Now that rookie Chet Holmgren is out for the upcoming 2022-23 season with a Lisfranc harm to his foot, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are extraordinarily skinny on the middle place. Even earlier than Holmgren was dominated out resulting from needing surgical procedure, the middle rotation already lacked depth.

Because the roster is presently constructed, Mike Muscala, Derrick Favors, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Jaylin Williams have the power to play prolonged middle minutes.

Nonetheless, none of those gamers are a great match because the beginning middle. Favors shall be enjoying at 31 years outdated and struggled to remain wholesome final season with an growing old physique. Muscala can also be 31 and is greatest suited as a situational ground spacing huge. Williams is a rookie that’s not but prepared for the beginning job on the NBA stage and Robinson-Earl is a 6-foot-8 ahead that doesn’t have the scale to play middle full-time.

As such, it would make sense for Oklahoma Metropolis to amass a real huge between now and the beginning of the season. The Thunder are already in a roster crunch, however at this level the middle place is a large want. It’s necessary to have good gamers at each place to maximise the event of the younger gamers on the staff.

In the event that they had been in a position to package deal a number of gamers in a deal for a middle, that will be the best state of affairs. Moreover, there’s avenues to commerce for a middle that not solely matches the roster now, but additionally might begin alongside Holmgren subsequent season upon his return.

Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)

At simply 26 years outdated, Turner has a ton of expertise on the NBA stage but additionally matches the Thunder’s timeline. He’s coming into the ultimate season of his deal, which suggests he might be only a rental for Oklahoma Metropolis if an extension wasn’t agreed upon.

This might play within the Thunder’s favor, because the package deal of property for a participant within the last 12 months of their deal isn’t as excessive as it could be in the event that they had been below contract long-term. Nonetheless, Thunder GM Sam Presti would wish to guarantee Turner could be prepared to discover signing with the staff for longer than simply the upcoming season.

Turner would legitimately be the proper match alongside Holmgren transferring ahead. He’s an elite shot blocker that may additionally house the ground. A frontcourt of Turner and Holmgren could be among the finest in the whole NBA on the defensive finish and would additionally create a ton of house for Oklahoma Metropolis’s guards to get into the paint on offense. It’s additionally well-known that the Indiana Pacers are open to buying and selling Turner.

Richaun Holmes (Sacramento Kings)

One other veteran huge that will assist the Thunder now and likewise into the long run is Holmes. With Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes all set to play huge minutes in Sacramento this season, Holmes might be squeezed out of many rotations wherein the Kings wish to play small.

What’s most engaging about Holmes is the contract he’s presently enjoying below. He’s received three years remaining on his deal at simply over $12 million per season. Whereas Holmes is a non-shooter from the perimeter, he’s extraordinarily bodily and would assist cowl a number of of Holmgren’s deficiencies whereas he develops early in his profession.

Holmes shall be 29 years outdated this season, however that shouldn’t prohibit the Thunder from gauging what it could take to amass him. Though Oklahoma Metropolis shouldn’t commerce main property for the 6-foot-10 huge, he’s on an inexpensive sufficient deal to be price an opportunity now and into the long run.

Day’Ron Sharpe (Brooklyn Nets)

If Oklahoma Metropolis actually needs to construct a younger frontcourt of the long run, 20-year-old Day’Ron Sharpe could be an ideal goal. It might doubtless take fairly a bit to pry the second-year middle from the Brooklyn Nets, however they’re eager to win now and could be enticed by a package deal that would assist them just do that.

Thunder GM Sam Presti loves having prospects on rookie contracts resulting from long-term management, so Sharpe is intriguing in that regard. He additionally weighs 265 kilos, which might permit Holmgren to defend forwards in opposition to groups with a bodily dominant middle.

Sharpe isn’t a 3-point taking pictures risk, however would nonetheless be an ideal frontcourt pairing with Holmgren long-term. Even when he ended up not being a starter down the highway, Sharpe could be a spectacular backup huge within the Thunder rotation.

Daniel Gafford (Washington Wizards)

After signing an extension final summer time, Gafford’s new payday is ready to kick on this season. The 23-year-old will make slightly below $40.2 million over the subsequent three seasons and will solely get higher throughout that point.

With the Wizards having Kristaps Porzingis, Rui Hachimura, Kyle Kuzma and Deni Avdija within the frontcourt rotation, maybe the Wizards are open to buying and selling Gafford now.

He’s one other extraordinarily robust huge that may play both frontcourt place and makes use of his physicality in opposition to larger facilities. Gafford is a beast on the offensive glass and would slot in properly with Holmgren upon his return.

Jaxon Hayes (New Orleans Pelicans)

A former lottery choose, Hayes has been shopped by the New Orleans Pelicans on the commerce market up to now. Whereas he had a powerful end to the 2021-22 season, maybe they’d be prepared to nonetheless deal him to keep away from the contract extension that’s looming.

Jonas Valanciunas and Zion Williamson have the 2 frontcourt beginning spots locked down, which means Hayes’ ceiling in New Orleans is off the bench. In a state of affairs like Oklahoma Metropolis, he’d doubtless be a direct starter this season with the chance to proceed that position even upon Holmgren’s return.

He’s an elite leaper that makes use of his athleticism properly on each ends of the ground. The 22-year-old may step out and convert from past the arc which might be enormous for the Thunder. Hayes doesn’t take a ton of photographs, discovering methods to be impactful without having the ball in his palms. What makes this much more enjoyable is that was born in Norman, simply outdoors of Oklahoma Metropolis.

There’s no assure that the Thunder make any strikes between now and the beginning of the season because it pertains to the middle place. Contemplating profitable video games and pushing for the playoffs isn’t the principle goal within the 2022-23 marketing campaign, Oklahoma Metropolis might play distinctive rotations to maximise growth of the younger gamers on the present roster.