Oklahoma City has already spent the offseason piecing together next season’s roster, but the latest name to hit the market could give the Thunder something bigger to think about.
The Thunder have been busy over the past few weeks, making a series of smaller moves that could shape how the 2026-27 season takes form. With a couple of incoming draft picks, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe departing, and a pair of free agents agreeing to new deals to stay in Oklahoma City, the club could be close to having its 15-man roster locked in.
Even so, the picture may not be completely settled. The Thunder are still well over the second apron, which keeps a Lu Dort trade in play and leaves open the possibility that Nikola Topic could also be moved depending on how Oklahoma City wants to round out the roster. Heading into Monday, the team’s free-agency options looked pretty clear.
That changed when the Sacramento Kings decided to waive DeMar DeRozan.
With the six-time All-Star now headed for free agency, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the soon-to-be 37-year-old is expected to attract interest from multiple contenders around the league. The Thunder fit that label as well as anyone. Oklahoma City is the 2025 champion and came up one win short of another Finals trip, making it easy to see why the team would be in the mix.
DeRozan would bring size on the wing at 6-foot-6, and while he is not known as a strong defender, the Thunder’s defensive structure would help cover for that. If he is willing to sign for the minimum, he could also give Oklahoma City a needed scoring boost on the perimeter. Last season, he averaged 18.4 points while shooting 49.7% in year 17.
The catch is obvious: there may not be a starting job waiting for him in Oklahoma City. DeRozan has started every game of his career except 12 as a rookie, so a bench role would be unfamiliar territory. Still, players like Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook have made that kind of late-career adjustment before.
There is also the question of whether Sam Presti wants to take on that kind of gamble after the Gordon Hayward failure in 2024. But when a scorer with DeRozan’s résumé suddenly becomes available, it is at least a conversation worth having.
In Other News...
Thunder May Be Denying Cason Wallace The Role He Wants
Cason Wallace already looks like one of Oklahoma Citys most important young pieces, and last seasons All-Defensive Second Team nod only reinforced how quickly he has earned trust on that end of the floor. He is also eligible for a rookie extension, which makes his next step more than just a development question for the Thunder. Wallace has made it clear he wants a bigger on-court role, and there is a real case for him to push for more than the steady reserve minutes he has handled so far.
The problem for Wallace is that the roster seems to be tilting in a direction that keeps him in the same lane for now. Oklahoma Citys recent moves point toward continuity in the backcourt, even as the depth chart around him changes, and that could leave him as a key scoring option off the bench rather than a starter. For the Thunder, that arrangement may still make sense, since a larger reserve role could help Wallace sharpen his game, boost his value, and set up a more interesting negotiation down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Offers Thunder Fans A Brutal Warning In Brunson Situation
Jalen Brunsons wrist injury has put a familiar kind of cautionary tale back in the spotlight for Thunder fans, because Jalen Williams went through a similar ordeal and learned how tricky the road back can be. Williams played through a dominant shooting wrist issue during Oklahoma Citys title run, and his experience showed that even when a player is able to stay on the floor, the injury can linger in ways that affect everything from shot-making to overall rhythm.
Williams recovery also served as a reminder that the first games after a return do not always look like a clean reset. The broader point for Oklahoma City is simple enough: wrist injuries can be unpredictable, timelines can stretch, and getting back into the lineup is not the same thing as immediately getting back to peak form. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face Another Huge Cason Wallace Decision This Offseason
The July moratorium has passed, but there still has not been any public update on a rookie extension for Cason Wallace, leaving one of Oklahoma Citys quieter offseason questions unresolved. The Thunder have shown a willingness to move deliberately after the moratorium before, and with the front office signaling a desire to keep the core together, Wallace remains part of a roster puzzle that is still being sorted out.
Wallace has given the Thunder plenty to think about after a career-best season that included All-Defensive Second Team recognition, and he is now heading into the final year of his rookie deal with bigger responsibilities in mind. He wants a full-time starting role, but the path to that kind of jump is not simple, and the next few decisions around the backcourt could say a lot about how Oklahoma City sees his place in the long term. [Read more 🡒]