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Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif
Just a few hours after the title, Thunder executives are already hard at work, eager to strengthen their ranks. The draft is fast approaching, and the goal in Oklahoma would be to select a promising Frenchman.
The Thunder are proof that you can be young and still win in the NBA. The team with the lowest average age at the start of the season, OKC silenced all doubters with a near-perfect campaign. With the best record in the regular phase and the team’s leader crowned MVP, all the ingredients were there, but they just had to be cooked properly.
Finally, if there’s one thing the last few years have taught us, it’s that the hardest part has only just begun for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his team-mates. Back-to-back hasn’t been achieved since the Warriors in 2017-2018, and to get there, Mark Daigneault’s group will need to be strengthened over the summer. The good news is that there’s plenty for management to do.
Thunder already looking to trade after title
As ESPN’s draft specialist Jonathan Givony has just reported, OKC’s top brass are already hard at work, with a very specific plan in mind. They’d like to make a big splash this Wednesday, and have two young Frenchmen in their sights. The future looks particularly bright for the champions.
I keep hearing rumors that the Thunder are actively looking to move up the draft order. They have picks 15, 24 and 44, and they could well put them together in a package to win 5 or 6 positions. Looking at their roster right now, there isn’t a position that clearly needs strengthening. They can afford to take a gamble with a prospect who is still raw, but with enormous potential.
They could turn to a talent that perfectly matches the defensive identity that just won them the title. I’m thinking of names like Noa Essengue or Joan Beringer. These are youngsters who know how to defend, how to bring a physical dimension to the pitch, how to play with or without the ball. These are the qualities the Thunder are looking for.
The Thunder are in a unique position in the NBA. They’re one of the youngest teams in the game, they’ve just won the title, and yet they still have plenty of draft picks to strengthen their ranks. As a result, they’re looking to integrate the top 10 this Wednesday to select a high-potential nugget, with two Frenchmen as potential targets.
