The Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending NBA champions and very much look like a top candidate to become the league’s first repeat title holders since the Golden State Warriors (2016-18). Still, with the holiday season in full force, here is a look at the Thunder’s wish list.
5 Christmas Wishes For OKC Thunder, Including One Key Trade
OKC won’t be playing in the NBA Cup for a second straight year. The Thunder came up just short in its 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the semifinals of the event last night. The loss was just the Thunder’s second of the season and snapped their franchise-record 16-game winning streak.
With the loss, the Thunder dropped to 24-2 on the season after tying the Warriors for the best start after 25 games. Not only was the Thunder’s start historic, but their +16.8 scoring margin is by far the highest in NBA history.
Five Christmas Wishes
Return To Health for Nikola Topic
Nikola Topic has not had an easy go of things since the Thunder selected him with the No. 12 pick in 2024. After missing his entire rookie campaign while recovering from a torn ACL, he is currently undergoing treatment for testicular cancer and has yet to make his debut. There is no timetable for the 20-year-old point guard to return to the court.
The good news is that, most importantly, the Topic is expected to make a full recovery. The patient underwent a testicular procedure in early October, and it was reported that he began chemotherapy at the end of October. Several athletes have resumed their playing careers after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, though their recovery times varied. Alex Singleton, Sébastien Haller, Jonás Gutiérrez, and Arjen Robben are among the players to do so.
If Topic can return at some point this season, which is no guarantee since his recovery regimen is unknown, he will likely spend most of his time with OKC Blue, the organization’s G League team. Regardless of when he returns, Topic is projected to be a significant part of the organization.
Just 20, Topic was a standout performer in the Las Vegas Summer Learner this past July. He also impressed in his lone preseason game, totaling 10 points, seven assists, and four rebounds in 31 minutes.
No More Injuries to Key Players
Injuries are nothing new for the Thunder, and they have had their share this season. Two of the Thunder’s 15 players on standard contracts have not played this season. Jalen Williams returned from injury six games ago, and Kenrich Williams made his debut just a game before him.
Ajay Mitchell is the only player to play all 25 games. Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace have missed just one game, while Holmgren has sat out four. Isaiah Hartenstein has missed six games. Meanwhile, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, Lugentz Dort, and Aaron Wiggins have missed a combined 37 games.
The Thunder have managed to overcome the string of injuries due to their depth. All 14 Thunder players who have been active for the entire season have appeared in at least 14 games, and two-way players, Brooks Barnhizer and Chris Youngblood, are the only players not averaging 1o or more minutes a game.
Isaiah Joe was the only Thunder player, other than Topic and Thomas Sorber, who missed Saturday’s game against San Antonio. He has been sidelined with a knee injury since Dec. 3.
Trade For A Backup Power Forward
While the Thunder do not have a glaring weakness, the one thing that could guarantee a back-to-back championship is adding more size at the four, specifically someone who excels on the offensive glass.
The Thunder have several players capable of playing power forward. But Holmgren is the only true power forward, and he, along with Hartenstein, is really the only offensive rebound threat. Jaylin Williams is more of a small-ball center than a power forward, while Kenrich and Jalen Williams are better suited for the wing than at the four, as they can be outphysicaled.
Lauri Markkanen, Pascal Siakam, Trey Mu,rphy and Jaren Jackson Jr. are ideal trade candidates. The Thunder have the assets to trade for each player, but Murphy is the only one of the four who could be made available. Naz Reid, Wendell Carter Jr., and Cam Johnson are also possibilities, though the Wolves, Magic, and Nuggets are very much playoff teams.
That leaves Zion Williamson, John Colliand, Daniel Gaffoand, and PJ Washington as the most likely trade candidates. Williamson could theoretically be had for Caruso, Jay Williams, and Ousmane Dieng and a couple of first-rounders. Therefore, the Thunder would likely have to part with Joe or Wiggins, Jay Williams, and Dieng, along with a trio of first-rounders and perhaps some second-rounders.
The Thunder could likely nab Gafford or Washington from Dallas for Wiggins and draft capital. They may be able to get Reid or Collins for Caruso and draft picks.
Lugentz Dort To Return To One Of The Team’s Top 3-point Snipers.
Dort is the longest-tenured Thunder player and a valuable role player who brings it defensively every night. D can also win games with his 3-point shooting. He has either led or been second on the team in three-point makes in each of the last five seasons and was second in 3-point percentage last season.
Dort is an elite one-on-one defender who guards the opponent’s best perimeter player because of his ferocity. He attempts 55.5% of his shots from beyond the arc, though that number has climbed to 60% in each of the last three seasons. He drains two threes a game at a 35.9% clip for his career. However, the 26-year-old wing improved his efficiency over the previous two seasons and has averaged 2.0 triples while shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
Dort is averaging 8.3 points, which is the lowest since his rookie season, and making 1.7 triples while shooting 39% from the field and 32.5% from the 3-point line. Over 70% of his field goal attempts are from the 3-point line.
The good news is that he is trending in the right direction. After missing 27 of his 33 attempts from beyond the arc, Dort is knocking down 2.1 three-pointers at a 41% clip. He was 3-of-6 from the 3-point line in OKC’s NBA Cup win over Phoenix after missing the previous three contests.
Thomas Sorber Being Able to Play In the Summer League
Sorber, selected by the Thunder with the No. 15 pick in 2025, had a strong freshman campaign at Georgetown, averaging 14.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 2.0 assists in 31 games. But the 19-year-old missed Summer League and pre‑draft workouts due to a foot injury. He then tore his ACL in the right knee in September.
It is possible, though no guarantee, that Sorber could be ready to play for their Summer League squad. An ACL injury generally means a player is out for 8 to 12 months. With the 6-9 big not relying on lateral movement as much as others, it is possible that he could return in 8 to 10 months. That would put him squarely in line to play in Vegas in July.
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