Even when the Oklahoma City Thunder don’t full any extra trades earlier than Thursday’s deadline, they’re set to make a significant addition to their lineup this week.
Large man Chet Holmgren, who has been sidelined for practically three months resulting from a proper iliac wing fracture, is not on the group’s harm report and is predicted to make his return on Friday vs. Toronto, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Holmgren suffered the harm on November 10 when he fell awkwardly on his aspect after making an attempt to contest an Andrew Wiggins shot on the rim. Oklahoma Metropolis announced the next day that he could be reevaluated in eight to 10 weeks.
The Thunder followed up in mid-January to say Holmgren’s subsequent examination would are available in roughly three to 5 weeks. Precisely three weeks after the group made that announcement, the 2024 Rookie of the 12 months runner-up will reportedly be again on the courtroom on Friday.
Holmgren averaged 16.5 factors, 7.9 rebounds and a pair of.3 blocks in 29.4 minutes per recreation throughout 82 begins in his first full NBA season in 2023-24 after he missed his whole ’22-23 rookie 12 months resulting from a foot harm.
He had gotten off to a fair higher begin this fall, averaging 18.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and a pair of.9 BPG in 28.9 MPG throughout 9 wholesome outings, with a .519/.400/.776 taking pictures line.
Though the Thunder, who maintain a league-best 40-9 report, hardly wanted further reinforcements, Holmgren’s return is an thrilling growth for the membership, which nonetheless hasn’t gotten an opportunity to see the 22-year-old play alongside fellow large man Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC’s large free agent addition of the 2024 offseason. Hartenstein was recovering from an harm of his personal firstly of the season when Holmgren was wholesome.
