Shannon Sharpe Thinks Free Agents Are Not Interested in Joining NBA Contenders

The Oklahoma City Thunder may have been eliminated in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, but their star trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren showed that they could be the future of the Western Conference. Despite their early exit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, the Thunder organization has reason to be optimistic about the team’s future.

General manager Sam Presti has cap space and draft capital at his disposal to make meaningful upgrades to the roster. In their series against Dallas, it became clear that the Thunder could benefit from adding another defensive-minded big or wing scorer to support their star players.

However, former NFL player and current media personality Shannon Sharpe doesn’t believe that star free agents will be flocking to Oklahoma City anytime soon. Geography plays a significant role in free agents’ decisions, and Oklahoma City is not typically seen as a destination for top-tier talent.

Despite this, the Thunder have a history of drafting young talent with All-Star potential, as evidenced by their acquisition of Gilgeous-Alexander. Even if they don’t make major moves in the offseason, the Thunder are still expected to be contenders in the 2024-25 NBA season due to the strength of their core group of players.

While the road to a championship may not be easy for the Thunder, their promising young trio gives fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the team’s future.