The building of any NBA team is unique.
Every team takes its own path to completion. Some are built through free agent moves, like the New York Knicks, who signed Jalen Brunson and subsequently ended 20 years of irrelevance. Some draft their stars, like the Nuggets, who used shrewd scouting to bring in Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., all of whom were selected outside the top five. And then you have the Lakers, who breathed new life into their team by trading for Luka Doncic.
Any great team, though, is a mix of all three, and Oklahoma City certainly falls into that group.
The team traded for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, drafted Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams and signed Isaiah Hartenstein and Isaiah Joe as free agents.
The trade for Gilgeous-Alexander is well documented, but it is just one of many moves that Sam Presti made to create his second group to be viewed by the basketball world as a potential dynasty.
So here, today, we will go in chronological order of the moves that made the Thunder, and it will become clear that while the acquisition of Gilgeous-Alexander is what secured this future, the moves that came before and after it are what have made all the difference.
Where it started: OKC trades for Paul George
OKC receives: Paul George
Indiana receives: Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis
This deal, one that shocked the NBA world and took even the most plugged-in Thunder fan by surprise, is what has gone on to define the next era of OKC basketball.
Coming off an MVP season, Russell Westbrook was in the heart of his prime. Kevin Durant had left and gone to Golden State, leaving Westbrook with an interesting but underdeveloped supporting cast.
Oladipo, the former No. 2 pick by Orlando, had come to OKC via trade the offseason before Westbrook’s historic year. He was talented, but few saw the player he would go on to become in Indiana before injuries took their toll. Sabonis hit the rookie wall hard, and despite showing flashes, few thought he’d become the all-NBA level player he is today.
Steven Adams and Andre Roberson were established veterans, but were still figuring out exactly what they were. And the clock was ticking on Westbrook. So Presti did something incredibly un-Presti-like. He took a massive risk.
He shipped out his two blue-chip prospects in Oladipo and Sabonis for George, who had made it clear he desired to go to Los Angeles.
He went through the season without an extension, hitting unrestricted free agency with some reporting he was as good as gone. And maybe he was — until he wasn’t.
George re-signed on a four-year deal, giving OKC not only an assurance that he’d be around but also giving it control over his prime.
The risk paid off. George didn’t end up being the championship partner for Westbrook that OKC had envisioned, but he became something even more important — a lifeline.
The big one: SGA comes to town as an afterthought
OKC receives: Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 2021 MIA 1st, 2022 LAC 1st, 2023 LAC 1st Swap, 2024 LAC 1st, 2025 LAC 1st Swap, 2025 MIA 1st, 2026 LAC 1st
LAC receives: Paul George
As suddenly as he arrived, George left.
In the middle of the night, George was traded to the Clippers to form a duo with Kawhi Leonard. OKC was finally rebuilding.
At the time, the draft picks were the story. Gallinari was all but certain to be traded. Gilgeous-Alexander was a nice young player who could be a fine piece of the next OKC team. But make no mistake, Gilgeous-Alexander arrived quietly.
Of course, his tenure in OKC has been anything but quiet. He’s now an MVP, starring in the NBA Finals and poised to be one of the defining players of the 2020s.
This trade also netted OKC Jalen Williams, an all-NBA player in his own right, along with Tre Mann, who was a key piece in a future trade that resulted in OKC opening up the cap space to sign Hartenstein.
The rounds have been made regarding this deal. It’s probably the most lopsided trade in NBA history if OKC had only received Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, especially when you consider that George spent just five seasons with LAC, in which he made just one Western Conference Finals. But, OKC still has two more picks left to use acquired in this deal, and with Presti, that could mean anything.
Russ heads to Houston
OKC receives: Chris Paul, 2021 HOU 1st Swap (Did not convey), 2024 HOU 1st, 2025 HOU 1st Swap, 2026 HOU 1st
Houston receives: Russell Westbrook
While moving on from a franchise icon is always emotional for a fan base, it was time for this to happen.
Westbrook had given his all for the Thunder and he was on the tail end of his prime. Although some rumors have circulated that it was Westbrook who went to OKC for a trade first, George being dealt to LA all but sealed his fate.
