The offseason conversation around Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to dominate the NBA, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are not viewed around the league as a likely landing spot despite their Western Conference finals exit.
Reporting for The Athletic, Sam Amick wrote that “league sources have long maintained” Oklahoma City is not expected to participate in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, even after a season that ended one win short of the NBA Finals. Amick added that the Thunder’s Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs could naturally revive questions about whether the front office should reconsider its options.
The timing of that discussion comes after Oklahoma City’s 111-103 home loss Saturday night at Paycom Center ended its title defense. The Thunder finished the regular season with a league-best 64-18 record and entered the playoffs as the Western Conference’s top seed, but Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio closed the series in seven games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and handed out nine assists in Game 7, while Cason Wallace added 17 points. Alex Caruso and Jared McCain each finished with 12 points, but Oklahoma City struggled to contain San Antonio late after trailing only 80-77 entering the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City’s situation is more complicated than simply adding another superstar. The Thunder already feature a young core led by Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, with roster continuity and internal development central to the franchise’s rise.
The organization also possesses one of the league’s deepest collections of future draft assets, which creates flexibility but does not automatically signal an aggressive push for a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber. A trade for the two-time MVP would likely require significant salary matching, premium young talent and draft capital.
Amick reported there has also been league chatter connecting Oklahoma City to Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, though Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman recently said in an end-of-season news conference that Mobley was not available.
Meanwhile, league speculation around Antetokounmpo continues to build elsewhere. The Orlando Magic have emerged as a frequently discussed team after hiring Sean Sweeney as head coach, a longtime figure in Antetokounmpo’s development during their years together with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Orlando’s case, however, remains complicated. The Magic finished 45-37 and pushed the Detroit Pistons to seven games in the first round before elimination, but constructing a competitive trade package could prove difficult without sacrificing major pieces of their young core.
For Oklahoma City, the immediate focus shifts toward evaluating a season that ended abruptly. Despite falling short against San Antonio, the Thunder remain positioned as contenders after a 64-win season, making patience a plausible approach rather than a dramatic roster overhaul.
