Hall of Famer Chris Webber: Why OKC Should NOT Trade Chet Holmgren

With the Thunder bounced from the Finals by the Spurs, Rich posed a blockbuster hypothetical to Chris Webber: if Sam Presti could ship Chet Holmgren, his contract and a pile of picks to Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo, pairing him with SGA and Oklahoma City's young core, does he pull the trigger?

Webber wondered aloud whether Milwaukee would even do it, then landed firmly on no.

His counter was that he would try to convince Milwaukee to take all of his picks and let him keep Holmgren instead. To Webber, Holmgren is a once-in-a-generation body, one of only two in the league alongside Wembanyama, a big man that fluid and mobile.

He was honest about the expectations, though. Webber never thought Holmgren was better than Wembanyama, and he was not surprised Holmgren did not pour in points in the Game 7 loss. That, he said, is on the media for projecting a player he has never been.

The key is the role. Webber's point is that Holmgren does not have to be the man. If he is your third-best player, that is a luxury, the same kind the Knicks enjoy with Karl-Anthony Towns alongside OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson. Put Holmgren in that slot next to Giannis, and Webber could barely fathom scoring over that frontcourt. It would be the best length in the league, and the thought of it scares him.

So the math is simple for Webber. Oklahoma City already has young players on the bench, and picks are replaceable. A second once-in-a-generation big is not. Keep Chet.