He was replaced by Paul, an OKC legend in his own right, as it was his Oklahoma City Hornets, the first team to play in Oklahoma as New Orleans recovered from Hurricane Katrina, that even put the chances of the Thunder existing into the ether.
There were also the picks, but they have ended up being fruitless to this point, outside of Nikola Topic, who hasn’t played for the Thunder yet.
The most impactful result of this trade was Paul’s relationship with Gilgeous-Alexander. Since OKC went on to move Paul to Phoenix in a trade we won’t go into detail on, both have been front-facing about how close they still are. Paul sat next to Gilgeous-Alexander’s wife at his MVP ceremony.
He showed Gilgeous-Alexander how to take his game to the next level, and all of OKC has the point god to thank for that franchise-altering gesture.
Around the fringes: OKC lucks into Kenny Hustle
OKC receives: George Hill, Darius Miller, Zylan Cheatham, Josh Gray, Kenrich Williams, 2 2nd-round picks, 2023 DEN 1st
NOP receives: Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams, 2024 MIL 1st Swap, 2025 MIL 1st, 2026 MIL 1st Swap, 2027 MIL 1st
Milwaukee receives: Jrue Holiday, Sam Merrill
Denver receives: R.J. Hampton
I don’t think Presti thought he would get someone who played in OKC’s rotation in the 2025 Western Conference Finals when he made this move, but whatever he did to stumble into Williams ended up working.
OKC’s resident tough guy and an important locker room presence, Williams’ time with the Thunder has solidified him as a member of the team for the foreseeable future, and it almost certainly happened by chance, as a throw-in.
Saving basketball: The pick that becomes Aaron Wiggins comes from Golden State
OKC receives: 2021 GSW 1st (Did not convey), 2 2021 2nd round picks (Miles McBride and Aaron Wiggins)
GSW receives: Kelly Oubre Jr.
Anyone who argues that building a potential title-winning team happens without a little luck is lying to you.
Oubre probably never even touched down in OKC before being moved to Golden State, and in receiving a top-20 protected 1st rounder, OKC knew the return was low.
Then, it picked Wiggins 55th overall, with one of the picks in this deal, and the rest is history.
All picks: OKC secures Jalen Williams and Ousmane Dieng by buying a lottery pick from New York
OKC receives: No. 11 pick (Ousmane Dieng)
NYK receives: 2023 DEN 1st, 2025 DET 1st, 2026 WAS 1st (Heavily protected)
On the surface, this deal is the rare miss by Presti. But when you get a little more context, it makes more sense.
On Draft Day, Cleveland was trying to jump ahead of OKC, which had the No. 12 pick, to select Jalen Williams at No. 11. Presti caught wind of this and realized he liked both Williams and Dieng, and gave up some of his treasure trove of assets to secure both.
In the end, OKC seems to have hit on only one of those players, but if the cost to make sure it secured Williams was three first-round picks, all of which will likely be outside the top 15, I’m sure OKC sleeps soundly at night.
Forming an identity: OKC eats Davis Bertans contract, moves up for Cason Wallace
OKC receives: No. 10 pick (Cason Wallace), Davis Bertans
DAL receives: No. 12 pick (Dereck Lively II)
Fans in Dallas were doing victory laps after Wallace and Lively’s rookie seasons. Lively dominated OKC in the playoffs and helped send the Thunder home in the second round. But, under the surface, Wallace was becoming a key part in OKC figuring out the defensive juggernaut it would become.
Now, with Luka Doncic out the door and Cooper Flagg coming to town, Lively isn’t the seamless fit that he appeared to be at this time last season.
The reactions after one playoff series regarding this trade should be a cautionary tale. Maybe, as a basketball society, we should wait more than one season before declaring a winner in a trade.
Coming together: OKC trades Josh Giddey, adds Alex Caruso
OKC receives: Alex Caruso
CHI receives: Josh Giddey
OKC is getting all the love for this deal right now, as it should, but this is a win-win in my estimation.
It became clear throughout last season that Giddey wasn’t a fit with the Thunder, who would much rather put the ball in the hands of Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander than anyone else on the roster, then or now. And if you’re in OKC and a role player, you’d better be able to play defense. Giddey doesn’t do that well.
