2020–21 Oklahoma City Thunder season

Power forward Al Horford, who was acquired by the Thunder via trade on December 8, 2020, also missed the playoffs for the first time in his 14-year career.

After falling to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2019 NBA playoffs, the Thunder started a rebuilding process following the Paul George and Russell Westbrook trades.

In the trades, the Thunder received veteran Chris Paul, promising rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and seven future first-rounders and four pick swaps.

[3] Before a March 11 game against the Utah Jazz, Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 prior to tip-off in Oklahoma City.

[7] The pick was top-20 protected and was conveyed when Mike Muscala hit a game winner against the Miami Heat in the 2019-20 season.

[14][15] The Thunder started this offseason to reposition and rebuild for the future after a surprising 2019-20 season that saw a playoff appearance following the trades of Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

On November 16, the Thunder traded All-Star Chris Paul and Abdel Nader to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio and a 2022 first-round pick.

[17]We want to thank Chris for the contributions he has made to the Thunder and the Oklahoma City community both this season and during his initial tenure in 2005-06 with the Hornets.

Schröder led the league in points scored off the bench and finished second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting.

On and off the floor, Steven contributed to our teams and community in unique ways and his place in Thunder history is secured.

[30][31] The same day on November 24, the Thunder signed-and-traded Danilo Gallinari and cash considerations to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for a protected 2025 second-round pick while generating another trade exception worth $19.5 million.

[32][33] On November 25, the Thunder traded Jalen Lecque, originally acquired from the Suns, to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for T. J.

[38] Horford, who signed a four-year, $109 million deal, did not fit with Joel Embiid saw his role diminished and was eventually removed from the starting lineup.

Deonte Burton, Danilo Gallinari, Devon Hall, Kevin Hervey, Nerlens Noel and Andre Roberson were set to hit free agency.

On September 21, Kevin Hervey signed a contract with the Russian team Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League.

[40] Hervey was originally set to reach free agency in fall but the Thunder let him out of his contract early to be lined up with an international team.

[44] Burton, Hall and Roberson who were not re-signed, joined the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League, Brose Bamberg and the Brooklyn Nets respectively.

Daigneault spent five seasons as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue accumulating three consecutive division titles and four playoff appearances including a franchise-record 34 wins.