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Five biggest questions for OKC Thunder entering 2026 NBA offseason
Five biggest questions for OKC Thunder entering 2026 NBA offseason
Justin Martinez, The OklahomanSun, June 7, 2026 at 10:30 AM UTC·7 min readThe OKC Thunder fell short of its goal of winning a second straight NBA championship.
OKC lost to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, sending it into the offseason. And as the summer unfolds, general manager Sam Presti and the rest of the Thunder's front office will have plenty of big decisions to make.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are the five biggest questions for OKC entering the 2026 NBA offseason:
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Can Jalen Williams finally get healthy?
There are a lot of questions surrounding OKC this summer, from contract decisions to potential trade candidates to NBA Draft strategy. We'll get into all of that, but the biggest question is if Jalen Williams can finally get his body right.
It was a tough season for the star forward, who played through a torn ligament in his right shooting wrist during the Thunder's 2025 championship run. He underwent surgery to repair the injury that following summer and missed the first 19 games of this past season as a result.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut Williams then suffered a right hamstring strain that sidelined him twice during the regular season, and he sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain during the first round of the playoffs. That injury also nagged him throughout the Western Conference finals, causing him to miss four of the seven games.
The Thunder nearly got back to the NBA Finals despite being without its former All-NBA forward. And if Williams can enter next season with a clean bill of health, OKC should like its chances to win another title.
"I think rest, like everything, will really help a little bit," Williams said during his exit interview on Sunday. "We'll just go from there. ... I think just having a nice cool-down period where I don't have to try and rush or accelerate anything is going to be nice to just let my body completely settle, get back to zero."
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How will OKC handle its team options?
OKC's roster cost $187 million this past season, which ranked 20th in the NBA. But it's estimated to cost a league-leading $250 million this upcoming season due in large part to new contracts for Williams and Chet Holmgren kicking in.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe most straightforward way to lower that total is through OKC's three team options, which total about $53.4 million, on Isaiah Hartenstein ($28.5 million), Lu Dort ($17.7 million) and Kenrich Williams ($7.2 million).
It's difficult to imagine the Thunder letting Hartenstein walk. He's a strong passer, screen setter, rebounder and rim protector. He even had some success when defending San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama this postseason. And while a $28.5 million price tag might be higher than what OKC is willing to pay, it could decline that option and negotiate a new deal.
"I love being here," Hartenstein said Sunday. "I love the organization, but it's a lot in their hands. I think that them and my agent will talk. It's a business at the end of the day. But whatever happens, I'm truly grateful."
Dort and Kenrich Williams expressed their desires to return to OKC in a more direct fashion. Dort said he and his representation will do "whatever we've got to do to get it done," while Williams said "it's no secret that I want to be here until I'm done playing."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt seems like OKC could decline its team option on Williams and sign him to a smaller deal, although Dort's situation is a bit trickier. He's the heart and soul of the Thunder, someone who embodies its toughness and unselfishness, but his role could decline moving forward with the emergence of Cason Wallace.
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Will OKC pay Cason Wallace this summer?
Wallace continued to show improvements in his game this season.
The former 10th pick in the 2023 draft averaged career highs of 8.6 points, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals on 43.2% shooting from the field (35.1% from deep). He led the league in total steals (150), which helped him earn an All-Defensive second team selection, and he also showed flashes of his playmaking and shot creating abilities.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWallace then took another step forward this postseason, where he shot a blistering 48.4% from deep. He consistently hit big shots for OKC in addition to being electric in transition and a menace on defense. And at only 22, he still has plenty of room to get even better.
Wallace is entering the final year on his rookie deal, meaning he's extension eligible. And while the Thunder has already committed to paying its Big Three, it'll surely do what it can to pay Wallace. The question then becomes what that contract would look like and if it can be signed before Wallace hits restricted free agency next offseason.
"I love the Thunder," Wallace said Sunday. "But I'm more focused on getting better this summer and being able to go back out there and compete. I'm not money driven. I want to compete. That's the main focus for me. So whether I get paid this summer or not, I'm going to get better because that's what I have to do to stay in this league."
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Will OKC shed salary elsewhere via trades?
Team options aren't the only way OKC can shed some salary. It can also do that with trades.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe player who most people are placing in the trade machine right now is Holmgren, although that's highly unlikely. The 24-year-old forward had a bad series against San Antonio, but he still earned All-NBA third team and All-Defensive first team honors this season.
Players such as Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins are more likely candidates. Both guys have plenty of talent and have delivered for OKC in the past. But both guys have moveable contracts and some uncertainty around their roles moving forward.
Joe is set to make $11.3 million next season, while Wiggins will make $9 million. They saw limited playing time this postseason due in large part to the emergence of Jared McCain, who provides the same level of shot creation and floor spacing.
Depth is one of OKC's biggest strengths, and Joe and Wiggins are two of the team's better success stories as former second-round picks. But as the Thunder's payroll increases and roster spots become harder to free up for incoming rookies, tough decisions will have to be made.
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How will OKC use its three picks in the NBA Draft?
OKC has three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft from June 23-24. That consists of No. 12 (via the Los Angeles Clippers), No. 17 (via the Philadelphia 76ers) and No. 37 (via the Dallas Mavericks).
The Thunder has plenty of options in that 12-17 range. It could take a swing on younger prospects such as Tennessee's Nate Ament and Washington's Hannes Steinbach, or it could go with more ready-now prospects such as Michigan's Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg.
Don't forget about that second-round pick either. OKC is known for finding gems late in the draft, from Ajay Mitchell (No. 38 in 2024) to Jaylin Williams (No. 34 in 2022) to Wiggins (No. 55 in 2021).
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEither way, the assumption is that OKC won't use all three of its draft picks. Roster spots are simply too hard to free up, especially if it brings back players it has team options on.
Will the Thunder package picks to move up in the talented draft class? Will it trade some picks for future draft capital? Those questions will be answered this offseason, along with plenty of other ones.
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Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder, Sam Presti face major roster decisions this summer