MVP-level player? Check. Good defense? Check. Strong offense? Check. This is a complete team that can contend at the highest level, including for a championship. But coming off a Western Conference Finals loss to the Spurs and facing a rising payroll, 2026 is the first offseason of tough choices for this iteration of the Thunder.
The Offseason Overview
Here are the major moves of this Thunder offseason.
- Re-signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a smaller deal for more years (3 years, $75 million)
- Re-signed Kenrich Williams to a slightly smaller one-year deal (1 year, $5 million)
- Drafted Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz and Otega Oweh
- Traded Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and Luguentz Dort for picks.
- Every one of these moves is shaped by who the Thunder are currently: a very expensive NBA championship contender.
- Second Apron Blues
- Team payroll matters more than ever in this NBA era.
Salary rules introduced in 2023 imposed major penalties for spending above a point called the “second apron.” A high payroll hurts more than just ownership’s wallet: Trades become difficult, draft picks get worse and the team loses key tools for adding free agents.
In effect, the second apron is close to a hard salary cap for the NBA. It can be exceeded, but doing so puts you in a team-building straitjacket.
The Thunder are an expensive team. They’re locked into paying at least some luxury tax, though they have cut next season’s payroll from a half-billion dollars to a little over $200 million and ducked under the second apron. This is due to trading away three beloved and useful players in Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and Lu Dort, as well as getting Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams to take slight pay cuts.
The rationale is to save now for future spending. In an interview after the Dort trade, Presti commented that “the savings generated this summer, and from being out of the tax the last several years … will allow us to make more basketball-related decisions over the next several years.” The Thunder will likely have to go over the second apron at some point, and they want to be prepared for it when they do.
The Thunder aren’t the only team cutting costs. No team is above the second apron right now, as New York, San Antonio, Denver, Minnesota, Boston and other contending teams have also made payroll-related moves this offseason. But the Thunder are better positioned than most, largely because of their stockpile of draft picks.
Why The Thunder’s Newest Players Matter
Under new NCAA rules, easy transfers and new earning potential mean older basketball players often stay in college and get discovered before the draft. This helps teams like the Thunder.
When a young player is drafted to the NBA with a first-round pick, he is limited to a cost-controlled starting salary. Teams can use this to nab NBA-ready players who are “old” in college terms (20-24) for cheap, and the Thunder drafted three prospects in this category.
7’3” center Aday Mara won the NCAA championship with Michigan this year. His hands are good, and he’s known for his basketball IQ. Speed, conditioning and rebounding are concerns, but he should contribute from day one.
At 6’2” with traditional point guard skills and a killer outside shot, Bennett Stirtz led Iowa to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament this year. Even with his average athleticism, his shooting and IQ on both sides of the ball should translate immediately.
Otega Oweh is a high-motor 6’4” guard who played for Oklahoma and Kentucky. His tenacity and defense bring immediate value, but his offense may require work to reach the pro level.
These players are technically rookies, but they’re all experienced. The Thunder will be looking for immediate impact as they replace key rotation pieces.
Are the Thunder Done?
The Thunder are probably done for this offseason, but there’s a chance they have one more move coming. This OKC roster is mostly made up of guards and centers (or forwards who also play center). If Sam Presti chooses to make another trade, it will likely be for a backup wing player with some size.
The Thunder traded key role players, slashed payroll and added a few rookies this offseason. But even with the hard choices their payroll is forcing, they head into the 2026-2027 season as one of the best teams in the NBA and a true championship contender.
This article appears in Best of OKC Winners.