Oklahoma
Consolidation Trade On The Horizon for Oklahoma City Thunder
Relying on who you ask, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are in yr two or three of their rebuild, however that doesn’t matter. What issues is that the early returns on the Thunder’s funding within the draft is paying off prior to anticipated, though two of their prime picks within the 2022 NBA Draft haven’t performed a lot or in any respect.
Based on Basketball Reference, the Thunder’s preseason odds had been set at simply 23.5 wins, highlighting precisely how Las Vegas books and followers across the league thought in regards to the staff’s trajectory. However simply 43 video games into the season, Oklahoma Metropolis has gained 20 video games and at the moment holds the 14th-best internet ranking.
Not solely are the Thunder defying expectations, they’re crushing them. Particularly as of late. They’ve gained 9 of their final 14 video games and are producing the sixth-best defensive ranking and offensive ranking, fourth-best help share, seventh-lowest turnover share, all whereas recording the seventh-best tempo. Per recreation, the Thunder have additionally transformed on 39% of their 33.9 3-point makes an attempt, good for fourth within the NBA.
Whereas the staff has began to play extraordinarily effectively, a few of their gamers haven’t carried out fairly the best way many followers have hoped. And on a staff chocked filled with expertise that has 12 gamers locked up by means of the 2024-25 season, a possible extension for Aleksej Pokusevski coming quickly, and a attainable seven draft picks throughout the following two years, the maths signifies {that a} consolidation commerce is nearly inevitable and can most likely occur quickly.
How quickly?
Nicely, the Thunder would not have to make a commerce in any respect this yr, however it could be of their finest curiosity to take action. They may simply sit tight till the top of the yr, however they’ve a number of selections to make earlier than the Feb. 9 commerce deadline.
A type of selections will probably be on Darius Bazley’s future in Oklahoma Metropolis. The fourth-year ahead will probably be coming into restricted free company this coming summer time however has underwhelmed offensively, producing 13.1 factors per 36 minutes and a 51.1 true taking pictures share. Whereas his uncoordinated drives and poor decision-making hang-out him, his prowess on the defensive aspect of the ball would possibly entice some groups to half with a second-round choose if the entrance workplace desires to half methods with Bazley.
And whereas Mike Muscala’s means to stretch the ground has helped open up the Thunder’s offense at instances, the ninth-year veteran doesn’t actually match the franchise’s timeline. Oklahoma Metropolis will maintain the best to pay the soon-to-be 32 yr outdated 3.5 million subsequent yr or let him stroll. However maybe a contender would possibly discover worth within the cheap ground spacer and his built-in staff choice for subsequent yr.
Lu Dort might be the following large piece that Basic Supervisor Sam Presti may need to deal away. After signing him to a five-year, 82.5 million greenback contract, Dort is scoring simply 13.9 factors per recreation whereas changing simply 40.3% of his photographs from the sphere, 33.6% from behind the 3-point line, and has the fourth-lowest assist-to-usage ratio on the staff.
It additionally doesn’t assist that the Thunder’s current lottery choose in Jalen Williams has outplayed Dort this yr. And with restricted minutes on the guard and wing positions, however an abundance of expertise in guys like Tre Mann, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Ousmane Dieng, and whoever they may choose within the 2023 NBA Draft, it would behoove Oklahoma Metropolis’s entrance workplace to maneuver on from Dort and open up taking part in time to maximise the event of others.
So, may Dort be traded earlier than this season?
It’s attainable. As a result of signing his new cope with the Thunder, the franchise was briefly restricted from buying and selling him, however that expired on Saturday night time. The Thunder at the moment are free to maneuver him as they please, however maybe higher offers may be discovered this offseason, or doubtlessly on the night time of the draft and past.
Ought to Oklahoma Metropolis look to the commerce market this season, there are a number of names that might be made obtainable on the commerce market and would make sense for the Thunder.
Golden State Warriors’ former third general choose James Wiseman is one in all them. The Warriors at the moment boast a luxurious tax invoice north of 40 million, one they may need to trim, and the 7-footer has spent extra time within the G League than with the staff that drafted him this season. If the Thunder can get their fingers on Wiseman, he would symbolize a minimal-risk, high-upside gamble that would vastly enhance their front-court.
Different names that might be obtainable for the best value that the Thunder may take into account are Saddiq Bey, John Collins, and PJ Washington.
One other factor to bear in mind is that the Thunder are projected to have between 30 and 40 million {dollars} in cap house subsequent yr, relying on what occurs in offseason. Throughout Presti’s end-of-season media availability in 2022, the final supervisor remarked, “We all know 23 is the place lots of issues come off the books and we’ll have extra flexibility and we’d dabble in that a little bit bit extra on the level.”
Might the free agent market be a spot so as to add expertise prior to later?
