The 2024-25 NBA season is here! We break down the biggest questions, best and worst case scenarios and fantasy prospects for all 30 teams. Enjoy!
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
2023-24 end
Offseason moves
Additions: Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Nikola Topić, Dillon Jones, Ajay Mitchell, Alex Ducas
Subtractions: Josh Giddey, Lindy Waters III, Bismack Biyombo, Gordon Hayward, Mike Muscala
Complete roster
The Big Question: Is the Thunder really ready?
Only one team had a better record last season than Oklahoma City. Only one outscored opponents by more points per 100 possessions. Only one joined OKC finishing in the top five in either offense and defensive efficiency.
That team won the NBA championship.
Maybe the Thunder – with what still ranks as the NBA’s youngest roster — are not as close to that Celtics team as the statistical summary might indicate. It’s worth remembering, though, that while Boston pulverized the Dallas side that beat Oklahoma City, Thunder-Mavericks were dead through its six gamesthree of which were decided by four or fewer points — including Game 6, which PJ Washington won with free throws after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was whistled for a foul on a 3-point attempt with two seconds left.
That is: Despite Dallas’ defense shutting down OKC’s drive-and-kick game, despite non-SGA Thunderers missing nearly 70% of their 3-pointersand despite Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. having the shooting streak of their lives against Mark Daigneault’s play-the-percentage defensive scheme, the Thunder were right there. And then Sam Presti came out and plugged their biggest — only? – holes
Giddey exits, rendered nearly unplayable in the postseason by his offline jumper. Enter Caruso, a better and higher-volume shooter and a better off-ball player who fully understands the job of a championship-level role player — Oklahoma City’s version, Presti hopes, of Boston touchdown Derrick White.
Even with more than a half-dozen perimeter players capable of shooting, passing, cutting, setting screens and driving shutouts, however, the Thunder still had a glaring weakness on the offensive glass. So: Hartenstein, who took 14.4% of his teammates’ missed shots in New York last season, enters the league. second highest offensive rebounding rate.
Getting better: Caruso and Hartenstein too there happened to be two of the best defensive players in the NBA last season – steal, deflect and block magnets whose penchant for disruption only strengthens a swarming defense that forced turnovers more often than anyone else and who should further juice a transitional attack that ranked among the best of the league.
OKC has an All-NBA First Team No. 1 option in SGA, which just became the ninth player ever average 30 points, five rebounds and five assists per game with a true shooting percentage north of .600 – the other eight are either already in the Hall of Fame or will be the second they are eligible — and who may be the best player on the floor in any game from October through June. It has two more guys who could merit All-Star consideration as soon as this season in the ascendant Jalen Williams and transformative stretch big Chet Holmgren.
It has nine guys who shot 37% or better from deep last season – shout out to Chip Englandimported from Texas to to do his magic — and don’t be surprised if Hartenstein starts letting them flytoo. With Caruso joining Luguentz Dort, Cason Wallace, Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander, it has the NBA’s best stable of point guards outside of Boston. With Hartenstein joining Holmgren, it has 48 minutes of elite edge protectionplus the flexibility to play double-sized lineups to better control the glass (and play the now in fashion Length on the Ball with Longer Behind coverage on Nikola Jokić).
It seems to have everything – and, if needed does spring up, Presti can look to fill it by hanging some of the 17 first round picks it dominates between now and 2031. So all that remains is to turn last spring’s lack and this summer’s reinforcements into another dominant regular season and 16 playoff victories.
Youth is rarely served in the NBA. But then, youth was rarely so good.
Best case scenario
The rookies are performing exactly as predicted, resulting in the Thunder fielding top two units on both ends and proving to be the class of the league from the opening tip. SGA wins MVP, J-Dub and Chet earn All-Star nods, and the rest of the supporting cast earn Bricktown’s undying love. Oklahoma City returns to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 – and wins the franchise’s first championship since the move from Seattle.
If everything falls apart
Progress, it turns out, is not linear, and a rotation overflowing with 25-and-under types stumbles in its attempt to build on last season. Last year’s over-the-top 3-point shooting is regressing, encouraging opponents to pack the paint and cramp Gilgeous-Alexander’s style; Williams stagnates as a shot creator, unable to keep the offense afloat when SGA rests. There’s still enough depth to carry OKC to the playoffs, but the ceiling suddenly seems lower, firmer — and no higher than last year’s second-round exit.
A fancy spin
The Thunder’s big three of Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Jalen Williams will be gone after the fourth round in most fantasy drafts. Is it worth investing in any other OKC players once they’re off the board? Last year, it wasn’t. Josh Giddey’s minutes and role declined while Lu Dort was the next best Thunder player, finishing 192nd in category leagues. This year will be very different though, and I’m betting that Isaiah Hartenstein (ADP 83) and Alex Caruso (ADP 105) will exceed their ADPs.
I’ve outlined why Hartenstein is one of my breakout centers, but in short, his skill set fills a necessary void as a rebounder, extra rim protector and short-roll playmaker. Conversely, Caruso is an elite 3-and-D stock specialist who will make defenses pay as a catch-and-shoot threat on the perimeter.
Both players haven’t averaged more than 30 minutes a night in their careers but rank in the 80-90th percentile in points per shot attempt (PSA) and assist-to-use ratio, per Cleaning the Glass. Their high IQ, per-minute efficiency and defensive prowess bode well in real life and fantasy. don’t sleep – And Titus
[Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy hoops league for the 2024-25 NBA season]
schedule 2024-25
That is a big number – only 19 teams in the last 10 seasons scored 57 or more — but this is a big a team I’ll take over. Make noise, young people: rumble.
