ESPN just dropped their latest NBA future power rankings, and the Oklahoma City Thunder landed at the undisputed No. 1 spot. The league’s talking heads expect them to be the top contender for championships over the next three seasons, from 2026-29. Sounds like a dream scenario, right? But buried deep in that praise is a truly stomach-turning prediction that Thunder fans absolutely do not want to hear: ESPN’s Ben Golliver boldly says they’ll have to trade either Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren in the next two summers because of the NBA’s strict salary-cap realities. Talk about a gut punch.
The Thunder’s “Big Three” Is About to Get Too Expensive
It makes sense why OKC is ranked so high. They already have one NBA championship in hand, and they’ve been the first seed for three consecutive years. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a two-time MVP winner, a certified superstar. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are both All-NBA talents, clearly showing why they’re considered part of a “Big Three.” On top of that, they’ve got a loaded depth chart. This roster is built to contend. But here’s the problem: that very success is creating a massive financial headache. Gilgeous-Alexander is set to start his supermax deal, while Williams and Holmgren are about to ink their second contracts. These three alone will sponge up around 85% of OKC’s entire payroll for the rest of the decade. Try constructing a competitive roster with just 15% of your money left to play with. It’s almost impossible.
More Cost-Cutting Moves Are Coming, And They’ll Hurt
That 85% figure doesn’t even account for future contract extensions for other key pieces like Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell. If those secondary deals happen, the slice of pie left for the rest of the team gets even smaller. This whole situation has the makings of an unfeasible payroll, unless OKC ownership is willing to pony up some serious dough. We’ve actually already seen the effects of this financial crunch: this past summer, the Thunder had a full-on cost-cutting offseason, trading Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins out East to save money. Golliver, for ESPN, is predicting even more of these types of moves. He said, “Oklahoma City will shift from a big three to a big two because of second apron concerns.” He also wrote that Gilgeous-Alexander’s salary spike in the 2027-28 season will force the Thunder to “make sharp cuts to their supporting cast or consider moving Williams or Holmgren.” That’s a brutal choice. Golliver believes a move similar to the 2012 James Harden trade would help maintain depth and long-term sustainability.
Look, a lot can change in the NBA in the next two summers, but this is a difficult idea to pitch to any fan base. Especially if this team goes out and wins a second NBA championship in three years this upcoming season. What a mess.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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