NBA Trade Rumors: 4 Centers the OKC Thunder Can Target to Replace Holmgren

It's another devastating injury for young Oklahoma City Thunder star big man Chet Holmgren. After missing his entire rookie season with a foot injury, he exploded onto the scene last year with a tremendous freshman season, finishing 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting to Victor Wembanyama.

Now, the Thunder are faced with another significant absence for Holmgren, as their phenom will be out eight to ten weeks with a hip fracture.

They signed center Isaiah Hartenstein to a free agent deal in the offseason for some depth in the middle, though he is still recovering from a pre-season hand injury. He is expected back in the next 10-14 days.

But make no mistake, the Thunder need some more depth in the pivot, and we can suggest that they look at these 4 potential targets, all still free agents:

Bismack Biyombo

Biz did get a look-see with the Thunder late last season, but it wasn't much of a look. The free agent center got into 10 games off the bench, but averaged just 7.3 minutes per game playing behind Holmgren and Jaylin Williams. Perhaps they try to give Biyombo another look in OKC. He won't provide any of the lost offense from Holmgren, but he could protect the rim a bit.

Robin Lopez

Another longtime NBA vet, the less-impactful Lopez brother hasn't gotten much run in the Association the past couple of years, playing in only 16 games last year and 37 the year before, averaging single-digit minutes. But he can handle himself in limited floor time.

JaVale McGee

Don't laugh. He does know how to win. McGee has three championship rings, two with the Golden State Warriors (2017 & '18) and one with the LA Lakers (2020). No, he didn't play huge roles on any of them, but his veteran presence can't be dismissed. He last played in the NBA last season with the Sacramento Kings, getting into 46 games.

Olivier Sarr

Yes, the 7-footer had three years in a row to show what he could do in OKC, and was never able to make an impact. Do they give him one more shot, as he knows the system at least and won't need much ramping up? Last year, Sarr played in just 15 games, and averaged just 6.5 minutes in those limited appearances.