The Oklahoma City Thunder have received ample praise for their offseason. The youngest first seed in league history strengthened their depth with the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.
OKC also swung in the draft with Nikola Topic, who was seen as one of the best prospects before he tore his ACL. The Thunder can afford a redshirt year and the risks involved.
More impressively, the Thunder maneuvered and improved their roster without giving up a single first-round selection. This puts OKC in an unprecedented situation where it can spend its wealthy draft capital when needed.
This has caused NBA media pundits to call the Thunder one of the biggest offseason winners. Zach Lowe noted that opposing squads hoped OKC would strike out this offseason with new players.
“The rest of the Western Conference is betting and hoping, crossing their fingers, they strike out,” Lowe said on NBA Today’s free agency special on Sunday.
With the additions of Hartenstein and Caruso, it appears the Thunder have hit a two-out, three-run homer.
Lowe took it further in his latest “The Lowe Post” episode. He noted that the Thunder are better equipped than any team in recent history to compete for a championship both in the short-term and long-term futures.
“I would venture to guess that no team in the history of basketball has been so well positioned for the present and the future at the same time,” Lowe said. “… This moment right now for the Oklahoma City Thunder is the best position any NBA team has ever been in in the modern era…
“Real possibilities in the present and theoretical possibilities and paths in the future. It’s just astounding what they’ve accomplished.”
The Thunder took advantage of their unique opportunity and pounced on their top targets. OKC only gave up Josh Giddey — who was an awkward fit — for Caruso, who is a seamless slide with the starters.
Meanwhile, it took a bit of an overpay to land Hartenstein, but the Thunder could afford it as they entered free agency with over $30 million in cap space to spend.
On top of those two moves, they also signed Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to team-friendly deals that are easily movable. Those two have played key roles as role players in OKC.
Across the board, the Thunder have had an A-plus offseason. It looks like national media figures like Lowe agree.
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