Former Thunder Center Urges OKC To Pull Off Giannis Trade For Disappointing Star

The OKC Thunder’s Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs saw numerous flaws from their roster composition and their individual players, especially Chet Holmgren, who looked like a shell of himself throughout the series. 

Holmgren’s lackluster performances have made him at the forefront of trade pitches. According to ESPN analyst and former Thunder center Kendrick Perkins, the team must now move on from Holmgren after becoming an “embarrassment” for OKC. 

Perkins also pushed the Thunder to package Holmgren along with some of their other assets to snag Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has long been on the trade block. 

“If I’m OKC and Sam Presti, I’m going for it. I’m trying to get into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweeptakes,” Perkins said. “I want to make an offer to the Milwaukee Bucks that include Chet Holmgren, because what Chet Holmgren displayed in these conference finals was was ugly and it was an embarrassment.”

Perkins cites the Thunder’s need to match up with the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama for the foreseeable future. Holmgren looked unmatched against Wembanyama in the seven-game Western Conference Finals series, prompting Perkins to look for Giannis to keep in step with the Spurs. 

“What he showed was no heart, no soul. And Wemby is not going anywhere,” he said. “And so in order to neutralize Wemby and have a shot at making it back to the finals and winning the championship, you got to go get a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo to anchor your defense and be a dominant presence on the offensive end.”

Holmgren could not stay in step with Wembanyama throughout the series. In Game 7, Holmgren looked afraid against the Spurs superstar, only shooting two field goals, both coming in the first quarter, where he was also posterized by Wembanyama. 

He finished the game with just four points as the Thunder struggled to find offense outside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder also played without Jalen Williams and Ajay MItchell, two of their best on-ball creators. 

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Thunder May Not Be Interested in Trading For Giannis

The Thunder may not be pulling off any big-time move such as a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, Thunder general manager Sam Presti is not interested in trading for Giannis. 

“League sources have long maintained that Oklahoma City would not take part in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes that will dominate the summertime conversation, but this sort of stunning finish is enough to re-spark that conversation,” he reported. 

Giannis would give OKC an elite two-way player just like Wembanyama. It would also give Gilgeous-Alexander a high-level secondary star. 

A trade would possibly force the Thunder to give up Holmgren, who is still seen as a valuable young player across the league. 

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Former Defensive Player of the Year Linked To The OKC Thunder

While Giannis may not be on the radar of the Thunder, former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley has been for them. 

Amick reported that the Thunder has interest in possibly snagging Mobley from the Cavaliers, potentially to match up with Wembanyama in the foreseeable future. 

Having Mobley would add another rim protector for the Thunder as they look to regain their throne in the NBA. 

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