Is Chet Holmgren enough to push the OKC Thunder from tanking to competing?

How will Holmgren influence a stagnant OKC Thunder offense?

Without question, the OKC Thunder had the worst offense in basketball a year ago. Their shot quality was often dismal as the team broke down into an ‘every man for himself’ playstyle. They ranked last in both field goal and 3-point percentage—largely because injuries and COVID-19 sapped them of the time required to nurture chemistry.

To no one’s surprise, SGA posted the highest individual offensive rating of any Thunder player who logged 1,000+ minutes. The scoring sensation uses his physicality and wit to shake defenders for pull-up jumpers or embarrass them near the rim with his blend of length and physicality. That being said, it takes a comprehensive effort to make an NBA offense sing and SGA can’t do it alone.

Improvement from Giddey, sophomore spark plug Tre Mann, and the $87.5 million dollar man, Luguentz Dort, should be anticipated. Even so, these issues run deeper than just individual growth. The Thunder need size, spacing, and above all else, creativity to fix the NBA’s worst offense. In a pick-and-roll league, OKC lacked modern bigs who could put pressure on the rim or draw defenders to the 3-point line and establish spacing.

Holmgren will immediately influence the OKC Thunder by pulling defenders away from the paint, opening lanes to the basket for his perimeter-oriented teammates. His creation from the high post was a catalyst in establishing Gonzaga as one of the best offenses in college basketball. He served as an offensive hub for off-ball motion which resulted in clean looks at the basket and along the perimeter for various teammates. The lanky center tosses accurate passes over the top of defenders and through tight windows to position his teammates for buckets. He’s also capable of operating handoffs or using his wealth of dribble moves to break down defenders while sets are established away from the ball.

Chet enters a great situation since he won’t be relied upon to lead the team in scoring. A student of the game and mindful player, he’s at his best when exploiting weaknesses in his opponent’s coverage instead of forcing shots. He’s a lock to make the nightly NBA Top 10 at least a few times by dazzling off the dribble, but Holmgren doesn’t need the ball in his hands to leave his mark on a game.

There is more pressure on Daigneault to fix this offense than his newest rookie sensation, but adding a one-of-a-kind player like Chet should make the third-year coach’s job easier. Unfortunately for him and the rest of his team, competition keeps growing more intense in the Western Conference. The Thunder probably won’t need to actively tank to earn a lottery ball.

Adding Holmgren to the lineup will facilitate a shift in mindset for this OKC Thunder core. Whether they finish at the bottom of the conference, sneak into the Play-In, or finish anywhere in between, there’s no way this team plays to lose any longer.