Behind an All-Star campaign by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder were surprisingly competitive this season. Here are three players who likely will not be back, as the Thunder look to improve this offseason.
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the 2022-23 season with low expectations.
However, point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the team on his back. He averaged 31.4 points, 5.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks. In addition, he finished fifth in the NBA in VORP (5.6). Behind SGA, the Thunder finished with a 40-42 record and made the play-in.
Now, the Thunder are set up to become playoff contenders. Chet Holmgren will return next season. With a plethora of draft picks and cap space, the front office could make big moves this summer, but with only 15 roster spots available, some players will not be back.
Thunder who won't be back next season: 3. Jared Butler
An NBA team has only 15 roster spots. That is a difficult limitation for the franchise, which is armed with a deep collection of young players with potential.
At the moment, the roster includes five players capable of playing point guard (Gilgeous-Alexader, Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Jalen Williams, and Jared Butler). In addition, they have three picks in the 2023 NBA Draft. So, adding another point guard is not out of the question.
SGA, Giddey, and Williams are core pieces. That leaves Mann and Butler as the odd men out. Mann was a 2021 first-round pick, while Butler was on a two-way contract. So, Butler is the logical departure.
In limited action, he did play very well. In six games, he averaged 6.2 points, 1.3 assists, and 0.8 steals across 12.8 minutes per game, while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3.
Butler is an NBA player, but he will face an uphill battle to make Oklahoma City's deep roster. The restricted free agent may find a new home this summer, as well.
Thunder who won't be back next season: 2. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
The Thunder have a small logjam at power forward. This season, they deployed Jalen Williams as the starting power forward. Behind him, they have Ousmane Dieng, Kenrich Williams, Jaylin Williams, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Aleksej Pokusevski, and Dario Saric. In addition, Chet Holmgren's season-ending injury opened minutes at center for Jaylin Williams, Robinson-Earl, and Saric. Holmgren's impending return will tighten the rotation.
Let's take a quick look at the power forwards on their roster. The Thunder traded three first-round picks to draft Dieng. Kenrich Williams has four years worth $27.17 million left on his deal. In May, The Athletic's Andrew Schlecht tweeted that the team views Pokusevski as "untouchable". The trio is not going anywhere.
Meanwhile, Robinson-Earl's contract does not become guaranteed until June 30. The Thunder could cut him and save a little cap space. Last offseason, the Thunder waived power forward Isaiah Roby, who had a nonguaranteed deal.
Alternatively, they could trade him. On the court, he is a solid rotational player and is still only 22 years old. His nonguaranteed deal could also make him appealing to teams trying to save cap space.
Thunder who won't be back next season: 1. Dario Saric
In February, the Thunder traded forward Darius Bazley to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for forward Dario Saric, a 2029 second-round pick, and cash considerations.
Bazley was set to hit restricted free agency. So, the Thunder were able to move him and get a future draft pick.
Saric's salary helped facilitate the trade. Following the move, he appeared in 20 games for the franchise, averaging 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 13.7 minutes per game.
However, Saric will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 29-year-old veteran does not appear to be a natural fit on this roster. As I previously mentioned, the Thunder have plenty of power forwards. Are they willing to give him minutes over Dieng, Pokusevski, Jaylin Williams, and Kenrich Williams? Furthermore, are they willing to outbid other teams to retain him? That seems like a stretch.
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