The Thunder have already made a handful of notable offseason moves, and the ripple effect is easy to see: next season’s starting five could look different even before Oklahoma City is done tinkering.
That matters for a team coming off a Western Conference Finals exit and trying to thread a tricky needle. The Thunder want to stay in contender mode, but they may also be trying to keep the tax bill from getting out of hand.
Either way, the foundation remains the same. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams give Sam Presti and the front office a core that can anchor just about any version of this roster.
So far, Oklahoma City has drafted Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz and Otega Oweh, traded bench scorers Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, re-signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a long-term extension and picked up Luguentz Dort’s team option. More moves could still come, but the shape of the roster is already changing.
For opening night, Gilgeous-Alexander is the easiest call of the bunch. The two-time MVP has been a fixture in the Thunder’s starting lineup since arriving in the trade, and nothing about this offseason changes that. He’s still the obvious lead guard and one of the best players in the league.
The more interesting question is what happens next to him. If Dort’s future remains uncertain, Cason Wallace looks like the cleanest answer. Fresh off an All-Defense selection, Wallace shot blisteringly in the Western Conference Finals and gives Mark Daigneault exactly the kind of point-of-attack defender the Thunder value in their first unit.
Williams should be there too, even after an injury-filled 2025-26 season. His starting job is basically waiting for him. Oklahoma City still leans on him as one of its main scoring options, and his past All-Defense recognition only adds to his value.
Holmgren is another lock in the projected group, even though his conference finals were rough. The Thunder are counting on him to make a major offseason leap. He already finished second in points per game last season and was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.
And in the middle, Hartenstein’s new long-term deal makes his role even more important. He’s the team’s top rebounder and its most physical presence, and the Thunder need that edge as he helps bring Thomas Sorber and Aday Mara along for the future.
If Wallace doesn’t crack the starting five, the next names in line appear to be Dort - who remains under team control long-term - or Ajay Mitchell, one of the league’s budding guards. The rest of the depth chart includes Alex Caruso, Jared McCain, Jaylin Williams, Bennett Stirtz and Aday Mara.
In Other News...
Draymond Green Just Twisted The Knife After OKCs Playoff Collapse
The Thunders postseason run ended in the most frustrating way possible, with a seven-game loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Western Conference Finals after injuries piled up around Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell late in the series. It was the kind of finish that leaves a contender wondering what might have been, especially after Oklahoma City had built its season around another deep playoff push.
Draymond Green then made sure the wound stayed open, turning the conversation toward Golden States place in NBA history and the Warriors status as the last team to win back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. With the Knicks having already added another wrinkle to the championship picture after Oklahoma Citys exit, Greens comments added a little more sting to a series loss that already carried plenty of it for Thunder fans. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Fans Suddenly Have A Tough Call On One Aging Superstar
The offseason has already produced enough eyebrow-raising movement around the league, but the latest twist is the one that could make Thunder fans stop and do a double take. Oklahoma City has been busy shaping its roster, and now the conversation has shifted to whether one of the NBAs biggest names could fit into the mix without forcing the front office to tear anything apart.
LeBron James is the center of it, with his Lakers future suddenly unsettled and his next move wide open. For the Thunder, the appeal is obvious: a player of that stature changes the ceiling of any team. The harder part is imagining how it works on a young, defensive-minded group that has built its identity a certain way, especially if the ending of this idea depends on an aging star accepting a very different kind of role. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Are Facing The Dark Side Of Their Loaded Roster
The Thunder have spent years building one of the leagues deepest young cores through the draft, and the payoff has been obvious: plenty of talent, plenty of options, and plenty of competition for minutes. But roster strength can also create a quieter problem, especially when promising players realize there may not be enough runway in Oklahoma City for everyone to grow at the same pace.
Isaiah Joe, Branden Carlson and Ousmane Dieng have already moved on in search of better fits and more opportunity, a reminder that even a well-constructed team can become a tough place to wait for your turn. Now there are growing signs that Cason Wallace could be the next name to watch, which only sharpens the question for the Thunder: how long can a team loaded with young talent keep everyone happy before the depth starts to push players toward the exit? [Read more 🡒]