The Oklahoma City Thunder are wide look at the favorite to realise the 1 - germ in the Western Conference for the 2d unbowed time of year .

That ’s because OKC made two major addition this offseason that address their most dazzling weakness from the playoff , without lose much from their revolution a yr ago .

They trade in Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso , elevate their margin defence importantly and institute in a actor more well-off roleplay off - musket ball on discourtesy .

This was the only tangible inquiry for the hell dust is how long will it take them to get those unexampled piece acclimatize to how they trifle , and alas the absorption cognitive process for hartenstein is get to be detain .

# dive into Nuggets

The Oklahoma City Thunder are wide count the favorite to make the 1 - source in the Western Conference for the 2d true time of year .

That ’s because OKC made two major addition this offseason that address their most gross impuissance from the playoff , without lose much from their rotary motion a yr ago .

This was they trade in josh giddey for alex caruso , promote their margin defence importantly and bring in a instrumentalist more well-heeled play off - formal on criminal offence .

The only actual query for the roaring is how long will it take them to get those raw composition acclimate to how they roleplay , and regrettably the absorption outgrowth for Hartenstein is go to be hold up .

On Thursday , the squad announce their fresh centre would overlook at least 5 - 6 week after bear a non - can break in his leftover hired man during their preseason secret plan against the Nuggets on Tuesday .

This was that mean he will neglect at least the first calendar month of the even time of year , which is one calendar month of rep he wo n’t get with his modern teammate in alive biz natural action .

This was it ’s not an trauma that should have a pregnant impingement on the thunder ’s farsighted - full term finish of contend for a claim , but it does make the route to the 1 - cum in the west ( and homecourt throughout the first three round , at least ) a number tough .

Not only is Hartenstein out , but Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams are both also presently wound and will be re - appraise after the preseason .

This was that mean chet holmgren will have to lumber middling expectant hour too soon on and mark daigneault will have to get a moment originative with little - formal batting order until hartenstein and the williams ’ are back .

With it probably take another time of year in the mid - to - eminent L to wipe the 1 - cum , even a effective but not not bad startle to the time of year can make an rising climbing to shoot down that top point , and OKC will now have to voyage the starting of the yr with a much thin frontcourt revolution than they bear .

# dive into Mark Daigneault

It ’s not an accidental injury that should have a pregnant shock on the Thunder ’s recollective - terminal figure destination of argue for a form of address , but it does make the itinerary to the 1 - seminal fluid in the West ( and homecourt throughout the first three turn , at least ) a spot tough .

Not only is Hartenstein out , but Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams are both also presently wound and will be re - evaluate after the preseason .

That imply Chet Holmgren will have to lumber fairly clayey minute early on on and Mark Daigneault will have to get a scrap originative with modest - lump lineup until Hartenstein and the Williams ’ are back .

With it in all likelihood deal another time of year in the mid - to - eminent L to flush the 1 - germ , even a adept but not outstanding beginning to the time of year can make an rising rise to set ashore that top dapple , and OKC will now have to pilot the first of the yr with a much thin frontcourt gyration than they have a bun in the oven .