It’s never good when you receive a medical update email — especially in the middle of the offseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Friday that Thomas Sorber sustained a torn ACL and will miss the entire 2025-26 season.
Just brutal news that continues the improbable trend of Thunder players who’ve missed their first season due to injury. Sorber joins Chet Holmgren and Nikola Topic in that unfortunate club. No real positive spin to this, just a bummer as the 19-year-old misses an entire season before training camp even started.
Now, how do the Thunder pivot?
While the ACL tear is a major setback for Sorber, the Thunder should be able to overcome his absence in the 2025-26 season. He was buried on the depth chart behind Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams. All three will play all of the center minutes after they helped OKC capture an NBA championship.
But somebody who could take advantage of the limited minutes Sorber likely would’ve played is Branden Carlson. The 26-year-old is back on a two-way deal. The Thunder ensured that’d happen when they tendered a qualifying offer to him this past offseason.
Carlson is the only two-way player from last season who was brought back. Jumping up to the fourth-string center could help him eventually be converted to a standard deal. The seven-footer impressed in his limited time last season. He was a stretch center who dominated in the G League.
And while Carlson is still a while away from playing consistent minutes, Mark Daigneault has shown he’s willing to give the bottom of the depth chart weeks of games where they’re in the rotation. Not only has it helped uncover hidden gems, but it also helps the top of the roster navigate the grueling 82-game regular-season schedule and keep relatively fresh legs by the time the playoffs roll around.
There are also impromptu opportunities you have to account for. Injuries happen. It’s part of the NBA. The Thunder saw that firsthand when Holmgren, Hartenstein and Williams juggled through their respective injuries. Heck, Carlson’s season highlight was a result of this scenario.
When the Thunder blew out the Cleveland Cavaliers in Jan. 2025, Carlson had 11 points and four rebounds off the bench. It was a surprise contribution as OKC was without Holmgren and Hartenstein due to injuries. More of those chances can come again with Sorber out of the picture.
You never want to see anybody get injured — especially to Sorber’s severity. But with his vacuum of minutes vacated, Carlson could be the prime beneficiary as someone who could see a larger role than they anticipated.