti now has an unexpected dilemma he must deal with when the time comes.
Isaiah Hartenstein has clearly been an X-factor when it comes to protecting the rim, but money remains a factor, as he's owed $28.5 million while the Thunder attempt to stay under the second apron.
Electing to let I-Hart walk in free agency would serve as a massive vote of confidence by the front office in the rest of the bigs, namely Jaylin Williams, who would be asked to take on a larger role on both sides of the basketball.
The move would lead to numerous questions. Could Carlson be proficient enough as a third big against top-tier competition? How will Sorber bounce back after missing an entire season due to a torn ACL?
If the Thunder keep Hartenstein, it would likely mean that someone else would have to go in order to spread the talent out to other areas of the roster.
With names like Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Kenrich Williams potentially moving to new cities at season's end, moving rim depth to bolster the perimeter might not be the worst option, especially since OKC is already a mediocre three-point defending team at best.
While coach Mark Daigneault attempts to lead his team to a second-straight title, Sam Preti is likely mulling over these decisions as we speak. Whatever path he chooses, one thing is certain: this offseason will require more roster creativity than seasons past.
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