Thunder Reportedly Have No Plans to Trade Chet Holmgren Despite Brutal WCF

The Oklahoma City Thunder may have serious questions to answer after their Western Conference Finals collapse against the San Antonio Spurs, but one thing reportedly is not on the table — trading Chet Holmgren.

After Holmgren struggled badly in the series against Victor Wembanyama, speculation quickly exploded about whether Oklahoma City could consider using the young big man as part of a blockbuster trade package this offseason.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, however, the Thunder are not interested in moving on from Holmgren.

Thunder Reportedly Still Believe Strongly in Chet Holmgren

Fischer recently reported that “sources insist that trading Holmgren is not part of the plan.” He also shared how highly some around the league still view the former No. 2 overall pick despite his difficult playoff showing.

“As one close observer to the playoff exit of last season’s champions put it to The Stein Line: ‘He’s the best defensive player in the league… aside from one,’” Fischer wrote.

That “one,” of course, would be Wembanyama.

The comparison became impossible to ignore during the Western Conference Finals, where Wembanyama completely outplayed Holmgren on both ends of the floor.

Chet Holmgren Struggled Against Victor Wembanyama

Holmgren endured arguably the toughest series of his young NBA career against San Antonio. The 24-year-old averaged just 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting only 27.3 percent from three-point range. Even more concerning was his offensive involvement, as Holmgren attempted just 7.3 field goals per game throughout the series.

Meanwhile, Wembanyama dominated the matchup physically and defensively while establishing himself as arguably the NBA’s most terrifying two-way force.

For many fans and analysts, the series immediately sparked questions about whether Holmgren can truly become the second superstar Oklahoma City needs alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

One Bad Playoff Series Does Not Define Holmgren

Despite the criticism, the Thunder still have plenty of reasons to remain confident in Holmgren long term.

Before the Western Conference Finals, Holmgren had already established himself as one of the NBA’s elite young defenders and an ideal modern frontcourt piece. Across his first three seasons, he has averaged 2.1 blocks per game while also shooting nearly 37 percent from three-point range. That combination of rim protection and floor spacing remains incredibly valuable in today’s NBA.

The Thunder also believe injuries played a major role in derailing their postseason run. Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell both missed significant time during the series against San Antonio, leaving Gilgeous-Alexander without enough offensive support.

Oklahoma City appears to view the playoff exit more as a disappointing setback than a reason to completely reshape its core.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Rumors Still Loom Over Oklahoma City

Even with Fischer’s report, it is difficult to completely ignore the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors surrounding the Thunder.

If Oklahoma City were ever to pursue a trade for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar, Holmgren would almost certainly need to be included in the deal alongside draft capital and additional young players.

The Thunder possess arguably the strongest collection of trade assets in the NBA, including multiple first-round picks in the upcoming draft and a massive stockpile of future selections.

Still, the organization reportedly seems far more interested in tweaking the roster around its young core rather than breaking it apart.

Thunder More Likely to Explore Smaller Moves This Offseason

According to Fischer, Oklahoma City’s offseason activity is expected to focus more on the NBA Draft and potential financial flexibility moves.

The Thunder currently hold the No. 12, No. 17, and No. 37 picks in the upcoming draft and have reportedly explored moving around the board.

Fischer also mentioned players like Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins as possible trade candidates if Oklahoma City decides it needs more flexibility to avoid second-apron concerns in the future.

For now, though, Holmgren still appears firmly entrenched as a foundational piece of the franchise.

The Western Conference Finals may have exposed some uncomfortable questions about Oklahoma City’s ceiling against a player like Wembanyama, but the Thunder clearly are not ready to give up on Holmgren after one difficult series.