The Nique Clifford addition gave the Thunder another body, but it doesn’t sound like it will be the last move Sam Presti makes.
Oklahoma City has already been one of the busier teams in the league this season, and that activity has been driven by the early injury mess around the roster. The front office has already brought in players such as Micah Peavy, and more recently landed Clifford in a trade with the Sacramento Kings. Even with all 15 roster spots now filled, the Thunder still appear to be searching for more help.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Oklahoma City will keep trying to “explore the market” as it looks to strengthen the supporting cast around reigning two-time league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. MacMahon also made clear that a “big splash” should not be expected, noting that OKC has not made “a major midseason trade” since acquiring Kendrick Perkins in 2011.
Still, the Thunder have the kind of draft capital and flexibility that keeps them in the conversation. They have seven tradeable first-round picks, 19 second-rounders, and three trade exceptions available, giving them several paths to add reinforcements before the February trade deadline.
For now, though, the cleaner answer might be time.
Oklahoma City has opened the 2026-27 season with a difficult slate, including matchups with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs and Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. The Thunder have already played seven games against teams that were several games above .500 in their first 12 contests, and a recent back-to-back against the Trail Blazers produced their first losing streak of the season.
The schedule is about to soften. Five of the Thunder’s next six games come against teams with losing records, and two of their next three are against the Clippers and Kings, who have a combined three wins so far.
Help may also be on the way from inside the building. In the coming days, Oklahoma City is expected to get Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams, and possibly Thomas Sorber back into the rotation, with Mitchell dealing with an ankle issue, Williams with a back injury, and Sorber working back from a knee problem. That should give the Thunder a better chance to steady things on the floor while the front office keeps looking around.
In Other News...
Clippers Face A Different Thunder Test Depending On One Rising Scorer
Ajay Mitchells status adds another layer to an already thin Oklahoma City backcourt as the Thunder prepare for the Clippers. Mitchell was listed as questionable because of a left ankle sprain, and he already sat out the previous game against Portland. With several other Thunder players out or on assignment because of injuries and surgeries, his availability matters more than usual for a team leaning on depth.
Mitchell has become an important secondary scorer for Oklahoma City, especially with Jalen Williams still sidelined. If he can go, the Thunder get another creator who has helped steady the offense when the rotation has been stretched. If he cannot, the burden shifts again to a group that has already had to absorb plenty of absences, and the matchup with Los Angeles changes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Frontcourt Suddenly Faces A Real Test During Injury Stretch
Isaiah Hartensteins comments after Oklahoma Citys loss to Portland landed with the kind of blunt honesty that usually comes when a team is trying to solve problems on the fly. The Thunder are working through an injury stretch that has forced the frontcourt into constant adjustment, and with key pieces unavailable, the burden has shifted toward finding workable combinations and a little more versatility from the bigs who are still standing.
For Hartenstein, that means adapting alongside rookie Aday Mara while the Thunder keep moving from one game to the next with little practice time to smooth things out. Oklahoma City has leaned on frontcourt pairings before, and the challenge now is finding another one that can hold up quickly enough, especially with the LA Clippers next on the schedule and the margin for error getting thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Just Gave Thunder Fans A New Look At Him
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is showing a different side of himself away from the floor, stepping in as a guest editor for Spotify and curating a new playlist that reflects his taste beyond basketball. The project, first released on Nov. 12, is built around a hip-hop-heavy mix and pulls from both emerging and established artists, giving Thunder fans a small window into the sounds that shape his world.
The playlist is set to be refreshed monthly, which makes it more than a one-off novelty and more like an ongoing look at the guards musical leanings. Gilgeous-Alexander also opened up about his influences and the way he approaches music before games, adding another layer to the profile of a player whose style and personality continue to stand out in Oklahoma City. [Read more 🡒]