The Thunder’s empty roster spot may end up being more of an opportunity than a problem.
Oklahoma City heads into next season with a different-looking group than it has had in years past. The Thunder moved on from multiple key players and replaced them with rookies who still need to prove themselves. Even with those changes, the roster is not full yet: OKC has 14 players signed and one open slot.
That vacancy gives the Thunder a simple option. They can elevate one of their two-way players on a game-by-game basis, which would let them keep developing young talent while staying within budget.
Brooks Barnhizer is the most familiar name in that mix. He’s the lone returning two-way player and already logged real NBA minutes last season, appearing in 40 games.
Barnhizer made his mark with effort and activity, averaging two rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game. Oklahoma City can use him in that same role again and see whether keeping him around continues to pay off.
Otega Oweh is the rookie with the biggest chance to carve out a larger role. The Thunder’s second-round pick was productive at Kentucky, where he averaged 18.6 points and 1.8 steals. He could be asked to help cover for Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, and he has the profile to become the most prominent of Oklahoma City’s two-way players this season.
Josh Dix rounds out the group. His path to minutes comes through shooting, since he hit 38.4% from deep over his college career. He may not be in line for a heavy spotlight, but if injuries hit during the year, he could find his way onto the floor.
For Oklahoma City, keeping that final spot open is a practical move. The team already has plenty of talent in place, and now the front office gets a chance to watch its newest players in real time and see what kind of future they can build.
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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 🡒]
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Topics health history has made his path a little more complicated, but the bigger picture is still clear: the Thunder like what they have enough to keep investing in it. For Stirtz, that means a rookie year with little room to coast, especially in a backcourt where every role seems to have competition and every minute has to be earned. [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 🡒]