The Thunder’s starting five has been one of the offseason’s bigger talking points, and Ajay Mitchell might be the piece that settles it.
For years, Oklahoma City has leaned on a familiar group when everyone is healthy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort have started every game they’ve played together over the past three seasons, giving the Thunder a stable core even as injuries forced constant shuffling around them.
The fifth spot, though, has never felt fully locked in. Josh Giddey filled it in 2023-24, then Isaiah Hartenstein held it over the past two years. That kind of continuity at the top has made the conversation around the last starting job especially interesting this offseason.
Now there’s a real chance that spot changes again next season. Dort’s dip in performance last year has led to speculation that Cason Wallace could move into the lineup, especially with Wallace’s reputation as a defensive force and the possibility of a significant payday this offseason.
Still, the clearest answer might be Mitchell. He emerged as a secondary star next to Gilgeous-Alexander for much of the 2026 postseason and has already put himself in position to be viewed as a potential star in the league. That kind of rise makes him a natural candidate for Mark Daigneault’s starting five.
There’s also a strong case for keeping Mitchell in his current role. He can score, create offense and take over stretches on his own, which makes him a major weapon for the second unit. Starting him would also mean Oklahoma City’s three defensive guards would all be coming off the bench.
Mitchell was already in the mix for Sixth Man of the Year last season, and he’s become one of the league’s best reserves. His production was especially important when Williams missed most of the playoffs, and he helped carry the Thunder through the first two rounds.
So the debate is real: Mitchell could be one of the team’s five best players, and that alone makes him a strong fit for the starting group. But the way Oklahoma City is built, and the culture around the roster, could still make him the ideal spark off the bench.
Either way, Mitchell is expected to be one of the Thunder’s top five players next season, and he may end up making Daigneault’s lineup decision a lot simpler.
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One Thunder Offseason Move Says Everything About OKCs Title Defense
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The result has been a transformational summer that says plenty about where Oklahoma City believes it is right now. This is a champion trying to stay young, deep and flexible at the same time, even if that means parting with useful rotation help like Aaron Wiggins and Joe and making some uncomfortable choices around the margins. For a team with title defense on its mind, the bigger question is how far it can keep threading that needle without losing the feel that made the first run work. [Read more 🡒]