3 NBA playoff teams that will dig themselves into an early hole in 2024-25
By Ismail Sy
2) Oklahoma City Thunder
After years of rebuilding, the Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to contend for an NBA championship. After falling short in the second round to the Mavs last season, the Thunder went into the offseason with money to spend and they spent it well. They were able to wrestle away center Isaiah Hartenstein from the New York Knicks and trade Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso. The two veterans add much-needed playoff experience and defensive ability to a team that needed it.
The Thunder’s core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren is one of the best Big 3s in the league and continuing to add versatile players around them has been the priority for GM Sam Presti. However, it won’t be an easy ascension to the top for OKC.
From November 4th to November 29th, the Thunder play ten teams that were in the play-in or playoffs last season, with matchups against the improved Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs mixed in as well. Fortunately, of those 13 games, eight of them are at home. Nonetheless, if OKC is not careful, they could get off to a slow start, especially with the new pieces they have to integrate.