Thunder Eyeing Trade for Two-Time Finals MVP as Holmgren's Future Hangs in Balance

The Oklahoma City Thunder are aiming for another shot at the NBA championship in the 2025-26 season. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander performing at an MVP-caliber level and a deep roster, the team appeared poised for success. However, their hopes were dashed when they faced the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, where Chet Holmgren's lackluster performance was a notable factor in their defeat.

In light of this setback, Grant Hughes from Bleacher Report suggests it may be time for the Thunder to consider parting ways with Holmgren. He proposes that the team pursue a former San Antonio Spurs star and two-time Finals MVP, who is also on the radar of the Golden State Warriors. “Everybody seems pretty upset with Chet Holmgren's poor performance in the Conference Finals, to the point that they seem to have forgotten he played a critical role during an OKC title run just over a year ago,” Hughes commented. He believes that Holmgren could be packaged in a trade that would bring Kawhi Leonard to Oklahoma City.

Leonard, who has shown he can still perform at a high level, averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game in the current season, shooting 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc. Hughes argues that bringing in Leonard would provide the Thunder with the elite scoring and defensive presence they need, especially given Holmgren's hesitance to take the initiative against the Spurs.

In Hughes’ hypothetical scenario, the Thunder would trade Holmgren along with Isaiah Joe to acquire Leonard from the Clippers. However, Thunder general manager Sam Presti has previously indicated that trading Holmgren is not on the table right now, making this trade idea seem unlikely.

As the offseason approaches, the Thunder's strategy will be closely watched as they balance the desire for immediate success with the long-term potential of their young talents.