There is no doubt that the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t envision the start of the season going this way. It isn’t necessarily that the team is struggling to win games, but rather that the loss of several key teammates is starting to take its toll.
In just the first couple of weeks of the season, OKC has already lost some of its top players. Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace could very well miss the remainder of the season.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder lost two starters to long-term injuries in their 108-101 win over the LA Clippers on Sunday night. General manager Sam Presti announced Monday that guard Jalen Williams will undergo surgery for a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula, while guard Cason Wallace will undergo surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Both players are expected to miss several months,” ESPN wrote.
Additionally, Chet Holmgren is dealing with an injury of his own and is expected to miss at least the next two months.
“The injury issues for the Oklahoma City Thunder, somehow, have gotten worse. The team announced Friday, Oct. 30 that All-Star center Chet Holmgren will miss at least two months with a small patellar tendon tear in his right knee. The Thunder said Holmgren underwent a “biological treatment” to repair the issue and said he was expected to make a full recovery and would miss 8-to-10 weeks,” USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes wrote.
With all the injuries, Sports Illustrated’s Blake Silverman believes the Thunder will trade Nikola Topić for Derrick Jones Jr.
“Jones, the veteran forward, makes much more sense for the Thunder contract wise. He’s on an expiring $10.5 million deal and will become an unrestricted free agent once the season is over. OKC could trade for Jones and steer clear of the second apron by sending out a smaller salary player like Nikola Topić. The Thunder already declined Topić’s option for next season, which will make him an unrestricted free agent,” Silverman wrote.
This move would give OKC some much-needed size on the perimeter and help its defense make up for what it has lost. Jones plays as hard as anyone in the league and is a legitimate high flyer.
This would be a relatively easy move for the Thunder to make, especially with Topić’s future with the team uncertain. If OKC and Jones develop a good relationship, that could give the veteran forward an incentive to re-sign with the team this summer.
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