Thunder
A dynasty might be forming in Oklahoma City, ESPN wrote in its NBA season preview.
After becoming the second-youngest championship team in league history, the Thunder locked in their core, signing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren to long-term extensions.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning NBA MVP and has brought back the midrange game in the process. But he’s just part of why OKC may be staying at the top.
Outside of Alex Caruso, no rotation player who averaged 10 minutes or more in the playoffs is older than 27.
General manager Sam Presti will have some decisions to make next summer with Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein holding team options, but OKC’s depth and draft capital remain unmatched, ESPN wrote.
Their biggest strength continues to be defense. The Thunder held opponents to 106.6 points per 100 possessions last season — 2.5 fewer than any other team.
Dort, Williams, and Caruso have all earned All-Defensive recognition, but Holmgren might be the true anchor. The 7-footer missed half of last season with a fractured pelvis but looks fully healthy again.
The main question, of course, is whether they can stay hungry after winning it all.
Presti doesn’t seem worried. “Our daily priority,” he said before camp, “is chasing improvement.”
Nuggets
Christian Braun is staying in Denver for the long haul.
The Nuggets guard has agreed to a five-year, $125 million rookie extension, per Shams Charania of ESPN. Braun’s deal comes after a breakout season in which he averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, while shooting 39.7% from three over 79 games.
The 24-year-old replaced Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the starting lineup and became one of Denver’s most consistent two-way players. He also led the NBA in fast-break points, becoming the first player to top 400 since Buddy Hield in 2019.
Denver views Braun as a key piece alongside Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and newcomer Cameron Johnson. The former Kansas standout was also part of the Nuggets’ 2023 title team and now looks to be part of their long-term core.
Lakers
The Lakers gave fans a glimpse of their LeBron James-less lineup during their preseason finale, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. And it featured Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, and Deandre Ayton.
Vincent earned the start after averaging 16.2 points on 55.6% shooting from deep this preseason. Head coach JJ Redick said the lineup “has a lot of shooting and toughness,” noting that Vincent’s ball-handling and defense were key factors.
Still, Redick admitted there’s work to do.
“We’ve got to figure out our lobs,” he said, via Khobi Price of the Orange County Register. “A good lob connection is concentration plus control.”
Reaves added that building chemistry with Ayton will take time.
“Every player’s different,” he said. “I can throw some lobs to Jaxson [Hayes] that I can’t throw to DA. I can throw pocket passes to DA that I can’t to Jaxson. It’s just reps.”
Los Angeles went 1-5 in the preseason, but Redick and the Lakers believe the growing pains are part of the process.
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