The Oklahoma City Thunder head into the 2026-27 season with a roster that looks built to keep coming at teams in waves.
Sam Presti has put together a group through the draft, trades and a few free agency signings, and the result is one of the deepest collections of talent in the NBA. When you break the roster into tiers, the top of the list is exactly where you’d expect: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by himself.
The Oklahoma City star guard has won consecutive MVP awards and has averaged more than 30 points per game in each of the past four seasons. He’s already one of the league’s elite players, and in 2026-27 he’ll be chasing a third straight Michael Jordan Trophy while setting himself up for another huge statistical year.
Right behind him is a group that gives the Thunder real muscle at the top end. Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell make up the next tier.
Holmgren is coming off a disappointing Western Conference Finals, but his full season numbers still tell the story of a player who’s becoming a force: 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.9 blocks per game, with shooting splits of 55.7% from the field and 36.2% from 3-point range. He also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2025-26.
Williams had his own obstacles, playing just 33 games last season because of injuries. Even so, his 2024-25 production showed why he belongs near the top of the roster, with averages of 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 48.4% from the field and 36.5% from deep. Over the past two seasons, both Holmgren and Williams have earned All-NBA, All-Star and All-Defense honors.
Mitchell is not quite at star level yet, but he took a clear step forward in his second NBA season and turned in an impressive postseason showing against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The next tier is where Oklahoma City really separates itself from most of the league. Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Jared McCain, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams form a deep, flexible group of role players who give Mark Daigneault a second unit that can change the shape of a game. The mix includes proven veterans and younger players still on rookie deals, and the variety of skill sets is a big part of what makes this roster so dangerous.
Below that are the players with the most runway left to climb. Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz all came into the league as top-20 draft picks, but only Topic has played in an NBA game so far. He appeared in 10 games for the Thunder in 2025-26.
That last tier matters, because Oklahoma City may need one of those players to become a reliable rotation piece in the years ahead if it wants to keep this level of depth intact.
In Other News...
Thunder Title Hopes Still Rest On One Risky 2026-27 Bet
The Thunder have already built a title-caliber foundation around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, but the path to another real championship run still leans heavily on the players around them holding up and taking another step. Oklahoma Citys next window is being framed by the health and development of a few key pieces, with the front office betting that its depth can keep pace even after a busy offseason that changed the look of the rotation.
Jalen Williams remains the biggest swing in that equation, since his availability and growth could shape how high this group can climb, and the pressure does not stop there. The Thunder also need Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell to help absorb the minutes and production left behind by offseason moves involving Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, which makes the 2026-27 picture feel both promising and a little fragile at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Former Thunder Pick Gets Another NBA Shot After Winning Two Titles
Dillon Jones keeps finding his way back into NBA conversations, even if the path has been anything but straightforward. The former Thunder first-round pick is already a two-time champion, having collected title rings with Oklahoma City and the New York Knicks after being drafted by the Thunder in 2024 and later moving on from the organization.
Jones journey since then has included a trade to the Wizards in 2025, a waiver, and then a return to the league on a two-way deal with New York in 2026. He was part of the Knicks postseason run but was not eligible for the playoffs because of that contract status, and now he is set for another opportunity to prove he belongs as he heads into training camp with Philadelphia. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face A Costly Cason Wallace Decision At The Worst Time
Cason Wallace has put the Thunder in a tricky spot as the October 19 deadline nears, with the restricted free agent still without a contract extension. Oklahoma City has plenty to weigh here: Wallace is already carrying the rsum of a young player teams value highly, with an NBA championship and All-Defensive recognition helping set the tone for his next payday.
The market may be even richer than the Thunder would prefer. NBA analyst Zach Lowe reported that rival front-office voices viewed Wallace as the best of a small group of 2023 draft players, and leaguewide estimates for his next deal have landed in the $25 million to $33 million range annually. For a team trying to manage its future while keeping its core intact, the clock is forcing an uncomfortable decision. [Read more 🡒]