OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – JUNE 22: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder … More
The Oklahoma City Thunder became the seventh different NBA champion in the last seven years. There are now nine teams that have lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in Adam Silver’s 12 years as the league’s commissioner. In his predecessor, David Stern’s, 30 years in that role, there were only eight franchises to reach the NBA’s mountaintop.
The Association has become geared towards parody. Helping enforce that is a more punitive collecting bargaining agreement. However, if one organization stands defiantly in the way, rekindling the days of dynasties, the team to bet on is Oklahoma City.
The Thunder reached the championship summit early. League and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just entering his prime at 26. His co-stars, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, are 23 and 22 respectively. While they had two 30-year-olds on their roster, Alex Caruso and Kenrich Williams, no one else was older than 26.
They also have a treasure chest of draft picks at their disposal.
That draft capital included picks 15 and 24 in this year’s first round. They utilized the former to add Thomas Sorber. Capable of playing at power forward and center, the six-foot-nine former Georgetown Hoya has a pterodactyl-like seven-foot-six wingspan. It’s not uncommon to see players bounce off him before they get their shot blocked. Sorber also has a high-revving motor and an impressive feel for the game.
Oklahoma City traded pick No. 24 to the Sacramento Kings, who selected Nique Clifford, a guard from Colorado State. Here are the details of what the Thunder received.
There are also already players on the recently crowned champions’ roster who are waiting in the wings to become contributors.
Nikola Topic, 19, was a well-regarded prospect and the 12th pick in last year’s draft. He spent this season recovering from a torn ACL. However, the six-foot-six guard is a dynamic talent. He also possesses a feel for the game that will enable him to join this title team’s rotation immediately.
Ousmane Dieng, 22, who Oklahoma City moved up to select one spot before taking Jalen Williams in 2022, could also go from developing in the background to the extended rotation. The six-foot-10 Dieng is capable of contributing at the four and the five.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s future financially
Perhaps this is a team that will rule the NBA for the next three to five years before falling back to the pack. That’s still an impressive outcome, especially in an era where title teams are struggling to advance beyond the second round the following season.
Maybe Oklahoma City doesn’t evolve into a dynasty. In either scenario, look to the finances.
Williams and Holmgren, members of the same draft class, are in line for five-year extensions worth an estimated $247 million. Those would take effect in 2026-27.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s supermax extension will start in 2027-28. He could be on the books for $65.5 million per year. His top two running mates could have an average annual value of $46 million. That’s $157.5 million for three players in a campaign where a rough projection is the second apron is around $230 million.
While there is the possibility of players taking discounts, what it speaks to more is the importance of Williams and Holmgren elevating their play. The former dropped 40 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. As Williams’ second playoff trip progressed, his scoring and facilitating matured.
Holmgren was outstanding defensively in the playoffs, including against the Indiana Pacers. It’s still paramount both are just scratching the surface when it comes to converting their potential into production.
Team options, including for Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort, create a path to shedding salary and retaining players. The latter also applies to deals that start with a club option getting declined before signing a multi-year pact at a reasonable rate.
Still, the Thunder will need young players, like Cason Wallace, and who at least some of their future picks turn into, to provide the necessary impact to offset future departures, which could include Dort, while keeping the team at the forefront of championship contention.
The failure to execute on that front could quickly undermine Oklahoma City’s hopes for a dynasty.
A loss the Oklahoma City Thunder might not recover from
Injuries are a caveat of concern. That’s understood, especially after seeing Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard tear their Achilles this postseason. But what if the franchise loses its architect?
On a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated mentioned the idea of one of the expansion franchises, expected to join the NBA soon, trying to lure executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti from Oklahoma City.
“Let’s just assume Vegas and Seattle [are the expansion teams]; everyone believes that’s how it’s going to play out,” said Mannix. “If you’re the new Sonics, what’s Sam Presti worth?”
“A piece of the team,” Simmons quickly answered.
Maybe Presti doesn’t want to leave the Thunder. An offer like that could also provide the leverage that leads to him gaining equity in the organization he has helped build.
However, if he left, that would be more concerning than the roster-building restrictions of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
While that’s an unsettling thought for Thunder fans, it may never come to fruition. The same is true for the other potential obstacles that could stand in the way of them ushering in a dynasty.
From a youthful roster that has already reached championship heights to a treasure chest of draft picks and a brilliant architect, the Oklahoma City Thunder have the tools at their disposal and the people in place to provide plenty of company for the banner they will raise on opening night next year.
