Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren sustained an exceptionally rare injury on Sunday, a right iliac hip fracture, during the first quarter of the team’s 127-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors. As a result, Holmgren is expected to be sidelined for up to ten weeks before being reevaluated. With Isaiah Hartenstein still out and Jaylin Williams unavailable, the Thunder’s center depth has become dangerously thin, prompting the team to potentially explore the market for a replacement.
Here are three potential suitors of top-tier centers reportedly on the NBA market that could be in play for the Thunder:
Over the offseason, the Washington Wizards signed Jonas Valanciunas to anchor their rebuilding roster. The 13-year veteran center is averaging 12.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks this season, providing the kind of production that could help fill the void left by the absences of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. However, since the Wizards signed Valanciunas to a new contract in the summer, they cannot trade him until December 14, while the Thunder are in urgent need of help at center.
Despite the timing issue, pursuing a trade for Valanciunas could still be a viable option once the trade restrictions lift, particularly if Holmgren or Hartenstein face further setbacks over the next few weeks. A trade package involving prospects like Ousmane Dieng and Nikola Topić, along with a future first-round pick, would likely be appealing to Washington and worth considering for Oklahoma City.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Chicago Bulls’ chances of competing for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference seemed uncertain after trading DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team sign-and-trade. With many speculating that Zach LaVine could be the next to go, a full rebuild appears imminent, and the Bulls are likely to miss the playoffs. If that happens, Nikola Vucevic—whose age doesn’t align with the Bulls’ future plans—could be next to be moved.
Vucevic is in the final year of a three-year, $60 million contract. While finding a third team to facilitate a trade might be challenging, the Oklahoma City Thunder would face difficulty matching contracts to acquire Vucevic without parting with one of their key players.
