Thunder Cut 3 Players After 111-103 Game 7 Loss, Freeing Room for No. 12 Pick
Updated
Updated · FanSided · May 31
Thunder Cut 3 Players After 111-103 Game 7 Loss, Freeing Room for No. 12 Pick
6 articles · Updated · FanSided · May 31
Oklahoma City is moving on from Kenrich Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Brooks Barnhizer after its 111-103 home loss to San Antonio in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
The shakeup is aimed at creating cap flexibility and reshaping the bench through the draft, with the Thunder holding the No. 12 pick and potentially using it to add depth or trade up.
Hartenstein’s exit is the clearest signal: Oklahoma City declined his option and appears ready to hand the frontcourt to Chet Holmgren rather than keep paying for a two-big setup.
Williams and Barnhizer were viewed as expendable depth pieces on a crowded roster, even after Williams contributed 10 points in Game 5 and six rebounds in Game 6 before playing only four minutes in Game 7.
The moves suggest the Thunder still trust their young core after falling one win short of a second straight NBA Finals trip and plan to keep replenishing around it through the draft.
Did one playoff series against Wembanyama just force the 64-win Thunder to dismantle their successful bench?
After his playoff collapse, is OKC's bet on Chet Holmgren a stroke of genius or a fatal mistake?