Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC has been on quite a run the last three seasons. Since the beginning of the 2023 campaign, the Thunder owns the NBA’s best record at 189-57. The Thunder have won 50 games in each of the three seasons and 60 in the last two. They also won their first NBA title last season and nearly missed reaching the NBA Finals for the second straight season — falling to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
Now, the Thunder has to pay for their success. The Thunder begin the offseason with a salary cap allocation of over $250,000. Thus, putting them around $41.5 above the first apron.
OKC has 15 players under contract for next year. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will make $41.2 million as their extensions begin. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will also make over $40 million this upcoming season. All told, they have four players slated to make over $28 million and six slated to earn $17 million or more.
However, the Thunder do have some flexibility. Isaiah Hartenstein ($28.5 million), Lu Dort ($17.7 million) and Kenrich Williams ($7.16 million) have club options. Ajay Mitchell has a $1.5 million partial guarantee, while his $2.85 million salary is fully guaranteed at the end of the month. The Thunder will definitely guarantee Mitchell’s deal.
OKC has three draft picks in the upcoming draft, including two first-round selections (No. 12 and No. 17). The Thunder have already made it known that they have no intention of making both of their first-round picks. The Thunder can get close to the tax line by declining the options of Hartenstein and Dort and letting them become free agents. If they opted to decline Hartenstein’s and Dort’s options, the Thunder could do the same with Kenrich Williams’ option and re-sign him at a more friendly deal.
The Thunder may decide to trade Hartenstein for future assets. But only the Bulls, Nets, Pistons, and Lakers could potentially absorb his salary.
Possible Potential Trade
OKC Receives
Detroit Receives
2026 No. 17 Pick
The Thunder would save $13.5 million in cap space and receive a solid backup big who excels at protecting the rim. Meanwhile, the Pistons would get an asset at No. 17 and add an offensive big man, which they desperately need. In this case, the Thunder would still need to waive Dort and Williams to get below the second apron.
