3 Winners from NBA free agency: Blazers' path to playoffs gets harder

Winner No. 3: Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder finished tied for the best record in the Western Conference and have improved their roster in multiple aspects this offseason, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league. They convinced coveted big man Isaiah Hartenstein to leave another contender in the New York Knicks, ultimately signing him to a three-year, $87 million deal.

Hartenstein is one of the most underappreciated centers in the league. It's an excellent signing for the Thunder, who needed to add another big man to play alongside Chet Holmgren to give them more lineup versatility.

The Hartenstein signing is significant come playoff time; the Thunder will likely run into a team with talented big men like the Timberwolves or Nuggets in the playoffs. Holmgren is too undersized to slow down someone like Nikola Jokic or Minnesota's trio of Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Adding more physicality solves one of their most glaring roster weaknesses and could be the thing that gets them to the Finals next year.

The Thunder aren't done yet—they still have roughly $8 million left in cap space and one roster spot remaining. They can pursue some promising role players still available on the free agency market, further solidifying their standing as one of the free agency winners.