Oklahoma City just delivered a truly wild 64-win season, rocketing to the #1 seed in the Western Conference with a dominant regular season run. They even straight up swept the Golden State Warriors in their season series, finally getting some serious payback for all that “trauma that the Golden Empire inflicted on the OKC franchise over the last decade.” But even after all that, the Thunder ultimately fell short in a contentious Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Now, coming off a season where they were just one game shy of the Finals, the Thunder are battling not just injuries, but a monstrous financial headache that’s forcing them to make some unthinkable moves.
A 64-Win Machine Forced To Shed Talent
Can you even imagine? You win 64 games, you’re the #1 seed, and then you have to dump three legitimate rotation players just to keep your books clean and avoid those brutal second apron tax penalties. That’s exactly the reality check that hit Oklahoma City this summer. Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins, all key contributors from that incredible 64-win squad, are gone. The team had to make these moves to keep their salary cap from exploding and duck those looming tax issues. Losing three guys who helped you sweep the Warriors and pushed you to the brink of a championship? The original source even said, “Most teams that lose three rotation players call it a rebuilding summer, but not the Thunder baby!” They spent the offseason “pissed off” about how last season ended, and now they’re trying to stay competitive under immense financial pressure.
The Core That Remains, And The Big Chet Question
Despite those tough goodbyes, this Thunder roster is still absolutely stacked. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Alex Caruso are all still there, ready to wreak havoc. They also locked down Isaiah Hartenstein with a solid three-year, $75 million deal, and brought back Kenrich Williams for more veteran presence. Cason Wallace is stepping right into Dort’s starting job, and he’s clearly ready for it; last year he averaged 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and nearly two steals a night in barely 27 minutes off the bench. And keep an eye on Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz, their new draft pick, who ESPN is already naming as an X factor for the 2026-27 season, alongside Aday Mara, Nikola Topić, and Thomas Sorber. This squad’s chemistry was praised even by rivals, with Draymond Green himself noting, “You have to like each other which you can tell they love each other which leads to all the magic, you have to understand roles which they definitely understand their roles.”
But here’s the absolutely massive “what if” that could shift everything: Chet Holmgren. According to @talkhoops, the Thunder “could be forced to trade Chet Holmgren soon if he continues to struggle against Victor Wembanyama.” That’s a wild thought for a team that was just the #1 seed, and it hammers home that “the second apron is rearing its ugly head with OKC in real time and will continue to do so as long as the Thunder keep that big three together,” as Fullcourtpass pointed out. Can the Thunder truly navigate these insane financial pressures and potential roster changes while still keeping their championship dreams alive? This season is going to be a must-watch from tip-off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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