The San Antonio Spurs just made a move that could ripple straight into Oklahoma City’s path next season.
While the Thunder have kept things relatively quiet this offseason, the rest of the league has been busy reshaping rosters. Oklahoma City has extended Isaiah Hartenstein, moved Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, and added some picks in the draft, but it hasn’t taken the kind of swing some contenders have been chasing. That’s why Wednesday’s deal between the Spurs and Tobias Harris stands out.
San Antonio agreed to a two-year, $31 million contract with Harris, a veteran addition that gives the Spurs another experienced piece as they try to build on their run to the conference finals. After beating the Thunder last season, the Spurs are clearly trying to reload and push toward the next level.
There’s risk here, no question. Harris will be 34 at the start of next season and is entering year 16 in the NBA.
But there’s also real upside in what he brings. Last season, he averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for a Detroit team that won 60 games and finished as the top seed in the East.
He has also shot 36.6% from deep for his career, and that kind of outside touch could matter for a Spurs team that leaned on perimeter shooting to get past Oklahoma City.
The fit could get interesting, too. Harris has started every game he’s played over the past nine seasons, which gives San Antonio another lineup wrinkle to manage after the starting five that carried the franchise to its first Finals in 12 years. At the same time, a bench role wouldn’t be out of the question for a contender, especially with Julian Champagnie coming off a breakout season.
However it shakes out, Harris is the kind of forward who can create problems for the Thunder. Oklahoma City’s size on the wing already makes matchups tricky, and even though the Thunder were without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell for most of the conference finals, this isn’t a move that forces them into panic mode. It does, though, suggest the Spurs could be a tougher out if these teams cross paths again in the 2027 playoffs.
In Other News...
Thunder Bringing Back Kenrich Williams Says More Than It Seems
Kenrich Williams is staying in Oklahoma City on a one-year, $5 million deal, a familiar move for a player who has been part of the Thunders fabric since the 2020 Steven Adams trade. The veteran forward has long been valued for the steady role he plays on and off the floor, and this agreement gives the team another trusted piece as it rounds out its roster.
The timing is notable because the Thunder had previously declined his team option for the 2026/27 season, only to circle back and bring him back on a new contract. It also keeps Oklahoma City moving deeper into luxury-tax and second-apron territory, a reminder that even a relatively modest signing can carry real roster-building consequences for a team already operating with little margin. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Got Another Reminder Why Hartenstein Mattered So Much
The Thunders frontcourt depth has been tested enough already that every bit of stability matters, and Thomas Sorbers latest setback only adds to that pressure. The rookie recently underwent a minor arthroscopic procedure on his right knee tied to the ACL injury he dealt with before, and he is expected to be back to activity in about a month, a reminder that Oklahoma City is still juggling health concerns in a part of the roster that has already absorbed its share of absences.
Isaiah Hartensteins importance looks even clearer against that backdrop. Oklahoma City moved to keep him around after declining his 2026-27 team option and then working out a new long-term deal, a sign the front office did not want to leave its interior rotation exposed while Chet Holmgren and others have missed time. For a team built around flexibility and depth, Hartenstein has become the kind of frontcourt insurance the Thunder can ill afford to lose. [Read more 🡒]