Another Western Conference threat to the Thunder has already taken a hit this offseason.
The Denver Nuggets, one of OKC’s direct rivals, just sent wing Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal. Watson’s move is part of the broader trend of West teams watching major names head east this summer, and it comes after a breakout 2025-26 season that made him one of the league’s more coveted pieces.
Watson, who was originally drafted by the Thunder in 2022, put up 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game last season. He shot 49.1 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from three, then landed with a Cavaliers group that already includes Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and the recently re-signed James Harden. He is set to sign a new four-year, $88 million contract.
The move only adds to the sense that Denver is slipping as a Thunder threat. Just two postseasons ago, the Nuggets pushed the eventual champion Thunder to a hard-fought Game 7 in the Western Conference Semifinals. Now, with Watson gone, the chatter around Denver has turned to something even bigger: whether Nikola Jokic could be the next star to leave.
That speculation picked up after Panathinakios Basketball Club owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos said on the Euro Insiders podcast that he has been trying to land Jokic for a while, adding that he made a "very serious proposal this year" to buy out the big man from his NBA contract.
Jokic still has two years and $121.8 million left on his deal with Denver, though he also holds a player option for the 2027-28 season. If he declines that option, he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Giannakopoulos’ comments come as Jokic has not signed a max extension with the Nuggets, which has fueled the idea that the coming season could shape his future. If Denver stumbles into another early playoff exit, the combination of recent disappointments and the rise of teams like the Thunder and Spurs could make Jokic at least consider a change, whether that means another NBA destination or a move to the EuroLeague.
In Other News...
Thunder Face A Painful Choice As The West Gets Tougher
The Thunder have spent the past three regular seasons setting the pace in the Western Conference, but this one may ask something different of them. With roster changes and injury concerns now part of the conversation, Oklahoma City is staring at a familiar dilemma with a less familiar twist: whether to keep chasing the top seed or start thinking more carefully about the long game, especially with the 2026-27 playoffs in mind.
San Antonio has emerged as one of the teams capable of pushing that race, and the West is no longer a place where the Thunder can assume the path will stay clear. For Oklahoma City, the bigger issue may not be who finishes first in the standings, but how much wear the roster absorbs along the way, with availability and minutes management likely to become central as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Hartenstein Gets Real About Thunder Losing Lu Dort
The Thunders offseason cost-saving moves have already changed the feel of a championship roster that had just settled into place, and Isaiah Hartenstein is among the players left to process it. Oklahoma City moved on from three rotational pieces from its 2025 title team as it worked to keep its books in order for the 2026-27 season, even as Hartenstein agreed to a long-term deal and took less money to help the club stay under the salary cap.
Among the departures, Lu Dorts exit hit especially hard. Hartenstein said he was sad to see Dort go, even while acknowledging how quickly the NBA can turn into a numbers game, and he now heads to the Atlanta Hawks as the Thunder try to keep their core intact around the pieces still in place. [Read more 🡒]
Buddy Boeheims Thunder Role Says A Lot About OKCs System
Buddy Boeheims first season tied to Oklahoma City showed exactly how the Thunder like to use the fringes of their roster. After signing a two-way deal, he spent most of his time in the G League, where his value came from floor spacing and being a steady, veteran presence around younger players. In a system built on development and flexibility, that kind of role matters even when the minutes at the NBA level are scarce.
For Boeheim, the bigger question is what comes next, and it sounds like the door remains open with Oklahoma Citys G League affiliate. The Thunder have made a habit of squeezing value from players who can fill a very specific lane, and Boeheims season fits that model neatly. His year ended with a final grade that reflected modest on-court production, but also a clear understanding of where he fits in the organizations broader pipeline. [Read more 🡒]