The Oklahoma City Thunder have spent years building one of the deepest and most talented rosters in basketball, thanks to Sam Presti’s patience. That patience has paid off spectacularly. After winning the NBA championship in 2024-25 and coming within one game of a second straight Finals appearance in 2026, the Thunder are right in the mix next season.
But that doesn’t mean roster changes aren’t incoming.
Oklahoma City just traded Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks, a move that was less about basketball and more about finances. The deal reportedly saved the organization $73 million in salary and luxury tax obligations, meaning Presti is already preparing for the financial limitations that come with building a contender.
With massive future contracts tied to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and the underrated and likely untradable Chet Holmgren, the Thunder cannot keep everyone, as they potentially look to significantly retool the team this summer.
As a result, several familiar faces could find themselves playing elsewhere next season. Here are six players who could leave Oklahoma City this offseason.
6. Thomas Sorber
Contract Status: $4.9 Million In 2026-27
No player on Oklahoma City’s roster faces a murkier future than Thomas Sorber. The former No. 15 overall pick still possesses intriguing physical tools and flashes of upside.
At 6’9″ with athleticism and defensive versatility, he needs to be in a position that is about developing him. The issue is health since he hasn’t played an NBA game yet due to a severe knee injury.
Not to mention, Oklahoma City’s roster has become so talented that Sorber might struggle to carve out a consistent role when he returns. While players such as Chet Holmgren have become foundational pieces, Sorber might not get many minutes.
Because he’s still young (20) and intriguing, another franchise may believe it can unlock his potential. That makes him a logical trade candidate if the Thunder can recoup some second-round picks or use him for a bigger deal.
5. Kenrich Williams
Contract Status: $7.2 Million Team Option
Expected Contract Demands: 2-Year, $10 Million
Williams has been one of the Thunder’s most respected veterans, providing leadership, versatility, and professionalism throughout Oklahoma City’s rise from rebuilding team to championship contender. He averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 38.8% three-point shooting last season.
Yet basketball decisions are always financial decisions when luxury taxes enter the equation. Williams carries a $7.2 million team option, and while that number isn’t enormous by NBA standards, it becomes meaningful when every roster spot must be managed.
The Thunder could decline his option outright, allowing him to enter free agency while creating immediate savings. Another possibility would involve waiving him and attempting to bring him back on a significantly smaller contract.
Williams remains valuable, but Oklahoma City’s front office may decide his leadership can no longer justify his current salary figure, given the organization’s desire to shed salary.
4. Isaiah Joe
Contract Status: $11.3 Million In 2026-27
We can count on one hand how many role players have improved their reputation more than Isaiah Joe over the past several years. His elite shooting ability has become a crucial weapon for a Thunder team that needs it desperately.
Joe shot 42.3% from three-point range this season while posting 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.7 steals per game in 71 games for the Thunder. His instant offense and defensive acumen are very valuable and cannot be understated.
Ironically, that value may be exactly why he becomes expendable. Joe’s postseason role fluctuated throughout the playoffs, and he is approaching a point where another significant contract could be required.
Teams desperate for shooting and cap flexibility could view him as a priority trade target. With Oklahoma City’s payroll continuing to rise, the Thunder may determine that selling high on Joe is the most practical move. If Joe ends up leaving, his best destination could be with one of the Western Conference’s contenders next season.
3. Cason Wallace
Contract Status: $7.4 Million In 2026-27
Cason Wallace has become one of the NBA’s most impactful guards. His perimeter defense is already elite, his decision-making continues to improve, and his offensive game took major strides throughout the season.
At just 22 years old, many executives around the league view him as a perennial All-Defensive Team candidate with legitimate two-way upside. He made the All-NBA Defensive Second Team this past season, just two seasons removed from an All-Rookie Team selection. Wallace averaged 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks on 35.1% from three in 58 starts in 2025-26.
The challenge is giving Wallace what he wants: competition. Wallace is eligible for a rookie-scale extension, and Oklahoma City is rapidly approaching a financial crunch unlike any it has faced before. Extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren will dominate the salary sheet for years to come.
Keeping Wallace long-term may prove extremely expensive, and even if the player is not motivated by money, he will see his value continue to go up.
That reality makes him one of the Thunder’s most valuable trade assets. If Presti believes he can move up in the draft or consolidate talent for a more championship-ready roster, Wallace could become the centerpiece of a blockbuster package.
2. Isaiah Hartenstein
Contract Status: $28.5 Million Team Option
Expected Contract Demands: 3-Year, $66 Million
When Oklahoma City signed Isaiah Hartenstein, the move was viewed as a luxury to an already loaded roster. He delivered exactly what the Thunder hoped for during their championship run: physicality, rebounding, interior passing, and veteran presence.
However, his $28.5 million team option represents one of the largest financial decisions facing the organization this summer. That’s a substantial figure for a player who often splits frontcourt responsibilities with Chet Holmgren and occasionally closes games from the bench depending on matchups.
The Thunder could decline the option and attempt to negotiate a longer-term contract with a lower annual salary. Such a move would create immediate cap relief while allowing Oklahoma City to retain one of its most valuable role players.
If negotiations become complicated, though, Hartenstein could unexpectedly join one of the five teams best suited for his talents. That could just be a casualty of the team’s financial balancing act.
1. Luguentz Dort
Contract Status: $17.7 Million Team Option
Expected Contract Demands: 4-Year, $72 Million
Luguentz Dort is one of the original members of the Thunder rebuild. His All-NBA-caliber defense, toughness, and willingness to guard the league’s best scorers have made him a fan favorite and an essential part of Oklahoma City’s identity.
The problem isn’t his value as a player, since he averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 34.4% from three while being one year removed from the All-NBA Defensive First Team. The problem is his contract situation.
Dort carries a $17.7 million team option, and while that figure is reasonable for a high-level perimeter defender, the Thunder might decline their option and allow Dort to join one of his four best landing spots this summer.
Oklahoma City may ultimately decide that replacing Dort’s production through younger, cheaper players is the smarter long-term financial decision.
Even if the Thunder pick up his option, he could become one of the team’s most attractive trade assets. Contenders across the league would line up for an elite wing defender who can guard four positions and knock down open threes.
