Windhorst hints Thunder could bring back a former player

The Thunder lost 2 starters in one night, and the trade chatter started right away. ESPN's resident cryptic guy got there first.

NBACentral

@TheDunkCentral

Brian Windhorst hints that the Oklahoma City Thunder could potentially bring back a former player 👀 “And this is one thing I’ve talked to executives about, and I don’t mean to be cryptic, but I’m being cryptic… if they're going to acquire a player, would not be a surprise, if they acquire a player they've already had.” (Via Hoop Collective / h/t @JPOSU )

Here's what OKC is dealing with. In a 108-101 win over the Clippers on October 26, Williams fractured his left fibula and dislocated his left ankle with 1:14 left in the 4th quarter. Wallace tore the labrum in his left shoulder in the same game. Both need surgery, and the team won't set a timetable for either until the operations are done. That's 2 All-Defensive guys gone from a team that came into the season as co-favorites to win the title.

On the same Hoop Collective episode, Windhorst laid out how the Thunder could do it. He expects OKC to apply for a disabled player exception and get it, which would give them about $14 million to sign a player or trade for one. The catch is that any player they trade for with it can only have 1 year left on his deal. He also said the Thunder probably won't use it, because the roster is already expensive. So read the former player comment as something executives are guessing at, not a deal that's coming.

Sam Presti isn't showing his hand. Asked what comes next, the Thunder GM said he doesn't know yet, but he leaned hard on the idea that this team and this city can take a punch.

Justin Martinez

@Justintohoops

“This is what we’re built for.” Sam Presti doesn’t yet know what the Thunder will do next after its wave of injuries. But he knows the team, and the city, will get through it. My story on his recent media availability: t.co/HgaPWToxDw

That fits how Presti has always worked. He doesn't panic-trade, and he tends to wait until the picture is clear before he moves. Bringing back a guy who already knows the system and the locker room is about as Presti as a move gets, because a familiar face can play right away with no learning curve. That's probably why Windhorst's sources wouldn't be surprised by it.

Inside the locker room, the message after shootaround was simple. Bennett Stirtz put it in 1 word.

Justin Martinez

@Justintohoops

Bennett Stirtz on how OKC is handling its recent injuries: “I think one word is just togetherness. Every team right now, there are lots of injuries in the NBA, so we’re not the only one dealing with it. It sounds bad, but it’s on to the next, and we’ve just got to be there for teammates.”

For now, what to watch is whether the disabled player exception gets approved and whether Presti actually uses it. If a familiar name shows up in OKC, Windhorst will get his I-told-you-so. If nothing happens, the minutes go to the guys already on the roster, and Presti bets once again that his depth can carry a contender through a rough stretch.