The One Thunder Player Sam Presti Refuses to Trade — Even After a Playoff Flop

The Oklahoma City Thunder walked into the Western Conference semifinals with legitimate championship hopes. They walked out with a seven-game loss to the San Antonio Spurs and a front office suddenly fielding calls about Chet Holmgren’s availability.

According to RealGM, multiple teams have already inquired about the 7-foot center. The response from Thunder general manager Sam Presti has been swift and consistent: Holmgren is not going anywhere.

Why Teams Are Calling — and Why OKC Is Hanging Up

Holmgren’s postseason numbers tell a complicated story. He failed to score 15 points in six of the seven games against San Antonio, with his only bright spot coming in Game 4 (16 points). Opposing him was Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ generational talent who made life miserable for Holmgren on both ends of the floor.

Before the playoffs, Holmgren had managed just 42 combined points in four regular-season meetings with the Spurs, shooting under 40 percent from the field. That body of work clearly hasn’t scared off rival GMs — if anything, it’s made some wonder if Holmgren’s value might be at a low enough point to pry him loose.

But Presti isn’t biting. The Thunder see Holmgren as an essential piece of their core, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. That trio is the foundation of Oklahoma City’s long-term plan, and no amount of trade buzz is going to change that.

The Money Factor

Holmgren is set to begin a five-year, $239 million rookie-scale extension next season, with a first-year salary of $41.2 million. That figure will push the Thunder closer to the dreaded second apron — a financial threshold that restricts roster flexibility and comes with harsh penalties.

Yet Presti has shown little concern about the cap implications. If the Thunder are going to pay luxury taxes, they’d rather pay them around a homegrown big three than chase a blockbuster deal that disrupts the chemistry they’ve built.

That stance is noteworthy given the recent rumor mill. ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported that whispers of a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo-for-Holmgren swap have circulated in league circles. But Presti’s refusal to engage suggests the Thunder view Holmgren as a long-term building block — not a trade chip for an aging superstar.

Lessons From a Playoff Beatdown

Holmgren is 24 years old and just completed his second NBA season. The conference semifinals marked his first real exposure to playoff adversity, and he ran into one of the most unique defensive disruptors the league has ever seen.

“He got a masterclass in what it means to face a player like Wembanyama,” one former scout told Yahoo Sports. “But those are lessons that stick. He’ll be better for it.”

The Thunder are betting that Holmgren’s ceiling remains high enough to justify the investment. And until that bet changes, Presti will keep telling trade suitors exactly what they don’t want to hear: no thanks.