Thunder projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Oklahoma City Thunder starting center: Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren was the No. 2 pick last summer and he probably should’ve been No. 1 (Paolo Banchero’s excellent rookie season complicates the argument, but Holmgren was the better prospect). It could take him time to shake off the rust of a year away from the game, but Holmgren should immediately exert a huge positive influence over OKC.

The Thunder’s lack of a true center last season was their biggest weakness. There simply wasn’t anybody to deter dribble penetration and protect the rim. Holmgren is all of seven feet with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and truly special defensive instincts. He can slide his feet in space, muck up actions with his length, or float off of non-shooters and operate as a help-side defender next to another big.

OKC will probably get another center on the floor with Holmgren on a regular basis for the sake of preservation: he’s still extremely skinny and there’s definite concern over his ability to hold up in more physical post battles. He added weight over the past year, but even in Summer League he was frequently bumped off his spot, both defensively and on drives to the rim offensively.

That said, Holmgren’s impact extends beyond the defensive end. He’s a buttery shooter with real upside attacking closeouts, facing up on the perimeter, and creating — both for himself and others — off drives. He’s very fluid and he’s a fan of running the floor in transition, an attribute Josh Giddey will frequently reward him for. If Holmgren pans out as expected, he could be the piece that pushes OKC from good to great.

Primary backup center: Jaylin Williams

Not to be confused with Jalen Williams. OKC’s second-round pick from a year ago was yet another pleasant surprise unearthed by Sam Presti and the front office. He was a year-one starter for a play-in team.

Williams is a bit of an oddball player who probably doesn’t project as a starter long-term, but he’s a skilled passer for his position who loves to throw his weight around on the interior. He shot a fair amount of 3s last season and he’s enough of a positional defender to stay on the floor, even if his lack of height and lateral quickness ultimately caps his ceiling.

Other players who could receive minutes at center: Aleksej Pokusevski, Usman Garuba, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl