Oklahoma City Thunder 2023-24 Predicted Finish, Key Acquisitions & Fantasy Stars

2 years ago - Sportingbase

Armed with one of the association’s most promising young cores, the Thunder will look to make another firm jump this season after falling a win short of the playoffs a year ago. The integration of Chet Holmgren, who sat out his rookie year with foot issues, into the squad will provide the frontcourt with a needed boost whilst Rookie of the Year runner-up Jalen Williams will be looking to continue his rapid ascension. In these previews, we will take a look at each team’s key acquisitions, fantasy stars, and projected finish.

Key Acquisitions

Holmgren, whilst not a recent acquisition, firms as the most important newcomer for the Thunder this season.

A generational defensive prospect coming out of Gonzaga a year ago, Holmgren plugs Oklahoma City’s most noticeable hole in the middle that last year was filled mostly by some concoction of Jaylin Williams, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Aleksej Pokuševski and Mike Muscala.

The 21-year-old also offers the Thunder an efficient inside-outside scoring option – 14.1 ppg on 69.1 TS% in his one year at Gonzaga – to insert alongside the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Josh Giddey.

They also used their lottery pick on Kentucky guard Cason Wallace, traded for veterans Victor Oladipo and Dāvis Bertāns, and brought in 2021 EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micić.

Wallace’s point-of-attack defence should prove useful from the jump for Oklahoma City; however, his ability to prove useful on offence will determine how meaningful his minutes end up.

Fantasy Stars

Gilgeous-Alexander’s (4th overall, 2nd PG/1st SG) 2022-23 campaign was absurd with the now 25-year-old averaging 31.4 ppg on 62.6 TS% to go along with 4.8 rpg and 5.5 apg to claim All-NBA 1st Team honours.

He became the fourth-youngest player in league history to hit those marks, older than just LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Tracy McGrady.

Holmgren (52nd overall, 17th PF/17th C) is also drawing buzz in fantasy circles ahead of his rookie campaign whilst Jalen Williams (61st overall, 25th SG/17th SF) and Giddey (62nd overall, 26th SG/18th SF/21st PF) are both expected to build off impressive seasons.

Projected Finish

The Thunder surprised many a year ago with a play-in loss to Minnesota proving the only thing in between them a playoff berth.

Improvement seems inevitable this season with their core players another year along and Holmgren being thrown into the mix but the question is whether or not there will be enough tangible improvement to make a dent in a messy Western Conference playoff picture.

If things break their way, a top-six finish may be on the menu in Oklahoma City; however, a play-in finish seems a slightly more reasonable aim for Mark Daigneault’s men.