Thunder Urged to Trade Chet Holmgren, Draft Haul for 2-Time MVP After NBA Finals Win
Thunder Urged to Trade Chet Holmgren, Draft Haul for 2-Time MVP After NBA Finals Win originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Just minutes after the Oklahoma City Thunder won the first NBA title since relocating from Seattle in 2008, trade ideas to make the team even more dominant in a repeat bid came rolling in across social media.
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Oklahoma City utilized the trade market after a second-round playoff exit last season to acquire star defensive guard Alex Caruso, who proved a perfect fit and a huge contributor to the team's 2025 title run.
However, instead of an additive role player, the suggested swings this summer involve franchise-transforming talents like Milwaukee Bucks two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"Trade Chet [Holmgren] and every pick for Giannis," Jack Settleman of Snapback Sports posted to X following the team's championship victory. "Win 3 straight titles. Be a dynasty."
The idea isn't as outlandish as it might appear at first glance. Not only do the Thunder have the best young core in the league, becoming the youngest team in 48 years to win a championship, they also have a veritable treasure trove of quality draft assets and youthful depth already on the roster.
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A consolidation trade for a superstar could elevate Oklahoma City to the next level and potentially put more distance between the team and the rest of the pack in the Western Conference and NBA as a whole. The Thunder required Game 7 wins at home against the Denver Nuggets in the second round and the Pacers in the Finals to earn the trophy they hoisted on Sunday night, June 22.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Holmgren missed the entirety of his first season due to injury, but finished second in Rookie of the Year voting two years ago behind only Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs after playing all 82 games.
Health issues held Holmgren below the threshold for NBA awards in 2024-25, though he likely would have been a member of one of the league's two All-Defense teams. He's a true 7-footer who averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and 2.2 blocks per game last season and will play next year at just 23 years old.
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Holmgren has All-Star upside and a long career ahead of him. A player like that, plus a treasure trove of future first-round draft picks is exactly the kind of deal Milwaukee will look for if Antetokounmpo asks out.
On the Thunder's side, they could pair reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a two-time winner of that award in Antetokounmpo, who finished third in MVP voting this year. The Bucks big man will turn just 31 next season and has several prime years remaining.
The old cliché suggests that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But it doesn't say anything about turning a championship team into a potential dynasty the likes of which the NBA hasn't seen since Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors nine years ago.
Related: Kevin Durant Sends Message to OKC Thunder After Championship
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
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