The Thunder’s offseason is mostly in the books, but the roster still has a few pressure points if Oklahoma City decides it wants to get leaner financially.
That’s where the contracts come in. The Thunder have built one of the most flexible books in the league, and if they choose to push under the second apron, they have real options. It wouldn’t be a lock that OKC goes that route, but if it does, moving a current player or two would be part of the equation.
Luguentz Dort sits at the center of that conversation. His team option has already been picked up, and he’s set to make $17 million next season.
From a pure cap standpoint, he’s the cleanest way for the Thunder to create room. Moving Dort would bring back assets and open a lane for another point-of-attack defender to step into the starting five.
His salary, plus the expectation that he’d land a long-term deal elsewhere, makes him one of the most tradeable pieces on the roster. Even so, Oklahoma City would probably prefer to keep him as its long-term starting wing.
Isaiah Hartenstein is in a different category. The Thunder declined his team option this offseason and signed him to a long-term deal worth $75 million.
He matters too much to the team’s title hopes to be viewed as anything other than a core piece right now. His postseason value and his ability to let Chet Holmgren play the forward position make him a major part of what OKC does.
Still, the structure of the deal gives the Thunder flexibility down the line, and that appears intentional. The team has also taken multiple swings at developing play-making bigs in Thomas Sorber and Aday Mara, and if one of them becomes a real answer, Hartenstein could become more movable later on.
For now, though, he’s firmly part of the foundation.
Alex Caruso is another contract that stands out from a tradeability standpoint. The former All-Defense guard has been a defining piece of Oklahoma City’s identity over the past two seasons, and the Thunder likely don’t win their title without him.
He also gave them a scoring boost in the 2026 postseason. At 32, and on a deal that is strong relative to his impact, Caruso’s contract is easy to move on paper.
That doesn’t mean it’s likely anytime soon, especially with OKC chasing another championship, but financially, it remains one of the cleaner contracts on the books.
In Other News...
Thunder Summer League Drought Grew After Another Brutal Late Twist
The Thunders Las Vegas Summer League trip took another frustrating turn in a 106-103 loss to the Nuggets, a game that followed a familiar script of Oklahoma City hanging around long enough to make the finish matter. Payton Sandfort gave the Thunder a lift with 19 points, and Aday Mara added a productive all-around night with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Buddy Boeheim chipped in 10 as OKC kept finding ways to stay within reach.
Sandfort did much of his damage late, scoring nine in the fourth quarter as the Thunder pushed for one last swing at the outcome. Bennett Stirtz also helped fuel the late push with active play, but the comeback came down to the final possession and left Oklahoma City still searching for a clean finish in Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Came Up Short For Another Major Honor
Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders season was strong enough to keep him in the mix for another major piece of hardware, but the latest honor went elsewhere. The Thunder star was a nominee for the 2026 ESPY NBA Player of the Year award, a field that also included Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, underscoring just how crowded the race was among the leagues elite.
Jalen Brunson ended up taking the award after steering the Knicks to the 2026 NBA championship and earning Finals MVP honors along the way. For Gilgeous-Alexander, it was another reminder that even a standout regular season can be overshadowed when the conversation shifts to the biggest stages and the biggest moments. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Core Hit With An Insulting Drop Fans Wont Ignore
Bleacher Reports latest look at the NBAs best star trios gave Oklahoma City a familiar compliment, but not the top spot it held a year ago. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were slotted third behind the Spurs and Knicks, a notable drop for a group that just helped power the Thunder to a championship and has already built a reputation as one of the leagues most efficient cores when everyone is available.
The bigger point for Thunder fans is that the ranking still treats the trio like an elite standard-bearer, even after injuries complicated the follow-up to that title run. Oklahoma Citys recent deep playoff pushes have been shaped as much by health as by talent, and the numbers cited in the piece suggest the ceiling remains as high as ever once the group gets back to full strength. [Read more 🡒]