It should not be surprising that Oklahoma City Thunder has become one of the full championship contenders and one of the most vibrant teams in the NBA.
The organization began a retiring process when it sent Paul George to Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, which received the current MVP candidate, Shai Gilgus Alexander, and two years later, bent in construction through the draft, both used Russell West Brook Trade of Houston.
As a result, the only thing is that the teams have been very appealing to build through the draft, as Thunder has created most of their opportunities by choosing Jillon Williams and Chat Holmagran, both of which are now scoring Oklahoma City’s large 3 with Guljis Alexander.
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During his reconstruction years, the Thunder took a lot of swing. They killed some and remembered others. It was always going to happen. General Manager Sam Prestati fully realized that the path to success was through volume when building through the draft.
The more cut in the apple, the better.
What has happened since the establishment of Big 3 is interesting. The thunder kept hitting the kind.
He used Josh Gadhi, the former sixth overall choice he realized he was good, but for him to start long -term, it was never good to get Alex Keroso from Chicago, which added one of the league’s best character players and guards to a team that was already a lot of star power.
He hit a small Keroso Clone, a Draft Day Deal for Caswan Walis, with the ability to be even better aggressive.
A total of 55th draft was developed in 2021, Aaron Wigns, now playing for more than 22 minutes per night.
Even outside the draft, the team in 2022, who was tied to a low -risk signature when he was forgiven by Philadelphia. Which is now playing for more than 20 minutes in each game for the Thunder.
And finally, he signed Isaiah Hurton Stein last summer to easily eliminate the depth of his center and show a massive manner in the league that he was not disturbing.
Therefore, thunderstorms know how to achieve capabilities. Full stops they dominate the draft, trade smart and use the free agent pool wisely. This is all high level roster construction.
However …
They still have a draft choice, and after the end of this season, both Holmegran and William become eligible for expansion.
Thus, the reason is that the thunder may need to make some changes- both short and long-term- to maintain its primary core while maintaining an economically responsible auxiliary cast.
So let’s take a look at which players can have a future with a thunder and who can get a safe place from now on.
OKC’s big 3
In the near future, the next season runs in the near future, as both Holmegran and Williams will be on new, more expensive deals at the beginning of the 2026-27 season.
No need to say, all three stars of OKC should be protected. When you need to prevail over the MVP candidate guard, the Swiss Army Knife All Star Wing and the bilateral force at the center, you have to go crazy to give up it.
This brings us to the second wave of players who are making a lot of money.
Seas Isaiah Horton Stein, 26
Prestati established the Thunder well with Hotton Einstein’s contract, which has the team’s option in Holmagran and Williams the same summer and will mobilize their new contracts.
However, if the option of providing financial flexibility in the thunder has decreased, there is no guarantee that Horton Einstein will return to a small price.
However, Horton Einstein will be able to expand the same summer. Therefore, the Thunder can offer a long -term contract to the center at a lower annual salary, which makes a difference in the years against the timely balloon agreement.
He said, Hurton Einstein – and maybe – could order his own future to be the offsoon. If another team is willing to pay a $ 30 million contract, which is now being paid, it will be difficult for Oklahoma City to justify such compensation.
Small -term safe: Yes
Long -term secure: Not
G. Alex Karoso, 31
Keroso is another name that is interesting. Thunder has already extended it, as it has signed a four -year deal worth $ 81 million, guaranteed and without any options.
Despite his other universal influence on the court, the 31 -year -old is often injured. Its contract does not expire until 2029, which is a lot of time for cheap alternatives – especially the choice of future drafts – to develop and exceed it by then.
Being a Wallis Keroso architect, the Thunder can eventually see the Scraper Guard as expenses if he thinks his salary is stopping his hat sheet.
For now, though, she is sticking. Keroso is widely seen as a major assistant in winning basketball, so the Thunder is not a hurry to get away from it.
Small -term safe: Yes
Long -term secure: Not
G/F
Dort is another two -way frame player that receives a decent salary without the burst of his hat.
The 25 -year -old fits the Big Big 3 profile and has earned this season .5 16.5 million and in each of the next two years .2 is earning 17.2 million.
The Prestati and the Front Office worked in the team’s option for 2026-27, but seeing that Dort is a full-time starter that can later scales Keroso’s trade technically, it is difficult to see the scene where it is moving, unless it is in great stability trade.
When you are on this type of minor deal, you do not easily abandon Dort’s ability and age players.
Small -term safe: Yes
Long -term secure: Yes
Yes Aaron Wigns, 25
The same logic applies to the wiggus, which is one of the league’s most cap friendly role players.
The ability to shoot and defend with real position size at 6 feet -6 of Wiggins is all major assets. The fact is that it is on a contract that falls in the annual price-in this season .50.5 million from 2028-29 rose $ 7.9 million-it is clearly ridiculous.
For this last season, the Thunder has an option on it, and when they could play well and raise it already, they probably should not do so. At the end of the deal, the wiggus will be 30 years old, and it may be okay to allow it to test the market at this time.
Oklahoma City should keep it until the end of the deal and should not think twice.
Small -term safe: Yes
Long -term secure: Yes
Yes Isaiah, 25
Whatever is on the falling contract, but less than wiggus is lower as the Thunder has the team’s option in 2027.
Straight Sadies: A rock solid bench scorer and amazingly expert protector and healthy for his position, but he is not invaluable.
The Thunder can choose to remain fully with her and be fine with her, but she can also use as a commercial fodder to clean the minutes, or to make the roster more run for the latter.
Don’t make a mistake in it. Which is on a value contract, and last summer it has earned a good four years and Million for 48 million. But if losing can help prevent the thunder from other aprils, OKC can justify trading it.
Small -term safe: Yes
Long -term secure: Not
G Caston Walis, 21
Finally, the roster is the most interesting young player who is not part of the important three.
Wallyis is a hyper -effective bilateral guard that not only projects as an elite protector, but also an effective scorer that can play hair players.
However, it can be very expensive. But if the Thunder finally moves away from Keroso and Jo to clean the runway for Walvis, perhaps speaking to Prestety and the Front Office Walis financially, they will be willing to become an important luxury.
Under the line, as it is firm, as a Walis projects, as someone who looks essential to winning the title. In this way, his fate should be straightforward.
Small -term safe: Yes
Long -term secure: Yes
