Showing off his jewelry to Jared McCain, Aday Mara is hoping to add more championship rings in the future. Reading the room across the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder realized they needed serious size in the frontcourt to keep up.
You come to that realization when you see Victor Wembanyama beat you in the 2026 Western Conference Finals. The 22-year-old has arrived. He'll keep the San Antonio Spurs in the ***** le picture for the foreseeable future. Which directly conflicts with the Thunder and their ambitions.
In comes Mara. The Thunder drafted the 7-foot-3 giant with the No. 12 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. They hope he can strengthen their frontcourt depth for the foreseeable future and possibly be Chet Holmgren's running mate for the rest of the contending window.
Before we find out the answers to those valuable questions, though, Mara earned some well-deserved reflection on his collegiate journey. He showed off his rings on a recent social media post. After two so-so years at UCLA, his decision to transfer to Michigan completely changed his life for the better. He helped the Wolverines capture the 2026 national championship.
Michigan went a dominant 37-3 in the 2025-26 season. Mara's breakout helped with that. It had a three-headed frontcourt monster — alongside Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. All three went in the lottery range of the 2026 NBA draft. And head coach Dusty Mays joined the Dallas Mavericks in a rare college-to-NBA job promotion.

#michigan

As the calendar flips to September, we're officially in the quiet zone of the NBA year. Not much will go on until the final days of the month. All of the major offseason moves have already happened. Teams across the league enjoy some serenity before the marathon starts back up again.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2026-27 season as co-title favorites — alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Even with their offseason departures, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren should keep them in the middle of the ***** le hunt.
With nothing else happening, Thunder Wire will regularly conduct Thunder Mailbags over the remainder of the offseason. In this edition, a social media user asked in the DMs — could Alex Caruso's regular-season role change with so many departures?
The Thunder added Caruso in a rare one-for-one player trade with the Chicago Bulls in June 2024. It was one of two offseason moves made that summer that signaled their readiness to take the next step as a serious ***** le contender. Safe to say the win-now move paid off. OKC won the 2025 NBA championship in his first year there and almost won another this past year.
In those two playoff runs, Caruso has been one of OKC's five most important players. Especially when you compare his pedestrian regular-season numbers. He's averaged 6.6 points on 43.3% shooting, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 ***** ists in the regular season. He's shot 32.2% from 3. And in the playoffs, those numbers jump up to 9.9 points on 46.2% shooting, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 ***** ists. He's shot 42.7% from 3.

#regular

After falling short of their back-to-back ambitions, the Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to get back in the saddle. Even after their offseason of cost-cutting moves, they're viewed as arguably the top **** le favorite again. That's what happens when you have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
The Thunder have everything that it takes to win the 2027 NBA championship. This group has one ring in hand — with the hopes of adding another. As long as those three are around, OKC will always be in the **** le picture.
Thunder Wire recently simulated the Thunder's upcoming season in the new NBA 2K27 video game. Thunder fans might straight-up hate the final result. Let's look at how OKC's campaign played out as it hopes to bring home a second championship.
For transparency, injuries and trades were turned off in this simulation. So all 30 NBA teams had the same rosters and rotations available throughout the entire season. It was at Hall-of-Fame difficulty. With that taken into account, let's look at how things turned out:
The Thunder make NBA history once again. They're the first seed for the fourth consecutive year. That's only the sixth time that has happened ever. They went 59-23 and had to wait until the regular-season finale to cool their jets. The Spurs and Timberwolves also had the same record. OKC had the tiebreaker over the two.

#back #championship

Even with their offseason changes, most expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to remain in the thick of the ***** le race. They enter the 2026-27 season as co-title favorites — alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Now, add ESPN's projections as the latest fan of that theory.
In a poll of NBA insiders, ESPN's Summer Forecast has the Thunder in second place in the 2026-27 Western Conference standings with a 60-22 record. The Spurs are ahead in first place with a 62-20 record. Both also serve as the league's best overall records.
"Just when you thought Oklahoma City might strengthen its hold on the West, Wembanyama and the upstart Spurs embarked on a surprising run to the NBA Finals and knocked off the defending champions along the way," ESPN wrote. "This rivalry has been brewing for years, but it ramped up last season. Including the NBA Cup, the regular season and the playoffs, the Spurs and the Thunder met 12 times last season, with the former seizing eight victories."
I think that's a fair prediction to make. The Thunder lost some of their depth this summer. They sent out Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins in cost-cutting trades. Meanwhile, the back of their bench is filled with question marks. Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz are virtually unknown.
Even if they're not as deep as years before, if the Thunder enjoy better health luck, they'll be in the running for the first seed for a fourth consecutive year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are one of the top trios in the league — with one championship ring already in hand.

