The Thunder’s biggest offseason question has been simple enough: can they keep this title-winning group together without running headfirst into the second apron?
For a while, Oklahoma City looked like it was heading down the usual path. Sam Presti and the front office started by making money-saving trades to trim payroll, which made sense for a team trying to stay flexible.
But over the last few weeks, the tone has shifted. The Thunder may now be willing to absorb the penalties that come with keeping most of this championship-tested core intact.
And now Victor Wembanyama’s contract decision has pushed the whole apron conversation into a new place.
In a recent ESPN piece by Ben Golliver, NBPA executive director David Kelly made clear he is not a fan of the league’s current system. He said, "we are not fans of the second apron" and argued that players should not be "in the position to carry the burden of keeping a team together."
That came in response to Wembanyama choosing a 25 percent max extension worth $252 million instead of the 30 percent supermax escalators that would have taken him to $303 million. The move was designed to give San Antonio more financial room to build a contender around him.
Kelly’s message was blunt. He said "players should make decisions for themselves and we should not be ... pocket-watching," and added that the second apron needs to either be "softened" or removed entirely.
If that kind of push leads to real change, Oklahoma City could be one of the biggest winners.
Right now, the Thunder are projected to enter the 2026-27 season with a league-high payroll of $233.6 million, which is more than $12 million above the second apron. Looking further ahead, the numbers are still heavy.
By 2029-30, with only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren on guaranteed deals, the team is still projected to owe $190.4 million. With at least 10 roster spots to fill, that leaves just under $70 million in room.
That is a tough bill under the current rules. The new CBA has already shown it can break up teams that look built to last, including the Boston Celtics. But if the NBPA succeeds in changing the system, the Thunder’s path to keeping this group together gets a lot cleaner.
In that scenario, Wembanyama’s extension would have done more than shape San Antonio’s finances. It may also have helped keep Oklahoma City’s championship core intact.
In Other News...
Thunder Fans Should Keep An Eye On This Undrafted Big
The Thunders trip through Las Vegas has started slowly, with Oklahoma City dropping its first two Summer League games, but not every part of the week has been a setback. One of the more encouraging developments has been the play of rookie Christoph Tilly, an undrafted big who has looked comfortable in the mix and given the front office something to monitor beyond the final score.
Tilly has put together a steady five-game stretch, averaging 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds while showing enough feel to suggest there may be more here than a typical camp body. With the Thunders roster depth making NBA minutes a tough climb, the more realistic path may be a spot with the OKC Blue, where a developmental role could keep him in the organization and give him a chance to keep building. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Caruso Just Dropped A Big Hint About OKCs Depth
The Thunders frontcourt picture has already shifted once this offseason, with Aday Mara arriving as the No. 12 pick in the 2026 NBA draft and Isaiah Hartenstein back in the fold after his free-agent return. Add in the retention of key veterans like Kenrich Williams, and Oklahoma City looks built to keep the same kind of lineup flexibility that has become a calling card of the roster.
Alex Caruso sees that depth as more than just a nice luxury. He pointed to the teams versatility across guards, wings and bigs, with a particular emphasis on how many options Oklahoma City now has at center, and he framed it as the kind of strength that can help a contender absorb change while still playing its style. After last seasons run ended in the Western Conference Finals, that balance of continuity and new pieces feels especially important heading into 2026-27. [Read more 🡒]
Wembanyama Just Made Chets Thunder Future Feel A Lot More Complicated
Victor Wembanyamas new max extension in San Antonio does more than lock up one of the leagues most singular talents. It also puts a sharper spotlight on Chet Holmgrens place in Oklahoma City, because the Thunder are already paying Holmgren like a franchise pillar and expecting him to grow into the kind of two-way force that can anchor a contender. The comparison is unavoidable now, especially with Holmgren still working through the rough edges of defending true centers.
For the Thunder, the issue is not just what Holmgren is today, but what he has to become to justify that level of investment alongside the rest of a rising roster. Oklahoma City has built its identity on flexibility, length and lineup versatility, yet Holmgrens struggles in certain matchups have already forced the team into some awkward defensive choices. If Wembanyama keeps separating himself while carrying a similar price tag, the long-term math around Holmgren could get a lot harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]