The NBA season is just a few months away, and now all that’s left to do is wait. The draft, free agency, and the Olympics have all come and gone, and all that’s left to do is start training camp. It’s almost time for a new basketball season.
For the most part, the team rosters are set and there will be very little movement until October, when the season begins.
Oklahoma City’s summer has been one of the best in the NBA. With 57 wins and a playoff run, the Thunder didn’t need to do much. The team’s young core is some of the best and brightest in the NBA, and Oklahoma City’s management could have trusted their growth and development. But they chose to give it their all, beyond expectations.
Sam Presti allowed the young core to develop while keeping the roster intact, but strengthened the team’s two biggest weaknesses. Oklahoma City found an answer to Josh Giddeywho was benched during the NBA playoffs, and added one of the best centers on the market. Alex Caruso And Isaiah Hartenstein appear to be a perfect fit for Oklahoma City and will help the Thunder be competitive immediately.
With these two aggressive additions, can it be said that Oklahoma City is the most complete team in the NBA? They certainly have an argument to make. The Thunder certainly appear to be the deepest team in the NBA, but there are a handful of teams that can be classified as complete.
Sure, the Celtics hold the title of most complete team after winning an NBA championship. Their starting five is certainly the strongest in the league, but Oklahoma City’s bench has good reason to compete. The rosters are still up in the air, but Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah JoeAnd Isaiah Hartenstein Off the bench is a second elite unit.
In the Western Conference, Denver, Minnesota and Dallas stand out as immediate competitors to the Thunder. Denver has perhaps the shortest bench of any contender and Dallas’ bench remains largely inexperienced. Minnesota’s second unit features Naz Reid but will rely on a rookie point guard to anchor the backups.
It’s safe to say that Oklahoma City is the most complete team in the Western Conference when you factor in the bench and starting lineup. Assuming the Thunder start Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Jalen WilliamsAnd Chet HolmgrenThere is not a single hole. Every player on the team can shoot, every player on the team can defend at a high level, and they have an MVP candidate.
It seems like the only team more complete than the Thunder is the Boston Celtics, but it’s pretty close. Oklahoma City has built one of the best rosters in the NBA, and there don’t seem to be any holes in the roster.
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