Oklahoma City won the 2025 NBA championship. Then the offseason arrived, and three of the pieces that helped build that title are gone. Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s All-Star center entering his fourth season, addressed those departures Saturday – and he did not pretend it was easy.
“It was like losing a family member,” Holmgren told reporters, as reported by ESPN. “But that’s how the business of this game goes.”
The players in question: Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins, both dealt to the Atlanta Hawks in separate transactions, and Isaiah Joe, who was traded to the Detroit Pistons. All three were contributors to Oklahoma City’s 2025 title run. The departures were salary-shedding moves by a front office that holds significant future pick capital and is betting on internal development over retention.
Who left and what they brought
Dort spent six seasons with the Thunder and built a reputation as one of the NBA’s premier wing defenders. His tenacity and reliability on that end of the floor gave Oklahoma City a defensive identity that went beyond the stats. Wiggins offered 3-and-D versatility and could handle playoff minutes without creating problems. Joe, a knockdown shooter who thrived in a complementary role, gave the Thunder spacing off the bench throughout the championship season.
Replacing that kind of reliability is not simple. Role players who understand their job in a winning system are harder to find than the highlights suggest. Oklahoma City is counting on a blend of younger players and remaining veterans to fill the gaps, backed by draft assets that give the organization long-term flexibility.
Holmgren’s place in the new Oklahoma City
Holmgren’s remarks reflect a maturity that fits the Thunder’s culture. At 24, he is now one of OKC’s longest-tenured players alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He acknowledged the business reality without any bitterness toward the organization – a posture that matters when a team is trying to stay together through change.
He is also entering a contract situation that will define the next phase of his career. A significant extension is expected. His voice in the locker room is growing, and how he navigates this transitional moment says something about the player Oklahoma City is building around.
Championship teams always face this kind of reckoning. The Thunder are no exception. They are defending a title with a reshaped roster, and their best player seems determined to set the right tone from the start of camp, per ESPN.
Source: ESPN – Holmgren: OKC’s departures were like losing family