Giddey’s time in OKC will be marred by an odd off-court situation and a poor playoff showing in his final moments on the team, but I like to think most Thunder fans remember his time fondly. He’s a good player who’s going to be in the NBA for a long time, but it just wasn’t meant to be in OKC.
Now, he’s thriving in Chicago, and OKC has a defensive pitbull in Caruso that has been invaluable in the playoffs.
There’s a clear winner in most trades, and should OKC win the NBA Finals, it probably wins this deal. But in reality, I think both sides would do it over again.
Young bucks: OKC adds Dillon Jones, Ajay Mitchell with slew of draft day deals
OKC receives: No. 26 pick (Dillon Jones), No. 38 pick (Ajay Mitchell)
NYK receives: 5 2nd-round picks
Figuring out what happened with Jones is easy enough. The Thunder liked the player and gave up some of their millions of second-rounders to get him. Mitchell, the better of the two players so far, is far harder to track, as OKC made several moves up the board to get him, using Lindy Waters and cash considerations as the starting point.
The best of the rest: How OKC got Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort and others to town
Lu Dort
Dort, who is now the longest tenured Thunder, was signed to a two-way deal as an undrafted free agent. He was actually in the Green Room, and most expected him to be drafted back in 2021, but his slip ended up being the best thing for both Dort and the Thunder.
Now, Dort is a well-respected defender who has the admiration of everyone around the league, and he has become a consistent 40% 3-point shooter. He also hit three massive 3-pointers that swung Game 5 of the second round to OKC in a game that, if it had lost, could’ve spelled doom for the Thunder’s season.
Chet Holmgren
For just the second time in franchise history, OKC got lucky in the lottery.
Sitting with the fourth-best odds at the No. 1 pick in a draft in which any of Holmgren, Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr. could’ve gone first, OKC jumped to No. 2.
Orlando got the first pick and chose Banchero, who has become a burgeoning superstar in his own right, but OKC is certainly happy with landing Holmgren at second.
When he’s been on the court, Holmgren has been an elite rim protector and he flashes enough offensively to cause most to believe he’s a star in development if he can stay healthy. The health has been the biggest thing, but the floor injury that cost him his rookie year was fluky, and he played all 82 games in his technical rookie season.
OKC was blessed with the No. 2 pick in a good draft, and it hit.
Jaylin Williams
Often forgotten due to his shared namesake with a vastly superior player, Williams has become a good NBA player who would play a lot of minutes on most NBA teams.
When OKC selected him No. 34 in the 2022 draft, few knew exactly what he would become.
Known for taking charges and getting buckets around the rim and surrounding areas, Williams’ NBA skill, which has become his 3-point shooting, wasn’t on display yet. As soon as he got to the NBA, he changed that, shooting 41% from 3 as a rookie and starting 36 games.
It’s too early to declare a Nick Collison for this Thunder Era. A player who sticks around forever because he’s both useful and a great locker room guy. But Kenrich and Jaylin are both candidates to fill the role.
Isaiah Joe
Maybe the most unlikely of all of OKC’s contributors, Joe seemed to be all but done in the NBA after Philadelphia cut him while in desperate need of bench shooting.
Then, OKC quickly scooped him up and gave him a four-year deal. Oh, and there was this fateful game in Dallas.
OKC was down 13 with three minutes left in a regular season game against Dallas and threw in Joe, who at the time was known only as a sporadic shooter who could maybe shoot at the end of the roster.
He scored 15 points in those three minutes and overtime.
A fan favorite was born.
Since then, Joe has declared himself an elite shooter, and while his profile isn’t as strong in the postseason, there is always value in a knockdown 3-point guy, and OKC has one.
Isaiah Hartenstein
Last but not least is the biggest free agent signing in OKC history.
Coming off a career season with the Knicks, Hartenstein had established himself as a valuable NBA player, but because of the structure of his original deal, his salary with the Knicks was capped. OKC took advantage, flying to his home in Eugene, Oregon, early in the legal tampering period and securing exactly what it needed at the time.
Hartenstein’s unique passing ability allows him to exist as a spacer without being able to shoot, and he is an elite defensive pairing with Holmgren.
The value of a true center, as Holmgren develops, is paramount, and while it may be hard for OKC to afford him once his current contract expires, it may be a necessity.