#oklahoma #place

Quenching the thirst of the annual content drought, the NBA has dropped its 2026-27 regular season. The Oklahoma City Thunder now have the next month-plus to completely dissect when and where they'll face their opponents during the seven-month marathon.
Entering the 2026-27 season as a co-title favorite, the Thunder are once again an NBA main character. They'll have the fifth-most national TV games with 30. Only the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers have more at 34 apiece.
Even with their cost-cutting moves this summer, the Thunder remain arguably the best team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are one of the top league trios. With one championship ring in hand, they're looking to add another this upcoming year.
One of the recent NBA regular season perks is the baseball series. Gaining popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the schedule-makers have had teams face off against each other two times in a row — usually in the same arena. That eases some of the travel load that teams go through.
Let's look at all five of OKC's baseball series throughout the 2026-27 regular season:

#Baseball #series

Since that loss, Holmgren has been in the gym all summer preparing for a bounce-back year from an abrupt end to the Thunder's season. "I'm excited," Chet Holmgren told ClutchPoints. "I mean I've been on the court all summer. I'm excited to get back to OKC with the guys and get back to work."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I'm excited," Chet Holmgren told ClutchPoints. "I …

#holmgren #since #i 've

Tomer Azarly: If you could go back and team up with any player in NBA history all-time, who would it be? Can you even pick just one? Chet Holmgren: Ooh, that's a tough one. Yeah, I don't know. Can I maybe give a starting five? Obviously Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, I'd say like OKC Kevin Durant, and one more. I'd say 2011 Dirk Nowitzki.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Ooh, that's a tough one. Yeah, I don't know. Can I …

#tomer #azarly #chet

By the end of the 2026 NBA playoffs, Isaiah Hartenstein turned himself from a luxury to an essential. The Oklahoma City Thunder had learned through their two seasons together that they had to figure something out this summer. Before he could even test the open waters, they extended their marriage.
Ripping apart his $28.5 million 2026-27 team option, the Thunder awarded Hartenstein a three-year, $75 million contract. He's now in OKC through the 2028-29 season. At least, theoretically. The final year is a mutual option. It provides the seven-footer with some sense of financial security and control over his future.
In his two seasons, Hartenstein has been a grand-slam addition. He helped the Thunder win the 2025 NBA championship as a prominent starter. He almost helped them win another one in their back-to-back ambitions that fell just short. In his time in OKC, he's averaged 10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.7 ***** ists.
Safe to say that both the Thunder and Hartenstein have been ecstatic since his arrival. For OKC, it finally added a traditional center who allows Chet Holmgren to play power forward. He's also single-handedly fixed their rebounding woes and gives them a legitimate screen-setter and lob threat. Something this iteration of the team has never had before.
And for Hartenstein, he's enjoyed his best years and some stability. Before he joined OKC, he was a career journeyman trying to find his footing in the NBA. But the Thunder have given him creative freedoms that his previous stops didn't allow. The seven-footer's playmaking has been on full display. He's served as an offensive hub. He's also averaged a double-double.

#thunder #something #option

Crossing off another yearly milestone in the summer, the NBA has dropped its entire 2026-27 regular season schedule. The Oklahoma City Thunder now know how things shake out in the marathon-esque slate as they play every other night for seven months.
The Thunder enter the 2026-27 season as a co-title favorite — alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Even with a summer filled with cost-cutting moves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are a star-studded nucleus that'll keep them in the conversation.
Because of that, the Thunder are one of the NBA's main characters again. They have the fifth-most national TV games at 30 in the 2026-27 regular season. Only the New York Knicks, Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are ahead at the maximum allowed 34 apiece.
Let's break down OKC's national TV schedule. Here's a look at all 30 matchups throughout the 2026-27 regular season:
Time: 8:30 p.m. CT

#crossing

Thunder young star Chet Holmgren's future in limbo because of Spurs' Victor Wembanyama's success originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Oklahoma City Thunder did not make the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season. Instead, the San Antonio Spurs knocked off the defending champions in a thrilling series that went all the way to seven games.
The Thunder were stunned that they were unable to make another deep playoff run. However, their center, Chet Holmgren, struggled to make an impact in Game 7.
"To even say Holmgren was passive on Saturday night would be giving him too much credit. He was basically invisible. Of the four shots he took, zero came in the second half. Zero! That is inexcusable for a guy who will start a five-year, $239 million contract next season. A guy who was voted Third Team All-NBA this season," CBS Sports' Brad Botkin wrote.
At the end of the season, Holmgren met with the media to discuss the Spurs series and acknowledged that he underperformed. He did not hold back when discussing his performance.

