Nikola Topic may have just found the kind of opening that can change his place in Oklahoma City.
The buzz around the Thunder is that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants to become more of an off-ball enforcer heading into the 2026-27 season. For most teams, that kind of development from a superstar would be a problem for everyone else. For Topic, it could be the exact break he needs.
His road has already been rough. Topic missed his entire first season because of a torn ACL, then was sidelined for a large chunk of his second because of testicular cancer.
That alone made it hard to break into the regular rotation. Add in the fact that he profiles as a traditional on-ball floor general on a roster already built around an on-ball force in Gilgeous-Alexander, and the minutes picture gets even tighter.
That’s why this latest Shai wrinkle matters.
Whether Gilgeous-Alexander is operating with the ball or moving without it, he remains the Thunder’s primary scoring threat. That means Oklahoma City is always looking for ways to get him clean looks at the basket, and Topic has the kind of passing chops that could help make that happen.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic had built a reputation as a lottery lock and a possible top-five pick before the knee injury changed the conversation. His appeal came from quick processing and natural playmaking. At 18, in his final season with Crvena Zvezda, he averaged 5.5 assists per game.
His Stateside sample has been limited because of the health issues, but the flashes have been there. Last season with the G League affiliate OKC Blue, he posted a team-best 7.8 assists per game. Then, when he got a starting opportunity for the Thunder in the final two games of the 2025-26 regular season, he averaged 12.5 assists.
If Gilgeous-Alexander is serious about expanding his off-ball game, pairing him with the Thunder’s best passer might be the cleanest way to make it work. For Topic, that could be the path to real minutes.
In Other News...
Thunder Quietly Shaped The Jaylen Brown Blockbuster In A Big Way
The Thunders deadline move for Jared McCain ended up carrying more ripple effect than a typical guard swap. By taking McCain off Philadelphias books ahead of the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline, Oklahoma City helped clear some of the financial clutter that had been hanging over the 76ers as they weighed a major swing for Jaylen Brown.
For Philadelphia, the appeal was not just about adding a star, but about making the math work without running into a messier future cap picture. Oklahoma City obviously was not shopping McCain with Brown in mind, but the deal helped create the kind of flexibility that can decide whether a blockbuster gets done, and that is the sort of behind-the-scenes impact the Thunder have been making more often than not. [Read more 🡒]
Another Former Thunder Prospect Is Finally Getting The Chance OKC Couldn't
Oklahoma Citys roster churn has a way of turning promising young pieces into footnotes, and Chris Youngblood became one of those names after spending time on a two-way contract with the Thunder. The teams financial squeeze has already pushed it to move on from veterans such as Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, a reminder that even useful depth can become hard to keep when the books tighten and the pipeline keeps moving.
Youngblood, though, has found a different opening with Portland. After being waived in February, he signed a two-way deal with the Trail Blazers and is expected to get meaningful minutes on their Summer League roster, a chance to show the kind of perimeter scoring that stood out in the G-League with the Rip City Remix, where he averaged 22 points while shooting 44.8% from three over seven games. For a player whose path never really opened in Oklahoma City, this is the sort of stage that can at least start to change the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs May Have Found An Edge Thunder Fans Wont Like
Victor Wembanyamas next contract is already shaping up to be one of the leagues most closely watched decisions, and not just because of the money attached to it. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Spurs are operating with the kind of long-term flexibility that contenders dream about, with the idea being that a little room now could help them keep the right pieces around their franchise center for years to come.
For Oklahoma City, that is the part worth monitoring. The Thunder have built their rise around a young core and a deep roster, but the economics get tighter fast once multiple max-level deals start stacking up, and the league has a way of punishing even the best front offices when the bill comes due. If San Antonio can preserve its edge by thinking ahead on the cap, it only sharpens the challenge for a Thunder team that may have to navigate the same balancing act sooner than it would like. [Read more 🡒]