The Thunder don’t have many obvious holes, but they do have a coming decision in the backcourt that could put Bennett Stirtz under the microscope sooner than expected.
Oklahoma City has stacked enough young talent that the problem now is less about finding upside and more about figuring out who fits. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are both still on rookie deals through 2026-27, and the front office added more swings in the latest draft by holding onto its draft capital. Aday Mara drew the loudest buzz as a possible rim protector behind Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, but Stirtz is in that mix too as a possible safety net with the ball in his hands.
The catch is that Stirtz may not get much room to breathe. The Thunder’s guard group is still crowded, even with Luguentz Dort gone. Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell are set for bigger roles, while Nikola Topic and Alex Caruso are positioned to soak up a healthy share of the minutes off the bench.
That’s where the pressure starts to build. Oklahoma City has an Oct. 31 deadline to decide on Topic’s team option for 2027-28, and that timeline makes the pecking order pretty clear. With as many as three first-round picks coming in next year’s draft, Stirtz has a narrow path: he needs a rookie season that makes the Thunder comfortable keeping him in the picture alongside Topic.
Topic, of course, is already a known quantity in one important way. The Thunder have barely seen him on an NBA floor because injuries and illness have kept him off it.
A torn ACL wiped out his rookie year, and his rehab from testicular cancer ate up a big chunk of his sophomore season. When he has played, though, he has looked like one of the best pure ball-handlers on the roster.
In 13 G-League appearances last season, he averaged 18.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 46.5% from 3-point range.
At this point, it would be a surprise if Oklahoma City didn’t pick up Topic’s option. Even if the Thunder let Kenrich Williams walk and move on from Jaylin Williams, they would still be looking at 12 players under contract next offseason.
In theory, that leaves enough room to keep all three first-round picks if there are no outside free-agent additions. But it also highlights a frontcourt need that neither Stirtz nor Topic solves.
Stirtz’s own case is straightforward. He showed at Iowa that he can run an offense and handle lead-guard duties, putting up 19.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 35.8% from 3-point range in his final college season. What he hasn’t yet proven is that he can be trusted as an off-ball spacer or a potential wing, which leaves his NBA projection less settled than his college résumé suggests.
The Thunder will almost certainly spend time trying to develop him into that kind of player, especially with Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins now off the roster. But if the roster breaks the way it looks like it might, Topic is the cleaner fit and the more obvious priority as a pure lead guard.
In Other News...
Thunder Are Still Becoming The NBA Problem Nobody Wants
Nikola Jokic recently put the Oklahoma City defense in a familiar spotlight, naming the Thunder as one of the teams that gives him trouble because of how well they work together on that end. It was a fitting nod for a group that has built its identity on collective pressure, smart rotations and a style that rarely depends on one stopper to carry the load. Even with offseason roster changes and new faces entering the mix, Oklahoma City has kept the same basic calling card intact.
The challenge now is making sure that identity survives the next wave of roster decisions. The Thunder have financial questions ahead, but they also have a young core under contract through 2027-28, which gives them time to keep shaping a team that already looks built to bother opponents for years. The front office has changed pieces around that foundation, and the next step is seeing how those adjustments hold up when the games start to matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Shai's Next MVP Push Could Put New Pressure On OKC
After back-to-back MVP awards and a title run in 2025, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already in the kind of territory most stars never reach. The Thunder have spent the past two seasons perched at the top of the league, and that team success has been part of the case for his rise from elite scorer to full-fledged centerpiece of the NBAs best story.
The next chase, though, comes with a different kind of pressure. Another strong season from Oklahoma City would only harden the argument for a third straight MVP, especially with Victor Wembanyama looming as the name many around the league expect to set the pace in the race. For the Thunder, the stakes are bigger than one trophy vote, because staying on top again could shape the entire conversation around Gilgeous-Alexanders place in the league. [Read more 🡒]
Cason Wallace Faces One Big Test In OKCs Bigger Role
Cason Wallace is about to get a different kind of spotlight in Oklahoma City, with a larger scoring role likely waiting after Lu Dorts departure. The Thunder have long valued Wallace for what he does without the ball in his hands, especially on defense, but his growth now comes with a chance to show he can be more than a connector piece on a deep roster.
What makes the assignment tricky is that the Thunder do not need Wallace to reinvent himself overnight. He shot the ball well from deep in the playoffs and has enough help around him that he does not have to hunt every touch, which is why the challenge is less about volume than judgment. If Wallace keeps trusting the offense and resists the urge to force shots, Oklahoma City has reason to believe the expanded role can fit him cleanly. [Read more 🡒]