#thunder #SPURS #season

Many Duke alumni had impressive NBA performances last season, including Jalen Johnson (Hawks), Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) and Kon Knueppel (Hornets). However, no former Blue Devils experienced as much playoff success as Jared McCain, who dominated off the bench following a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Another Duke alum who had an underrated season was Hornets guard Sion James, who played in all 82 of Charlotte's regular season games as a rookie second-round pick. Recently, the two joined forces on the same team during the PLYRS UNTD runs, which featured many current and former NBA players. In a video posted to social media, McCain was scoring with ease while also setting up James for a few easy looks around the rim. The two guards never played with one another at Duke, as James was with Tulane during McCain's lone season in Durham.
James and McCain's team also featured two previous top-10 picks, Frank Kaminsky and McCain's current Thunder teammate, Chet Holmgren. Some of their opponents included Trae Young (Wizards), Ty Jerome (Grizzlies) and Danny Wolf (Nets).
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Two former Duke guards build chemistry during loaded offseason pick-up game

#hornets #many #pick

The calendar has flipped to August. Which means we're in the dog days of the NBA's year-round calendar. Little will happen over the next two months as teams across the league prepare for the 2026-27 season. Before we move on, though, let's reflect one last time on last year.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had a league-best 64-18 regular-season record. Juggling injuries all year, they overcame notable absences all year. Alas, they fell short of a second NBA championship with a 2026 Western Conference Finals exit.
To reflect on their 2025-26 season, Thunder Wire will conduct player grades for all 20 players who suited up for them this past year. Second up is Chet Holmgren, who was an All-NBA player for the first time:
17.1 points
8.9 rebounds

#thunder

For the first time in a couple of summers, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to recast their complementary pieces. You can't keep the same roster forever. Especially in the NBA. This group experienced that for the first time this offseason as they said goodbye to Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
Getting underneath the dreadful second apron, the Thunder had to make three cost-cutting moves. Out go Dort, Joe and Wiggins. In come seven future second-round picks. Three of OKC's best recent developmental stories head out East. Dort and Wiggins went to the Atlanta Hawks and Joe to the Detroit Pistons.
Even with weighted hearts, don't think anybody was surprised to see the Thunder shake up their role players. When you read out their future team payrolls, think this summer was circled as one where changes were inevitable. And considering how the NBA playoffs ended, it was obvious that all three would likely get moved out as they were phased out of the rotation.
Chet Holmgren was the latest to give his reaction to OKC's cost-cutting summer. The All-NBA talent talked at a USA Basketball Foundation charity event in Southern California. He had a breakout season last year, but his no-show outing in the 2026 Western Conference Finals soured things for a lot of folks.
"It's like losing a family member. That's how the business of this game goes," Holmgren said. "No team, all 17 guys, sticks together forever. But it doesn't make it hurt less when you see guys go. At the same time, I'm excited for them and the opportunity they're going to have in Atlanta. I'm happy for whatever major milestones they reach over there."

#forever

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The Oklahoma City Thunder have experienced that firsthand over the last year. Thanks to a two-season run that has seen them put up historic numbers and win one NBA championship, other sports organizations are hoping to copy their blueprint.
One SEC football powerhouse wants to remain at the top of the college football mountain. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart recently said at 2026 SEC Media Day that he's studied up on the Thunder. He's turning over every stone to figure out ways to get fresh ideas on how the Bulldogs can remain in the national championship conversation.
"This season, like many others, we chose to study a successful brand or team or follow someone. This year, the reigning NBA champions at the time when we studied them was the OKC Thunder," Smart said. "They talked about being uncommon and how you can be uncommon in today's world."
Smart is the longest-tenured SEC football head coach. He's called the shots at George for a decade now. In that time, he's gone an impressive 117-21 (.848 win percentage) and won two national championships in 2021 and 2022. They're always smack-dab in the middle of the conversation for best team in the country.
Meanwhile, the Thunder have had back-to-back 60-plus win seasons with point differentials north of double-digit points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won two consecutive MVP awards. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams have earned All-NBA honors. On top of that, OKC has put up historic defensive numbers.

