Despite not reaching the NBA Finals this season, the OKC Thunder are still arguably the most skilled and technically sound team in the league. Their Conference Finals loss against the Spurs, however, exposed a major weakness: they lack the necessary physicality to adequately match up against their new rivals.
Now, rumors are circulating around a player currently residing in Detroit who may fit that hole almost too perfectly.
Piston's big man, Isaiah Stewart, has officially been named as someone who could receive heavy interest this offseason, implying that their front office could be willing to listen to what teams have to say.
The bruiser has made a living off providing a physical presence off the bench and has even taken that role too far on occasion. While he doesn't provide much in the way of scoroing, he has certainly made a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball. In short, his blue-collar attitude towards basketball is everything coach Mark Daigneault loves to see in his players.
Stewart is exactly what Thunder didn't have against Victor Wembanyama
During their seven-game battle against San Antonio, Daigneault threw the kitchen sink at star center Victor Wembanyama. From Alex Caruso to Chet Holmgren, he finally settled on Isaiah Hartenstein to take on the lion's share of the duties.
The only problem was that there was simply no backup option. Wemby scored 41 points in the game in which Caruso was the primary defender, and Holmgren proved completely inept against the Frenchman on both sides of the ball.
Acquiring Stewart would immediately give them an intimidating presence off the bench, assuming general manager Sam Presti retains Hartenstein this summer. At 6'8", Stewart is far from the tallest man on the floor, but his 250-pound frame is nothing to scoff at.
A tandem of both he and Hartenstein would create a front-court nightmare for a player like Wembanyama, who is only 235 pounds and plays even lighter than that.
Thunder might be perfect trade partners for Pistons
With two years and just $30 million remaining on his contract, he is widely considered a payroll-friendly player by most standards. Even the Thunder, who are attempting to do a bit of financial acrobatics this offseason, could dangle players like Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins in front of Detroit in a return package.
Such a trade might also be ideal for the Pistons, as disappointing postseason showing exposed their inability to shoot around star point guard Cade Cunningham. With shooters to spare, the Thunder could easily meet that need in an attempt to get a deal done.
The two teams feel like near-perfect trade partners. Both finished first in their respective conferences, both fell short of expectations, and both have glaring needs that could be fulfilled by the other.
Whether it's Isaiah Stewart or someone else, it wouldn't be surprising to see Presti hunt for one more physical presence this summer in an attempt to regain Western Conference supremacy and return to the NBA Finals.
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