If the Thunder do plan on “dabbling” within the free agent market this summer time, it’s doubtless that they may goal gamers that can, age-wise, match alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and the second youngest roster in NBA historical past. A couple of names which may match that invoice are Jaxson Hayes, Naz Reid, Cam Reddish, and Myles Turner.
Need to be part of the dialogue? Like SI Thunder on Fb and follow us on Twitter to remain updated on all the newest Thunder information. You too can meet the staff behind the protection.
The Oklahoma Sooners are one win away from advancing to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament. All that stands in the way are the Cal Golden Bears. Cal survived their first elimination game with a 4-0 shutout to beat Omaha for the second time to eliminate the Mavericks.
The Sooners are looking to make it to the Super Regional round for the 15th tournament in a row. The 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s been an incredible run for this young Sooners team, which has risen to the occasion during the postseason. Since the SEC tournament began, the Sooners are 4-0. In two NCAA Tournament games, Oklahoma has outscored their opponents 19-2.
Kasidi Pickering went 3-for-3 on Saturday with two home runs and six RBIs. She was the only Sooner to record multiple hits in the win. From the circle, Sam Landry picked up her 20th win of the season, scattering seven hits across four innings and allowing two runs. True freshman Audrey Lowry worked a 1-2-3 fifth inning to close out the win and extend her scoreless innings streak to 6 1/3 innings.
If the Sooners win their first matchup with Cal, Oklahoma will move on to face the winner of the Tuscaloosa regional final between Alabama and Virginia Tech. If Cal wins the first regional final, the Sooners will play the Bears in an elimination game right after.
Here’s how you can watch Oklahoma-Cal in the Norman Regional final.
What channel is Oklahoma-Boston on today?
TV Channel: ESPN+
Livestream: ESPN+
Watch Oklahoma vs. Cal live on ESPN+
Oklahoma-Cal time today
Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025
Start time: 1 p.m. CT, 3:30 p.m. CT for elimination game if OU loses game one.
Oklahoma Softball Schedule 2025
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 6 | Cal State Northridge | W, 7-2 |
| Feb. 6 | at San Diego State | W, 11-6 (9 inn.) |
| Feb. 7 | California Baptist | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| Feb. 7 | Cal State Fullerton | W, 13-3 |
| Feb. 8 | Loyola Marymount | W, 9-0 |
| Feb. 9 | at Long Beach State | W, 2-0 (11 inn.) |
| Feb. 15 | Hofstra | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| Feb. 15 | at No. 23/24 Baylor | W, 9-1 (5 inn.) |
| Feb. 16 | Hofstra | W, 11-3 (5 inn.) |
| Feb. 16 | at No. 23/24 Baylor | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| Feb. 22 | Tulsa | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| Feb. 23 | Wichita State | W, 8-1 |
| Feb. 24 | Bowling Green | W, 8-5 (8 inn.) |
| Feb. 24 | Abilene Christian | W, 9-1 (5 inn.) |
| Feb. 28 | Marshall | W, 9-1 (5 inn.) |
| Feb. 28 | Kansas | W, 9-1 (6 inn.) |
| March 1 | Kansas | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| March 1 | Marshall | W, 11-0 (5 inn.) |
| March 2 | Kansas City | W, 17-1 (5 inn.) |
| March 7 | No. 10/11 South Carolina | W, 10-9 |
| March 9 | No. 10/11 South Carolina | W, 10-9 |
| March 9 | No. 10/11 South Carolina | W, 2-1 |
| March 12 | at Tulsa | W, 10-2 (6 inn.) |
| March 15 | at No. 15/12 Arkansas | W, 7-0 |
| March 15 | at No. 15/12 Arkansas | W, 6-4 |
| March 16 | at No. 15/12 Arkansas | W, 10-7 |
| March 19 | East Texas A&M | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| March 21 | at Missouri | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| March 22 | at Missouri | L, 3-1 |
| March 23 | at Missouri | W, 5-1 |
| March 26 | at Wichita State | W, 19-16 |
| March 28 | No. 10/9 Tennessee | L, 5-2 |
| March 29 | No. 10/9 Tennessee | W, 4-1 |
| March 30 | No. 10/9 Tennessee | L, 5-3 |
| April 1 | at UT-Arlington | W, 13-2 (5 inn.) |
| April 4 | St. Thomas | W, 12-4 (5 inn.) |
| April 4 | UCF | W, 6-0 |
| April 5 | UCF | Cancelled |
| April 9 | Oklahoma State (Devon Park, OKC) | W, 11-3 (5 inn.) |
| April 12 | at Alabama | W, 5-1 |
| April 13 | at Alabama | L, 6-1 |
| April 14 | at Alabama | L, 2-1 |
| April 18 | Mississippi State (Devon Park, OKC) | W, 4-0 |
| April 19 | Mississippi State (Devon Park, OKC) | W, 6-5 |
| April 20 | Mississippi State (Devon Park, OKC) | W, 9-6 |
| April 25 | Texas Longhorns | W, 7-6 |
| April 26 | Texas Longhorns | W, 7-2 |
| April 27 | Texas Longhorns | W, 9-8 |
| May 1 | at Florida | W, 6-5 |
| May 2 | at Florida | L, 9-4 |
| May 3 | at Florida | L, 6-4 |
| May 6-10 | SEC Tournament | Athens, Ga. |
| May 8 | vs. LSU | W, 4-1 |
| May 9 | vs. Arkansas | W, 8-6 |
| May 10 | vs. Texas A&M | Canceled |
| May 16-18 | NCAA Regionals | |
| May 16 | vs. Boston | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| May 17 | vs. Cal | W, 11-2 (5 inn.) |
| May 18 | vs. Cal | 1 p.m. CT |
| May 18 | vs. Cal | 3:30 p.m. CT* |
| May 22-24 | NCAA Super Regionals | |
| May 29-June 6 | Women’s College World Series | Oklahoma City, Okla. |
*If Necessary
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NORMAN — Oklahoma is one win away from clinching a spot in next weekend’s Super Regionals.
