The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t signing former NBA lottery pick Ochai Agbaji, a sudden reversal after reports indicated he was headed to the team. The reason? They’re hitting pause to re-evaluate their open roster spot, especially after the latest update on Chet Holmgren’s knee injury.
Agbaji’s Deal Off the Table, Holmgren’s Timeline Set
ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped the news that the Thunder were initially planning to bring Agbaji on board. That move was supposed to shore things up after injuries stacked up: Jalen Williams is dealing with a fractured left fibula and a dislocated ankle, and guard Cason Wallace has a torn labrum. But then came the Holmgren bomb. The Thunder announced Friday night that Holmgren, who underwent a biological treatment for a small patellar tendon tear, won’t even be re-evaluated for another eight to ten weeks. That’s a huge blow, putting a much clearer, longer timeline on his absence and undoubtedly forcing the front office to rethink their whole strategy.
The Journey of a Former Lottery Pick
So, who is Ochai Agbaji, the guy who was almost a Thunder? He’s a former Kansas standout, drafted as a lottery pick. He signed an Exhibit 9 contract with the Knicks back in September but got waived on October 16. Over his four seasons in the league, Agbaji has played 263 games, starting 108 of them. He averages 7.2 points on 44.8 percent shooting from the field, including 33.9 percent from beyond the arc, plus 2.7 rebounds per game. His journey’s been a whirlwind, starting with the Cavaliers who drafted him, then trading him to the Utah Jazz as part of the blockbuster Donovan Mitchell deal. After a season and a half in Utah, the Jazz sent him to Toronto. Then, in February 2026, he landed with the Nets in a three-team trade that also involved the Los Angeles Clippers. He barely saw the floor for the Knicks in preseason, logging just 29 minutes across three games.
With Chet Holmgren out for at least another two months and the Agbaji signing off, the Thunder brass has a major decision on that open roster spot. Injuries to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace already had them reeling. Now, the question is how they navigate this unexpected setback and who, if anyone, steps up to fill the void.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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