The Oklahoma City Thunder may have a new look next season, but there’s no real reason to hit the alarm button if the early returns are messy.
After a roster shake-up that sent three OKC players to new teams, the Thunder still sit in the contender conversation. The roster has enough depth to patch some of those openings from within, and the team’s recent draft picks should provide another layer of help as the season unfolds.
That said, a clean handoff from last season to the next probably isn’t realistic. When familiar pieces leave and others are asked to handle jobs they didn’t have before, some rough edges are going to show up.
That doesn’t mean trouble. It just means adjustment.
One of the biggest changes comes in the backcourt, where Lu Dort’s defensive presence will have to be replaced. Dort spent last season smothering opponents with physicality and relentless pressure.
The player most likely to step into that lane is Cason Wallace, who is expected to move into the starting lineup and could bring offense Dort didn’t provide this past season. Rookie Otega Oweh could also factor into that kind of role once OKC calls him up during the season.
The shooting loss from Isaiah Joe is set to be handled by a mix of Jared McCain and Bennett Stirtz. McCain is expected to shoulder most of that burden, while Stirtz, as a rookie, will be trying to contribute wherever he can. Oklahoma City is also counting on Aaron Wiggins’ role to be covered by the return of Jalen Williams and the continued growth of Ajay Mitchell.
That kind of reshuffling rarely comes together instantly. Players are moving into new responsibilities, and rookies especially need time to settle into the league.
Veterans will need time, too, to adjust to the way they’re being used. The picture could shift again once new lineups are introduced, especially with the first-season debuts of two big men, Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber.
So while Oklahoma City may not open the season at the same level it reached in its prime last year, a small dip at the start doesn’t have to mean anything more than that. The Thunder can afford some early-season growing pains if the end result is a stronger finish than the one they had last season.
In Other News...
Russell Westbrooks Retirement Just Sparked A Debate Thunder Fans Know Well
Russell Westbrooks retirement after 18 NBA seasons immediately reopened a familiar conversation for Thunder fans: how history remembers one of the franchises most electrifying stars. A one-time MVP and nine-time All-Star, Westbrook left behind a rsum that guarantees his place in league lore, but his final years were always going to invite debate about how his game aged and how the sport viewed him once the title chase was over.
Patrick Beverley added another layer to that discussion, pointing back to the long-running tension and overlap between the two guards. Their rivalry goes back to the 2013 playoffs, and they eventually became Lakers teammates, which only made Beverleys reaction more notable when he weighed in on Westbrooks exit from the game. For Oklahoma City, it is the kind of aftermath that comes with a player who meant so much for so long, especially when the questions around his legacy are still very much alive. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Champion Ajay Mitchell Just Took On A Surprising New Role
Ajay Mitchells offseason already had one championship memory attached to it, but the Thunder guard has added a different kind of responsibility. The 24-year-old, fresh off Oklahoma Citys 2025 NBA title, has been named general manager of UC Santa Barbaras basketball program, a move he confirmed while emphasizing his commitment to helping the Gauchos and supporting head coach Joe Pasternack.
For a player still building his NBA career, the appointment is an unusual twist, but it also fits the modern way college programs are expanding their support systems and tapping into wider basketball networks. Thunder general manager Sam Presti had positive things to say about Mitchell stepping into the role, which only adds to the curiosity around how much influence he can bring from both the NBA and his own college connections. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Long Term Center Plan Suddenly Feels Far Less Settled
Oklahoma Citys long-term picture at center looked a lot clearer after the Thunder used their 2026 lottery pick on Aday Mara, a prospect whose appeal comes from his shot-blocking, feel for the game and ability to pass. He gives the front office another young big to develop alongside Isaiah Hartenstein and Thomas Sorber, while also adding a different look to a position the Thunder have been willing to keep flexible as they build around the rest of the roster.
Still, Mara is not the sort of pick that closes the book on the center spot. His conditioning questions and concerns about his interior scoring leave some room for the Thunder to keep evaluating the position, especially with another future lottery pick in hand. For a team that has tried to stay ahead of roster decisions rather than react to them, that means the path at center may be defined as much by what comes next as by the player they just took. [Read more 🡒]