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Every Thunder mentioned on ESPN's awards predictions (and why they can win)

The Thunder are all over ESPN's latest predictions.

By Mark Nilon

Dec 14, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) walks to the bench with forwards Chet Holmgren (7) and Jalen Williams (8) and guard Luguentz Dort (second from right) during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) walks to the bench with forwards Chet Holmgren (7) and Jalen Williams (8) and guard Luguentz Dort (second from right) during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
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Alex Caruso: Sixth Man of the Year

Rank: Tied at No. 1

As noted earlier, this summer the already electric Thunder wound up making themselves even better with their front office's impressive wheeling and dealing ways.

The acquisition of Alex Caruso has been declared easily their most impactful move of their offseason, and it's easy to see why.

Attained for a simple swap of Josh Giddey straight up, the 30-year-old comes to Oklahoma City being viewed as an incredible upgrade for the rotation, not from an overall talent perspective but, rather, because of his fit.

Not only will his defensive intangibles do wonders for this title-contending team, but so will his shooting abilities, as he sports a career three-point clip of 38.0 percent and is coming off a career season where he averaged 10.1 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor and 40.8 percent from distance.

His shooting stroke will certainly be of great value to this Thunder team in 2024-25, for, though they may have ranked in with the best long-range shooting clip last year, they did so by hoisting up a middling 34.2 shot a night (ranked 16 in the NBA).

Bringing on Caruso is only bound to help raise their level of production from beyond the arc, while also making OKC's defensive play even more lethal.

Should he be able to have the same type of two-way production that he had on the Chicago Bulls last season, there's no reason to believe the guard can't claim the Sixth Man of the Year award.

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