Joe posted a heartfelt message on Instagram thanking the Thunder organization, his coaches and teammates, and the Oklahoma City fans after his trade to the Detroit Pistons became official. The post drew public reactions from several Thunder players, including Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, Brooks Barnhizer, and Thomas Sorber.
“It’s been 4 of the dopest years,” Joe wrote. “To my coaches, teammates, and everybody within the walls of the organization, thank you for all that you’ve done for me.”
Joe also thanked Thunder fans, expressing that he would miss playing in front of them and adding, “We got to achieve the impossible! Wouldn’t trade the memories that we shared for anything.”
The farewell followed the Thunder completing a trade that sent Joe to Detroit in exchange for two future second-round picks. Reports of the deal surfaced on June 26 and became official on July 6.
Reactions from teammates were simple but meaningful. Holmgren responded with a series of hand emojis, Caruso replied with clapping and hand emojis, and Barnhizer and Sorber offered their own supportive comments. The tone reflected a respectful, graduation-like moment rather than a messy departure or a player venting after a trade. Joe’s message read as a genuine thank-you to a franchise where he revived and expanded his NBA career.
Joe was more than a role player in Oklahoma City. He developed into one of the Thunder’s notable stories after arriving from the Philadelphia 76ers and carving out a role on a team that grew into a contender. He averaged a career-high 11.1 points while shooting 42.3% from three-point range in 71 games last season. He also contributed to the Thunder’s 2024-25 championship success, giving his farewell added weight for fans who watched him become part of the team’s rise.
The emotional departure is part of a broader roster shift. Oklahoma City also traded Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks during the same offseason, in a move that involved future second-round picks after Wiggins helped contribute to the title run. This context makes Joe’s goodbye feel less like an isolated transaction and more a component of sustaining a deep, expensive roster. Joe had been on a four-year, $48 million contract, with a $12.36 million salary for the 2025-26 season.
For Detroit, the appeal is straightforward: Joe provides a proven movement shooter who can space the floor and fit alongside ball-dominant creators. For Oklahoma City, the move clears money and roster space while acquiring draft assets. Yet for Thunder fans, the farewell still feels personal.
Joe’s message resonated because it acknowledged the bond he built in Oklahoma City. He thanked the organization, praised the fans for embracing him, and highlighted the championship memories that now define the Thunder era. The teammate responses reinforced that point, signaling that Joe left Oklahoma City respected by the locker room.
That is the stronger narrative than the trade itself. Joe is gone, but his goodbye showcased why he became a fan favorite and why his former teammates were quick to honor him with supportive messages.
