​For the first time in a couple of summers, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to recast their complementary pieces. You can’t keep the same roster forever. Especially in the NBA. This group experienced that for the first time this offseason as they said goodbye to Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.Getting underneath the dreadful second apron, the Thunder had to make three cost-cutting moves. Out go Dort, Joe and Wiggins. In come seven future second-round picks. Three of OKC’s best recent developmental stories head out East. Dort and Wiggins went to the Atlanta Hawks and Joe to the Detroit Pistons.Even with weighted hearts, don’t think anybody was surprised to see the Thunder shake up their role players. When you read out their future team payrolls, think this summer was circled as one where changes were inevitable. And considering how the NBA playoffs ended, it was obvious that all three would likely get moved out as they were phased out of the rotation.Chet Holmgren was the latest to give his reaction to OKC’s cost-cutting summer. The All-NBA talent talked at a USA Basketball Foundation charity event in Southern California. He had a breakout season last year, but his no-show outing in the 2026 Western Conference Finals soured things for a lot of folks.”It’s like losing a family member. That’s how the business of this game goes,” Holmgren said. “No team, all 17 guys, sticks together forever. But it doesn’t make it hurt less when you see guys go. At the same time, I’m excited for them and the opportunity they’re going to have in Atlanta. I’m happy for whatever major milestones they reach over there.”Enjoying spotless roster continuity, the Thunder won an NBA championship with those three players. They all developed and played their best years in OKC. Now, they’re hoping other players can step up and make the difference — such as Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain.That said, OKC’s title odds start and stop with its pillars. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Jalen Williams headline their roster. The two-time MVP winner and his two All-NBA teammates should keep the Thunder in the championship conversation for the foreseeable future. The rest of the roster’s job is to help them out.We’ll see how things shake out, but the Thunder enter the 2026-27 regular season with some excitement. Fresh faces add some excitement. For better or worse remains to be seen. But if OKC can continue to be one of the NBA’s best developmental programs, it shouldn’t miss a hitch as a win machine. Holmgren is banking on that.”I have complete trust in our team and the moves they make,” Holmgren said. “I trust what they’re doing is to get it right. It’s my job to be in the gym all summer to get my stuff right.”Chet Holmgren on the Thunder trading Dort, Joe, Wiggins: “Man, it’s like losing a family member. That’s how the business of this game goes. No team, all 17 guys stick together forever. But it doesn’t make it hurt less when you see guys go.” pic.twitter.