Chet Holmgren’s name has entered the trade conversation, and one of the teams being linked to him is Golden State.
Marcus Thompson of The Athletic recently suggested the Warriors should be “paying attention to” Holmgren, pointing to the possibility that his flop potential and Oklahoma City’s rising payroll could eventually push the Thunder toward a move. The idea, in Thompson’s view, is that the fading Dubs dynasty could chase Holmgren as Stephen Curry moves deeper into the twilight years of his career.
It’s a speculative fit, but it does connect two realities: Golden State is looking toward what comes next, and Holmgren is a big, versatile talent whose value remains sky-high even with one rough postseason series hanging over the conversation.
That postseason stumble came in the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs, where Holmgren’s production never matched the standard he set during the regular season or in the earlier rounds. In Game 7 of Oklahoma City’s elimination, he managed just four points on two shot attempts total. For a player heading into a five-year, $239.2 million max contract, that kind of ending naturally fuels the noise.
And yet, the full picture still tilts heavily in Holmgren’s favor. He just finished a career-best season with averages of 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while shooting 55.7 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from deep. That production earned him All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive honors, and he also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Even with the conference finals disappointment, Holmgren’s regular season and his early-round playoff impact gave Oklahoma City plenty to like. His age, size and two-way ability make him exactly the kind of player teams usually bet on improving rather than backing away from.
Still, the Thunder have made it clear they don’t sound eager to entertain that possibility. Sam Presti called Holmgren “one of our guys” during his exit interviews, a pretty strong indicator that Oklahoma City sees him as part of the long-term core.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander echoed that belief after the playoff exit, saying that when Holmgren is at his best, “we are the best version of ourselves.”
Since Holmgren first suited up for the Thunder, the team has not finished lower than first in the Western Conference standings.
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What makes the situation worth watching is not just what Oklahoma City gave up, but where those players landed and how their next roles may open up. Dort and Wiggins are headed to Atlanta, where both are projected to fill specific needs on the wing, while Joe is moving to Detroit with a path to bench minutes that could matter later in the year if the Pistons lean deeper into their reserve options. [Read more 🡒]