#historic #remain

In a recent post on X, journalist Ben Jacobs mentioned that ***** nal are showing interest in Red Bull Leipzig winger Yan Diomande this summer. It has been claimed that the Gunners have made an enquiry about the Ivory Coast international, who has his heart set on a move to Paris Saint-Germain this off-season.
Diomande enjoyed a brilliant campaign at the German club in the previous campiagn when he put in a series of impressive displays for them on the offensive end of the field. The 19-year-old banged in 13 goals and grabbed ten ***** ists in 36 matches for Red Bull Leipzig last season across all competitions.
The Ivory Coast talent is currently among the most feared wingers in the Bundesliga. Thus, ***** nal would do well to get him on board in this summer transfer window.
His current contract at the Red Bull Arena will run out in the summer of 2030, which could make it tough for the Gunners to sign him on the cheap this off-season.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JUNE 30: Yan Diomande #11 is defended by Marcus Holmgren Pedersen #16 of Norway during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Cote D'Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

#leipzig

Towering over everybody else, Aday Mara's potential is tantalizing. At 7-foot-3, he makes the rest of the NBA look smaller in comparison. It doesn't take long to brainstorm what his size could do for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Especially since he looks like a toddler playing on a Little Tikes indoor hoop.
That said, it's only taken five Summer League games to see Mara is a giant blob of clay. The Thunder will take on another developmental project as they hope he eventually sharpens out his technique on the court. As mystifying as his size is, he'll need to figure out how to finish through contact and better his conditioning.
Of course, none of that should be a shocker. In the predraft process, those were Mara's main concerns. Even with that, he was still viewed as a lottery pick. The Thunder materialized that with the No. 12 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. He helped Michigan bring home a national championship.
Joining the ***** le contender, Mara has full confidence he can reach his NBA ceiling in OKC. The Thunder are one of the better developmental teams in the league. When you're in a small market and a constant winner for nearly two decades, the draft is your lifeblood.
After Mara had his best Summer League outing yet in OKC's 104-79 loss to the Golden State Warriors, he hopes he can replicate his 10 points, nine rebounds and four ***** ists at the next level. The Thunder continue to double down on size with his addition. The hope is that he turns into Chet Holmgren's next frontcourt partner.

SiriusXM NBA Radio: ‘He's ours, we're happy to have him. I know Trajan Langdon is excited, JB Bickerstaff loves him. He's ours and hopefully, we get things worked out.’ Pistons advisor Dwane Casey discusses Jalen Duren’s playoff struggles and how Detroit’s front office is feeling as both sides have yet to come to an extension
x.com
Keith Smith: Factoring in the reported contracts for John Collins, Kevin Huerter & Javonte Green and the Gary Harris/Taurean Prince acquisitions, I've got the Pistons at about $42.8M under the luxury tax. That's enough room to give Jalen Duren a 25% of the cap max without going into the tax. — 7/7/2026 x.com
The primary reason the Lakers likely chose Kessler over offering a max deal to Detroit Pistons restricted free agent Jalen Duren is that Kessler is one of the NBA’s best rim protectors. He’s the kind of interior presence a team needs if it’s going to employ Dončić and Reaves on the perimeter as primary playmakers. In 2024-25, Kessler’s last full(ish) season, he contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim, according to NBA.com, which tied for the fifth-most in the league. On those shots, he allowed opponents to shoot just 54.8 percent. Among the 16 players in the league to contest at least six shots per game that season, that percentage ranked third behind only Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, who were the top two finalists for Defensive Player of the Year this season. In the three full seasons he has played, Kessler has blocked at least 2.3 shots per game. — 7/2/2026 New York Times
The Pistons have maintained their stance that they’re not interested in sign-and-trade scenarios for Jalen Duren and will continue to try to bridge the gap between both sides and get a deal done. Duren and Domantas Sabonis share the same agency, The Team. With Sabonis, 30, naturally looking to compete in the prime of his career instead of beginning a rebuild, and the Kings exploring the trade market for Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan, it’s easy to see why this Duren sign-and-trade scenario would appeal to Sacramento. On paper, however, going from the 22-year-old Duren to the 30-year-old Sabonis, who’s owed $94.08 million over the next two years, isn’t prudent for Detroit. — 7/2/2026 HoopsHype

Norway are dealing with an unwanted setback ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against England.
According to The Standard, several players have been affected by a sickness bug ahead of Saturday’s mouth-watering encounter in Miami.
Despite the illness spreading through the squad in recent days, head coach Stale Solbakken believes the situation is improving as his team prepares for their last-eight clash with England.
Reports from Norway claim several players have experienced flu-like symptoms since the start of the competition.
Among those affected were striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who missed Norway’s opening match after falling ill, and defender Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who was unavailable for the team’s shocking round-of-16 victory over Brazil for the same reason.

