This iteration of the Thunder is hitting its stride prematurely, which means all eyes are on the team this offseason.

The external anticipation has ballooned, with fans pleading for size or a star or anything that could push Oklahoma City that much closer to the NBA Finals.

In theory, the Thunder could have that kind of summer. After a deal that sent away Josh Giddey — whose minutes ultimately dwindled as the odd man out on last year’s 57-win team —  OKC acquired one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. Then it had a draft that backed the brand.

With suitable cap space and an improved core, the ball is in general manager Sam Presti’s court. Even if not drastic, the Thunder has needs and the assets to be imaginative.

The Oklahoman is delivering a free agency primer before things get underway Sunday evening.

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How much cap space does the Thunder have in 2024 NBA free agency?

The Thunder is expected to have roughly $30 million in cap space.

After declining Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins’ team options Saturday, there’s an expectation that the Thunder will eventually negotiate (or already has) long term deals for both. Neither of their cap holds exceeds $2.6 million.

Before either inks another deal, the Thunder can reach into its wallet to address any needs with an acquisition or two, with the ability to still sign Wiggins and Joe when the smoke clears.

Having brought in more money than it dealt away in the trade that sent Giddey to Chicago for Alex Caruso, OKC is hard-capped at the first apron.

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What are the Thunder’s needs in free agency?

Despite a thrilling core of perimeter defenders and decision makers, the Thunder still lacks some size. It might not ever be a team that boasts traditional size or the attributes that come with — Presti told media in May that he didn’t want to sacrifice a top-five defense to lean into rebounding — but it’s current projected lineup runs just a bit small.

With Giddey gone, there’s a path to Jalen Williams being a true wing, and the team bringing in another big wing to play a definitive power forward spot. But the market is relatively thin for a team that requires so many checked boxes, with a playstyle that narrows its options.

The season also wasn’t very kind to rookie Chet Holmgren, who played the entirety of the grueling 82-game regular season, plus the playoffs. Adding some secondary rim protection, or simply a big man who could play spot minutes behind Holmgren would probably suffice. But that player would likely need to fit OKC’s five-out system.

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Who will the Thunder target in free agency?

Here are six targets (between a meager free agency pool and the trade market) that could potentially fill the gaps for a team staring down contention.

Jalen Smith, Indiana Pacers

Averages: 9.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 59.2% overall, 42.4% from 3 in 17.2 minutes.

Smith’s role inside a crowded Indiana backcourt has become questionable, but the fit is fairly easy in Oklahoma City. At 6-foot-10, Smith is a true stretch big. Though his physical attributes have left him struggling to be a definitive four or five, it might benefit him with the Thunder.

Smith possesses the shooting ability to play beside Chet Holmgren and not clog space, and he possesses the size to either play behind Holmgren defensively or man the rim in spot minutes.

Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks

Averages: 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 64.4% overall in 25.3 minutes.

Hartenstein has been linked to the Thunder since season’s end, and for obvious reasons. Oklahoma City lacks traditional size, and while not the Thunder’s sole downfall, its presence on the glass in crucial moments and its rim protection with Holmgren out of plays became concerns. During a career year, Hartenstein was an aggressive, energetic rebounder and provided relief for an injury-laden New York squad.

His price tag is that of a starter, and his fit certainly isn’t perfect for the vision Presti has molded — versatility, fluidity, spacing. If those are costs you’re willing to live with in order to add a bruiser of a big man at the height of his role-playing career, Hartenstein is your guy.

Choosing Hartenstein, someone more traditional, is the red pill to a player like Jalen Smith’s blue pill. With everything Presti has said this offseason, it doesn’t feel like such a balanced decision from afar.

Caleb Martin, Miami Heat

Averages: 10 points, 4.4 rebounds, 43.1% overall, 34.9% from 3 in 27.4 minutes.

Martin is another name who’s been linked to OKC, though not nearly as much as Hartenstein.

His numbers don’t pop, and he isn’t a devastating shooter relative to the Thunder roster. But he was part of an unbelievable NBA Finals run just a year ago, when he emerged as one of Miami’s top scoring options. In a role in OKC, he’d presumably be faced with less pressure and expectations to be a wing that, with plenty lineups, would be made to play bigger than he is.

He might not be soaring atop the Thunder’s list of free agents, but too many of his contemporaries in this pool fit the bill even less than he does.

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OKC Thunder trade targets

Cam Johnson, Brooklyn Nets

Averages: 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 44.6% overall and 39.1% from 3 in 27.6 minutes.

Johnson is a 6-8 pluggable wing who’s already played a vital role on a contender — even if the Suns’ run was brief. His 6-8 isn’t everyone’s. He’s not a frightening rim presence, he’s not a demoralizing defender, and he isn’t the savior of the boards that Wayne Embry was.

But Johnson is every bit pluggable and easy to envision as part of the philosophy Presti has built this team on. He’ll provide space and be able to attack closeouts. His size isn’t as functional as others, but it’s at least worth noting. He should keep the Oklahoma City offense flowing without hiccups.

Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets

Averages: 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 42.1% overall and 34.8% from 3.

DFS doesn’t exactly overcorrect any of OKC’s rebounding issues either. But he possesses the size and skillset of someone who could fill the Thunder’s vacant power forward spot.

He’s not the shooter Johnson is, but he’s no less than average, and is at least a marginally better rebounder than Johnson. Despite a decline, DFS remains a positive defender.

Tari Eason, Houston Rockets

Averages: 9.8 points, 7 rebounds, 46.6% overall and 36% from 3.

At 23 years old, Eason fits the Thunder’s timeline. He’s a defensive playmaker, with good size at 6-8 to be versatile and disruptive. For as much as the Thunder enjoys running, Eason is great in transition. All while being a decent enough shooter to make teams react.

The Thunder would surely need to bet on his decision making, something it’s clearly prioritized through this build. But with the boxes Eason checks, it’s worth envisioning him in the Thunder’s system.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder in NBA free agency: Cap space priorities, names to watch