At first, I didn't have any plans of writing an article like this about the Thunder. That's because there isn't anything wrong with their roster per se, as in rotation players who I've noticed during the Playoffs that need to be replaced. OKC has one of the easier rosters to fix, as the team is talented with a clear identity and apparently is on the rise. So all they need to do is make the right addition.
SIZE MATTERS
The reason why the Thunder couldn't best with the Mavs and likely wouldn't have prevailed against the Timberwolves anyway is because this team looks like is built to beat the Warriors. I've been arguing for years that size matters in the NBA, even when the mainstream turned against traditional bigs.
I've also been saying that it wasn't wise for teams to try to build their own versions of the Splash Brothers or to go out of their way to try to beat the Dubs at their own game, especially not now, in the 2020s as their dynasty is coming to an end.
Steph + Klay are an anomaly, not the new norm. They helped change the NBA by encouraging more three-pointers. But you see who else has won championships in recent years.
The Lakers did it during the bubble with Lebron + AD. The Bucks won in 2021 with Giannis + Lopez up front. The Nuggets prevailed last year with the biggest frontline in the NBA. And if Minnesota takes it this year, as I believe they will, they have twin towers, buttressed by long-ass athletes like Naz Reid.
And wait until Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama are on the same team. Then people will understand what I meant years ago when I said that the future of the NBA will be teams with five Giannises. Last season, the Thunder didn't even have a recognizable C, and this season, it felt as if Chet was the only true bigman on their roster. That's how little this braintrust has come to respect size.
But again, I'm not lambasting OKC, because the progress they've made has shown true growth, the type of which most NBA rosters can only dream of. Even with a rookie manning the middle, they went from 10th place in the West in 2022-23 to 1st place in 2023-24. In other words, this is the young team that has shown the most development in recent years. And come next season, they'll still be relatively young.
ENTER CLINT CAPELA
What actually prompted me to write this post was reading that Clint Capela may be on the trade block this summer. Back in January, I already stated how he would be an ideal fit on the Thunder.
Capela, currently being 30, may seem a bit aged for OKC. But his style of play, which relies heavily on rebounds and alley-oops as opposed to needing the ball in his hands, would be perfect for this team. He's a true bigman, one who doesn't shoot three-pointers and won't need to on the Thunder. Also, OKC could use a recognizable and experienced vet in their rotation. Capela has a youthful, energetic playing style that hopefully a team in a better position than the Hawks can capitalize on while he's still vibrant.
And no, I'm not writing Atlanta off for next season. But it's obvious, to me at least, that they're currently in a rebuild. And it's not really fair to drag a vet like Capela - who played for the Rockets back when they were contenders during the late-2010s - along for that ride. After a promising start, the Hawks have underachieved during the Trae Young era and need to like move on type shit.
My second hope is that if the Thunder do go about acquiring Clint, they'll be able to do so without giving up any of their playoff-rotation pieces. I'm a big advocate of quality roster retention, because familiarity and trust can win games.
For instance, imo the downfall of the Grizzlies didn't began with Ja Morant's antics. It was when they lost key players like Kyle Anderson in 2022 and Tyus Jones in 2023 that set the stage for their forgettable 2024. And let's not also forget Xavier Tilman, who was traded earlier this year and isn't even getting playoff burn on the Celtics, despite Porzingis being hurt.
Neither Anderson or Jones are big names in the NBA. But it would have been more beneficial for the Grizzlies to have Jones this past season than Marcus Smart (who he was traded for), as Tyus had established a standard of overachieving on Memphis and was part of the brethren-like culture their roster managed to build.
CONCLUSION
It may be disappointing to some of us that the Thunder didn't make it pass the 2nd Round after finishing first in the West. They were also my sentimental favorites entering into the Playoffs. But their future looks like a lot brighter than many of their rivals, including the Nuggets and Pelicans. That's because OKC isn't plagued by injuries (fingers crossed), an aging roster or incompatible players. All they need is a certain key addition (Clint Capela) to take them to the next level. And to note, the Thunder also have one of the lowest payrolls in the NBA. That means they may well be able to afford Capela without giving up any key players.
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