ChetHolmgren

Preseason question: In an alternate universe where Victor Wembanyama didn’t crash-land on Earth, Holmgren would be the most decorated lanky guy in our solar system. His combination of shot blocking and floor spacing is rare in the NBA, but the Thunder need Chet to tap into his game-breaking offensive potential. In the West finals against the Spurs, Holmgren could not. Limited by the speed of the Spurs defense and Wemby’s psychological warfare, Chet scored just 10.7 points per game during the series, down from 17.1 during the regular season and 18.6 during OKC’s two prior playoff series. In a miserable Game 7, he took just two shots. Over the summer, the Thunder responded by extending center Isaiah Hartenstein and adding 7-foot-3 big man Aday Mara with the 12th pick in the draft. It’s too early to wave the white flag on Chet becoming a full- or even part-time center, but it’s notable that the Thunder are loading up on alternative options rather than clearing the decks. To hold up against the likes of Wemby and Jokic at the top of the West, Holmgren needs to add size, speed up the release of his shot, and put whatever happened last May behind him. His ceiling—and that of the Thunder’s soon-to-be-very-expensive roster—depends on it.