The Thunder’s injury issues have put a spotlight back on a familiar front-office habit: if Sam Presti chooses to act, history suggests he may prefer a player he already knows.
Presti has long been reluctant to make in-season trades during his time running OKC. The 2024 Gordon Hayward deal and last season’s addition of Jared McCain stand out as recent exceptions, but those moves have been more the rare outliers than the rule. Presti has also been direct about why he usually prefers to stand pat, saying, "External solutions always bring with them a lot of risk."
That approach lines up with what ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has heard around the league. According to Windhorst, executives have suggested that if the Thunder decide to respond to their rash of injuries with a move, "it would not be a surprise if they acquire a player they've already had."
That would give Oklahoma City a built-in advantage: less of an adjustment period, and a player who already understands Mark Daigneault’s system and the broader Thunder culture. And if the team decides to go that route, there are several former Thunder players who could fit using one of the team’s TPEs or possible DPEs.
Ty Jerome is one obvious name. He has already been mentioned as a possible midseason target, and he’s someone who knows the organization well after spending two seasons with OKC from 2020 through 2022. During that stretch, he developed into a reliable second-unit option, posting 8.6 points, 2.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game while hitting 35.3 percent from three.
He’s been even hotter in his first year with the Memphis Grizzlies, putting up 29.8 points and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 37.0 percent from deep.
Another reunion path would be Russell Westbrook. The possibility would carry a different kind of value - less about fit on paper and more about presence, leadership and the sheer jolt of bringing back a franchise icon. Though Westbrook announced his retirement this past summer, there have still been people insisting since then that he "might be back," with some saying he’s still "got a lot left" in the tank.
That argument isn’t hard to understand when you look at the numbers. He just wrapped the 2025-26 season with 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
If the Thunder are looking for a move that won’t require a major learning curve, the past may be their cleanest path forward. And if they go that direction, there’s no shortage of former faces who could help.
In Other News...
Thunder Just Addressed A Growing Problem On The Wing
With injuries piling up on the wing and around the rest of the roster, the Thunder are moving to add some needed depth. Oklahoma City is expected to bring in free agent swingman Ochai Agbaji, a 2022 first-round draft pick who was recently waived by the Knicks, giving the team another body at a position where availability has become a real concern.
Agbaji is set to arrive on a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary deal, which gives the Thunder some flexibility as they try to navigate the short-term stretch ahead. The move also keeps Oklahoma Citys roster options open as it looks for ways to patch the gaps without sacrificing long-term flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Take Low-Risk Swing On A Needed Wing Defender
The Thunder are lining up a low-risk addition for their final roster spot, with Ochai Agbaji expected to give them some much-needed wing depth. A 2022 lottery pick who has already bounced around multiple NBA teams in five seasons, Agbaji fits the profile of a player Oklahoma City can bring in without disrupting its broader roster plans while still adding athleticism and defensive versatility.
The timing makes sense for a team that has been nudged toward the wing market by recent injuries, and this is the kind of move that can matter more than it looks at first glance. Agbaji does not need to be a savior here, just a useful body who can help absorb minutes and give the Thunder another perimeter option as they manage the roster and try to stay balanced on both ends. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Took A Flier On A Familiar Wing For A Reason
The Thunder have taken a low-risk swing on the wing by adding a familiar NBA body to the mix as they look to shore up depth for the stretch ahead. The move gives Oklahoma City another 6-foot-5 option after injuries have left the rotation thinner than usual on the perimeter, a spot the team has had to monitor closely.
Ochai Agbaji arrives with four NBA seasons behind him and a rsum that already includes stops with the Raptors, Jazz and Nets, plus the pedigree of being the No. 14 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. For a team trying to stay flexible while dealing with some short-term uncertainty, the signing fits the profile of a practical depth play, even if the long-term role is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]