Pacers vs. Thunder NBA Finals: So Okc is the champion. What changes to the roster could happen for next season? And can it improve?

While the teams look forward to the offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder was mostly excluded from that discussion while fighting with teeth and nails to raise the trophy of the Larry O’Brien championship after the victory of the match 7 on Sunday against Indiana Pacers.

Obviously, the champions must also keep the wheels on the move to return next year to try to win the entire damned thing.

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So what challenges do they await us? How can a team that won everything improve for next season?

We lower some key factors.

The status quo

The thunder are not in a position in which they have an important decision to be made on a main player.

They have some team options to consider on Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell, but since the Thunders have control of these situations, they enter the low season of 2025 on a solid basis in terms of maintaining their players for the next season.

Having said that, they have some long -term decisions to be made about two extensions, since both Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will be eligible for those who are this summer because three years have passed since they were both enrolled.

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While many assume that both will receive maximum extensions, which would trigger next summer, it is right to wonder if the Thunder actually has a little room for maneuver on a possible extension of Holmgren.

After all, the center 7 feet-1 played in just 114 games of the regular season during his career, which means that the injury problems remain present.

In addition, the 23-year-old was not exactly dominant in this post-stage. His 15 points, 8.7 rebounds and a strong weak defense are fine, but he fought from behind the arch (29.2%), was not a great director (an assist by game) and was often the third obvious option.

You would think that a player in a third option role, playing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams outside Shai, could produce better efficiency, especially as a finite, but it simply was not like that.

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Should the thunder be worried about Holmgren? Probably not. He is still young, he is still enormously talented and his potential is immense.

But contracts are only for one reason. If the Thunder wishes to present a case for the reason why they will feel more comfortable with Holmgren on an extension that is worth less than the maximum, they absolutely have a discussion.

What the general manager Sam Presti and his team will have to navigate is the probability that Holmgren reduces an extension lower than Max and enters the limited free agency in 2026-UN path that thunder should not be afraid because they can combine any offer it receives.

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As for Williams, he has just created all-nba and all-stars teams in the same year. It is resistant, commutable and can essentially play four positions. The same concerns simply do not apply in his case.

Acquisition of the external aid

While the Thunder had one of the best defenses in the history of basketball this season, it is painfully free, their offense could use another marker. The team simply crossed too many dry spells in the post -station.

Oklahoma City is approaching the first apron if it uses the entire MLE not imposed, but it could create a little more space if Ousmane Dieng should turn, which holds a salary of $ 6.6 million for the next season.

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The Thunder will not be likely to get anything of significant value, since Dieng has not yet found a point of support in the championship, but if a young team is willing to absorb his contract, perhaps in an exception, which should allow the Thunder to use the entire MLE not of tax and still have enough space under the first apron under the first apron under the first apron under the term of Wiggle before the commercial term 2026.

The player who should target that money seems obvious, since their need for quality shooting is becoming increasingly terrible.

Could Malik Beasley convince themselves to register? The 28 -year -old emptied a huge 319 3 points this season with a precision of 41.6%.

Although it is not the same caliber of the defender of Lu Dort or Alex Caruso, thunder can afford to sacrifice a defense smoke to optimize the spacing of the floor.

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Beasley has the ability to bend the defenses simply by moving from the ball to a certain point Caruso and Dort cannot, since the defenders are often glued to him for fear that he will free himself.

With Beasley, Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren on the floor, the opposite defenses will constantly have to make decisions on who to leave, from where to help and be constantly aware of where everyone is on the floor.

This is a fiscal effort, and this is the point if you are the thunder. Forcing the defenses to make a mistake and penalize them for this.

A big swing?

The thunder obviously has resources for a great move if they want it. But this is provided with more than one type of risk.

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If they should spend a significant part of their treasure chest on another All-Star player, future financial commitments begin to add up and the organization would soon find themselves in the second apron, which is basically the flexibility prison of the roster.

The teams of the second Apone cannot aggregate contracts in an exchange, they are limited to the sending of future choices and, of course, cannot resume a single dollar in any trade.

This is the first obstacle.

Secondly, would another All-Star impact on the flow of the main nucleus negatively? More talent is always a good thing, as long as it is applied in the right way. Would Gilgeous-Alexander renounce touches? Williams?

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Third, the Thunder should have moved away to give an agreement and we have just seen how much the precious depth has become in the post -station of the NBA.

Overall, it depends on the player. If it is Giannis Antetokounmpo, make a deal and try to understand things from there, since the update of the talents is simply too beautiful to let go.

The general picture

For now, thunder are in good form financially and when it comes to commercial activities. In a year, the situation may seem drastically different, in which case the organization will have an important decision to make.

Should the Thunder remain with the three -star model with the SGA, Williams and Holmgren and probably give up the depth as a direct result, or should they be willing to take calls on Holmgren if it has not disincelbated to accept an agreement that allows them to hold back the depth?

This has been a conversation for 12 months, but not to make mistakes, it is lurking.