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Martin Odegaard has become the latest member of Norway's World Cup camp to come down with a cold-like virus before Saturday's match against England.
Odegaard has fallen ill while sickness runs through the Norway camp, although his uncle, the national team physio Thomas Odegaard, has reportedly suffered most from the symptoms.
Another member of the training staff has also been ill, while right back Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who missed the win over Brazil because of the illness, is back in training.
At the time of writing, it is not clear whether Odegaard will be fit to play this weekend.

First day of Wimbledon qualifying - watch men's first round live on BBC (UK only)
LIVE: GB's Dan Evans takes first set 7-6 (7-2) against Juan Carlos Prado Angelo
Evans will retire after Wimbledon but will need to win three qualifying matches to reach a final singles main draw
Followed by: Britain's Liam Broady v August Holmgren
Mackenzie McDonald v Felipe Meligeni Alves rounds out play in Roehampton

Oklahoma City Thunder spent years carefully putting together a **** le-contending squad. Now, with Victor Wembanyama right in their way, it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere soon.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, league sources believe the Thunder are considering a move up in the 2026 NBA Draft, with Michigan centre Aday Mara frequently mentioned as their target.
After falling to San Antonio in the playoffs, it’s clear why this rumour is gaining traction – and what the Thunder took from their Western Conference Finals experience.
During that series, Chet Holmgren had plenty of moments where he struggled against Wembanyama’s size and agility. It wasn’t just about his strength or skill – Wemby was able to move around him more easily than anyone else.
The Thunder aren’t looking for an instant fix, though. Aday Mara has promise but is still raw at 21 years old and not ready to make a major impact right away. His development would take time, but he fits the profile of someone who could help balance out those matchups down the road.

Thunder predicted to beat out Warriors for $149 million ex-Spurs superstar, two-time Finals MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were hoping to repeat as NBA champions in 2025-26.
Everything seemed to be lining up perfectly for Oklahoma City to go back-to-back, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to play MVP-level basketball on the offensive end, and the Thunder boasted one of the deepest benches in the league once again.
Unfortunately for Oklahoma City, they were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, and Chet Holmgren’s timid demeanor on both ends undoubtedly contributed to the Thunder’s unsuccessful ******* le defense.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes believes it’s time for Oklahoma City to move on from Holmgren and bring in a former San Antonio Spurs superstar and two-time NBA Finals MVP who is viewed as a legitimate trade target for the Golden State Warriors.

Barely 12 hours had passed when Chet Holmgren had to face the music once again. With a face filled with shell-shock, the All-NBA talent's summer will be haunted by his four-point goose egg in a Game 7 loss that ended their ambitions to be back-to-back champions.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the San Antonio Spurs in an epic seven-game series. The 2026 Western Conference Finals were for the Larry O'Brien in most folks' eyes. Remains to be seen if they're right, but no denying both 60-plus-win machines showed why they were in a tier of their own all year.
When you face a team of that high quality with those types of stakes on the line, it really exposes your weaknesses to the forefront for the entire NBA-sphere to see. In OKC's case, injuries finally caught up. Being without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell for most of the series was a death blow they couldn't overcome.
The Thunder have been superb at overcoming injuries all season. To the point they went an NBA-best 64-18 in the regular season and swept their first two playoff opponents. But against the Spurs, you needed all hands on deck. Instead, being without two of your three best scorers and ball-handlers absolutely damaged their ******* le odds.
Another takeaway from the series? Holmgren has a Spurs problem.

6 Chet Holmgren landing spots after Thunder stars Game 7 disappearance

The Oklahoma City Thunder weren't good enough. It came down to Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, but eventually the Thunder's bid to repeat as champions was ended by the San Antonio Spurs.
It's back to the drawing board.
With San Antonio destined to be an obstacle for a long time, OKC will undoubtedly look for ways to improve in the offseason to stack up better. And they have an embarrassment of **** ets to do so in short order, be it players or picks.
One such player is Chet Holmgren, the former No. 2 overall pick who completely disappeared in a four-point performance Saturday. At just 24 years old, he's still young enough to be an attractive trade chip and potential centerpiece of a deal for OKC to land another star to pair with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
These are the best landing spots for Holmgren in such a deal:

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