OU downed the California Golden Bears behind a pair of home runs by Kasidi Pickering.
Her first came in Oklahoma’s first at-bat of the afternoon, then she returned to hammer a grand slam in the fourth to essentially end Saturday’s contest.
The 2-seeded Sooners finished off the 11-2 run rule victory in the top of the fifth at Love’s Field.
Oklahoma (47-7) gets to take the rest of the day off, while California (36-20) will have to battle out of the loser’s bracket on Saturday night.
Patty Gasso started Sam Landry in the circle for the second straight day, but the big offensive day made things easy on OU’s pitching staff.
Still, Cal put up a good fight against Landry.
The Golden Bears totaled seven hits off the Oklahoma ace, but the right-hander was able to strand runners in each of the first four innings to ensure Cal couldn’t battle back into the game.
Pickering needed just three pitches in the first to put the Sooners on top.
Cal immediately bounced back, however.
Left fielder Kaylee Pond bounced a home run off the foul pole in right field on the first pitch of the second inning to pull the Golden Bears back level with Oklahoma.
OU’s offense then plated four runs in the bottom of the second without an extra-base hit.
Cydney Sanders and Isabela Emerling put two aboard with walks and one out, then Cal starter Annabel Teperson hit Abby Dayton.
Oklahoma then got back-to-back-to-back singles from Pickering, Ella Parker and Sydney Barker, which each plated a run.
Barker’s single came off new Golden Bears pitcher Anna Reimers, then she plunked Gabbie Garcia to put OU up 5-1.
Reimers finally battled back with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat, and her offense got back to work in the top of the third.
The Golden Bears tallied three straight singles, the last of which by Acacia Anders plated a run to cut OU’s lead to 5-2.
Landry hit Pond to load the bases, but the Sooners rung up a double play to limit the damage to the lone run.
Cal loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth, but Anders bounced out to third and OU was able to keep its 5-2 lead intact.
Barker’s second walk of the afternoon quickly turned into a run in the bottom half of the inning after Garcia hit her 17th home run of the year, which leads the team.
After Garcia’s bomb, a walk, a hit batter and a single loaded things up for Pickering’s grand slam.
Freshman left-hander Audrey Lowry entered for Landry in the fifth, and she closed the game out in the circle.
The Sooners will now wait for the loser’s bracket to work itself out to find out their opponents for tomorrow’s regional final, which starts at 1 p.m.
Omaha and Boston University will battle in the day’s first elimination game at approximately 3:30 p.m., and the winner of that will turn around and immediately take on Cal.
Whoever emerges to take on Oklahoma in Sunday’s regional final will have to beat the Sooners twice to advance to next weekend’s Super Regionals.
One win for OU will push it through to next weekend’s festivities.
NORMAN — Watch as Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso, outfielder Hannah Coor and third baseman Nelly McEnroe-Marinas spoke to the media following OU’s 8-0 win over Boston University after five innings at Love’s Field on Friday night.
The Sooners moved into Saturday’s winner’s bracket contest against Cal after the Golden Bears beat Omaha 1-0 on Friday.
Saturday’s contest is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Sam Landry started in the circle, and she quickly worked through three innings. She allowed two hits and a walk, while finishing with four strikeouts.
Kierston Deal took over for Landry in the fourth and she closed out the game for the Sooners.
OU’s offense plated runs in the second inning and a pair of runs in the third.
The Sooners walked the game off with a home run by freshman catcher Corri Hicks. It was her third long ball of the season.
McEnroe-Marinas and Coor both led OU with two RBIs each, and Tia Milloy and Isabela Emerling also added RBIs to help the offensive explosion in the second inning.
Boston University will take on Omaha in the Regional’s first elimination game on Saturday night at Love’s Field.
You can also watch the press conference on Youtube.
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