The biggest mistake of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025 NBA Free Agency

In the world of professional basketball there is a good line between loyalty and condolences, line Oklahoma City Thunder It can be dangerously near the transition after a conservative free agency for conservative 2025. After the season where they won and games regular season and steamed road to NBA title, OKC had every reason to feel confident. Their net rating was the best in the history of the NBA, they praised the deepest rotations of the league, and their three young stars were locked.

But while Thunder held all key pieces from the championship Rosters, one big question remained unresolved: lack of strong, physical center.

Shai, Jalen and Chet: Dynasty Foundation

Oklahoma City did not sit completely idle. They set up monumental financial liabilities in their franchise foundations:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the ruling league, was agreed on a four-year extension of the supermaks that could reach $ 285 million, keep it in the contract throughout the 2030-31. The final year includes the option to the player.

Jalen Williams, freshly from his all-NBA campaign and heroic playoffs, Inkirai five-year expansion Rookie Max that could climb to $ 287 million.

Chet Holmgren, who returned from the mean hip injury and played a key role in their title, Secured five-year maximum extension of Rookie worth $ 250m.

With its core Shai (26), Jalena (24) and Chet (23) locked, Thunder established as a legitimate dynasty in making.

But even dynasties have vulnerabilities.

Lack of central depth: OKC’s risk bet in the Free Agency for 2025. Year

Here is the truth that the grot front can ignore: Chet Holmgren is not an emergency interior in the interior. He is a modern large, mobile, versatile, elite on protection against the perimeter of help. However, only 208 kilograms, it is still subject to being harassed in post larger centers like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, or even healthy Jonas Valanchiunas in the physical playoff series.

In 2024-25, Holmgren missed three months due to hip injuries and played only 32 regular season games. While his return for playoffs was impressive, his durability remains worrying, especially that someone expects to be afraid of color to fasten.

However, OKC failed to bring reliable, bruising of a great man to supplement him.

Jailin Williams Gamble

Instead of seeking external help, thunder doubled on internal solutions. They refused Jailin Williams’ of 2.1 million teams in the amount of $ 2.1 million and He signed him again on a new three-year, $ 24 million agreement.

Williams is a capable of part of rotation, known for charges of drawing and making Huster plays. But he is indefinite (6’9 “) and is not a proper protector for the rim or defender. It is looking for it to absorb records, Holmgren cannot or worse, fill as a starter if Holmgren is injured, it is massive risk.

They also signed the Ajai Mitchell backward guard to a new $ 9 million agreement, but that was little to deal with the lightning gap Frontcourt.

No shops, no signing: Strange inactivity

Out of making workmanship Thomas Sorber and Brooks Barnhizer, players with set torture skills, but no current needs on the list, OKC did not make other moves. No veteran agent is signed. There is no store for bringing the rotary center. When almost every candidate, protection by in candidate or protection from RIM, the OKC remained completely still, almost defiantly.

How Thunder can fix this mistake before it’s too late

Thunder has time. The 2025-26 season has not started yet, and the transition itself is nothing if it is not intentional. Here’s how OKC can correct course. OKC maintained financial flexibility. They could offer a one-year contract of balloons to the veteran agent of the Grand Still, or eat a bad deal in trade to gain the size and future types.

Meanwhile, they could wait and reconsider a break with all the stars. If the durability of the Holmgren is entered, excellent. If not, then goals like NIC Claxton (if Brooklyn completely renovated) could be realistic. Meanwhile, 2026. NBA draft and the window for the purchase of the mean season can offer rotary large high ones. But this is a patch solution, not a long-term improvement.

The biggest mistake in the Grumpy in 2025. The free agency was not what they did – they did not do that.

They are not traded by players, they did not lose a key piece, did not overdo it. But they were also not protected from a single flaw that could stop their championships: lack of interior size and hoops behind the hoop behind still the covered brush holmgren.

At the Western Conference, which still has an elite increase, it can be shown that fatal blind spot. For now, Thunder remains the Kings of the NBA, but to stay on the throne, he will need to join this hole. Before, and before you later.