Chet Holmgren isn’t leaving Oklahoma City this summer, even with the Thunder fielding plenty of calls on his availability. General manager Sam Presti has made it clear he is not opening that door.
That stance runs into a problem, though: it cuts against the same philosophy Presti laid out earlier this month at his end-of-year press conference. There, he described roster building as a process of adding value piece by piece rather than locking into predetermined answers. By that standard, listening on Holmgren would seem to fit the model.
The market around the league only sharpens the argument. This offseason has already seen Giannis Antetokounmpo, Julius Randle, LaMelo Ball, and Ja Morant moved to new teams, while players such as Jaylen Brown are still on the trading block. Star power is in demand, and the Thunder would be operating from a position of strength.
They do not need to make a move. Their roster is already one of the deepest in the league, which means Presti could only improve Oklahoma City’s position by hearing out offers. With the way the market is set up, the Thunder would have the leverage, not the other side.
Holmgren also carries real value beyond the moment. He struggled in the Western Conference Finals, but he is still regarded as one of the league’s premier rim protectors. At 24, he would bring a team both immediate impact and long-term upside.
That makes the Thunder’s current approach tricky, especially with the franchise trying to get under the second apron. Oklahoma City has already moved depth to help get there, and Lu Dort could be the next piece in play. The team opted into the final year of his contract ahead of Monday’s deadline, but trading his salary would bring the Thunder closer to ducking under the second apron and could also return future assets.
For now, Holmgren appears to be the biggest financial lever available to Presti. If the Thunder keep their current stance, they risk leaving value on the table. If they do nothing, they still enter the 2026-27 season with their core intact.
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