With all the big signings that the Oklahoma City Thunder have made this offseason, it does seem that the team is eagerly on the prowl to make a chase for the league championship in the coming season as well. But is the Branden Carlson signing the best move they’ve managed to pull off so far?

In case you didn’t notice, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren have all been signed to major extension deals. There are also minor deals to the likes of Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell. While the rest of the squad are still under contract and will be in the roster for the next two or three years, it does seem that two-way deals matter in this team as well.

Interestingly, rookie Brooks Barnhizer has already taken one of the three two-way spots for the Thunder. Carlson, who played last season for the Thunder’s majestic campaign, also headlines the next two-way deal that the Thunder can field for the upcoming 2025-26 season. While this is not a big move, this stands as the best signing that the Thunder has made this offseason.

Carlson is a High-Potential Player

Two-way players are given a chance to play a set number of games in a regular season and are ineligible for postseason action. Usually, these slots are given to players who are somewhat deserving of a deal but can only show up in limited games. This is still a better proposition than a 10-day contract or a five-game show contract. 

So in Carlson’s case, it puts OKC in a cost-efficient situation with the way he has played. In the previous season, Carlson was a great performer in 32 games for the Thunder in his rookie run, and had it not been for the structure of the team’s roster, the big man would have probably made it to the rotation for the team’s playoff campaign as well.

Whenever he plays double-digit minutes, Carlson averages 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. If you are not impressed, the big man put up 26 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists in 38 minutes when he played against the New Orleans Pelicans in the season finale.

Carlson is also one of the modern-day bigs of the NBA – who can play as a rim protector and create spacing opportunities on the floor with his stretch offense and the ability to hit the three. These attributes were well on display on the court as he proved to be one of the reliable performers that the Thunder can rely on.

A Potential Permanent Big Man

Carlson’s presence on the court is invaluable; he has proven to be a capable big man in his own right, even registering a +9.4 net rating in his debut campaign as well. However, what makes him a great signing for the team is that he can also deliver impressive performances, potentially securing a permanent spot in the team in the long run.

That being said, incoming rookie Thomas Sorber is an impressive selection for OKC, but then the Thunder could well use Carlson more should the rookie center find it hard to adjust in the NBA and spend more time in getting acclimated with the pros.

Securing Carlson in a two-way deal that doesn’t require much of the Thunder’s payroll says a lot about the bright move that they just made even in the two-way slots. It is another proof of how the Thunder’s future remains so bright at this point in time.