3 players who should not return to Thunder following dreadful playoff performances

New Orleans Pelicans v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game One
New Orleans Pelicans v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game One | Cooper Neill/GettyImages
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Josh Giddey

Though Josh Giddey seemed to have found a way to tap into his tremendous 2022-23 form toward the end of the regular season, as he averaged 15.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists on 54.2 percent shooting during the final month of action, under the bright lights of the postseason the 21-year-old reverted back to his early season self which, as Thunder fans are aware, was far more of a problem than solution for the club.

Especially during their matchup against the Mavs, the point guard seemingly proved incapable of producing in a positive manner for OKC.

He would go on to post double-digit points just once in the six-game series, shot a putrid 18 percent from beyond the arc on nearly three attempts a night, and, toward the end, even went on to lose his starting role.

When at his best, Giddey is truly a mesmerizing talent -- few players measuring in at 6-foot-8 possess the ball handling skills and court vision that he does.

The only issue is, throughout this year's campaign and during the pivotal playoffs, his streakiness was found on full display which, in turn, could be seen as a concern for the franchise to hold onto in 2024-25 and beyond, especially with his contract extension looming.

Though moving on from the former sixth overall selection may not sound all that appealing on the surface, when considering his up-and-down productivity and the value he could net in return in some sort of trade, Giddey is a player to watch ahead of what could end up being a busy offseason.

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