Thunder Notes: Defensive Upgrade, K. Williams, Daigneault, Franchise History

The offseason trade for Alex Caruso and the addition of Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency have improved the Thunder’s defense to the point where it might be one of the best in NBA history, claims Michael Pina of The Ringer. He points out that Oklahoma City ranked fourth in the league defensively last season and every personnel decision was aimed at getting better, including sending Josh Giddey to Chicago in the Carsuo deal.

There are no weak links on defense anymore and no obvious spot for opponents to attack, Pina adds. The Thunder have a roster filled with switchable defenders who possess the speed and size to excel in coach Mark Daigneault’s attacking scheme.

OKC boasts plenty of exceptional one-on-one defenders on the perimeter, starting with Luguentz Dort, who uses physicality to disrupt the rhythm of the man he’s guarding. Pina notes that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander works exceptionally hard on defense for an MVP candidate, while Jalen Williams brings a wingspan that’s greater than his height, Cason Wallace plays like a smaller version of Jrue Holiday, and Chet Holmgren ranked second in the league last season in challenging shots at the rim. Adding to that mix is Caruso, who has made the All-Defensive team the past two seasons and has a knack for forcing turnovers.

Hartenstein will help fix the rebounding deficiency that was especially evident in the playoffs last spring. Pina states that he should also affect the philosophy on defense by allowing the Thunder to utilize more drop coverage and limit three-point shots from the corner.

There’s more from Oklahoma City:

• The Thunder’s depth should enable them to be patient with Kenrich Williams as he recovers from a knee operation, writes Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated. The veteran forward underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right knee on Tuesday and will be re-evaluated following the preseason. Stiles states that OKC should bring Williams along slowly and make sure he’s healthy for later in the season.
• Since taking over as head coach, Daigneault has tended to use his bench more than any other coach in the league, Stiles adds in a separate story. That approach should be effective this season as the Thunder have one of the NBA’s deepest rosters.
• If Seattle gets approved as an expansion city, the Thunder will give the franchise history back to the SuperSonics, sources tell ESPN in an overview of the expansion process. Oklahoma City’s owners already seem to view the Thunder as a separate enterprise, the authors add, declining to hang a banner for Seattle’s 1979 championship and listing Russell Westbrook as the team’s career assists leader rather than Gary Payton.