The Oklahoma City Thunder are staring at a payroll crunch that could force some uncomfortable choices, and according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, two recent first-round picks may end up at the center of it.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams set to soak up most of the team’s money going forward, and Cason Wallace’s latest deal adding another layer to the books, OKC’s payroll is projected to keep climbing fast. By the 2027-28 season, the Thunder would be looking at a payroll north of $500 million, a number that simply isn’t realistic.
That’s where Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber come in. Windhorst’s reporting points to the possibility that the Thunder could decline the 2027-28 team options on one or both players.
Topic’s option is worth $7.5 million, while Sorber’s comes in at $5.1 million. For a team counting every dollar, neither figure is trivial.
“They will not be paying that much, so it comes down to who and how they cut some of it,” a rival executive told ESPN. “Sam (Presti) I'm sure has studied it at length and will develop two or three paths out and will look for the cleanest option over the next year.”
If Oklahoma City does move off both players, the financial relief would be significant. The savings, including taxes, could reach $60 million. That kind of decision would be unusual for a franchise that has built its reputation on player development, but the league’s financial structure is forcing teams to think differently.
“We all have our problems,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “We'd all love to have theirs.”
There’s also a basketball angle here. Topic is viewed as the more obvious candidate to lose his spot, while Sorber may still have more room to work his way into the picture. Even so, the lack of production from both players has been a disappointment for a pair of recent lottery selections, and misses like that can linger.
The Thunder have until Monday, Nov. 2, to decide on the team options for Topic and Sorber. Whatever they choose will say plenty about how Oklahoma City plans to navigate the financial squeeze ahead.
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For Gilgeous-Alexander, the date has a little extra edge because of who is across the floor, and the Thunder will need him to set the tone if they want to keep the early momentum rolling. Holmgrens impact has already given Oklahoma City a different kind of ceiling, while Mitchell is still working to make his scoring more steady, leaving this as one of those early-season tests that can tell a little more about where the rotation stands. [Read more 🡒]
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Injury reports are already shaping the games early edge. Oklahoma City will be without Nikola Topi, Thomas Sorber and Otega Oweh, while the Clippers have their own notable absence to manage with Brandon Ingram sidelined after right heel surgery. With both teams still sorting out roles this early in the season, the availability sheet may end up being just as important as the opening lineup card. [Read more 🡒]