[Slater & MacMahon] While Gilgeous-Alexander publicly vowed not to provide input to Presti on personnel matters, sources familiar with the superstar’s thinking said that he privately intends to emphasize to management how much he values playing alongside Canadian countryman Dort.
WHILE HOLMGREN UNDERWHELMED and Williams was mostly unavailable in the conference finals, the Thunder’s role players showed why they’re so important to the team – and why the cost of keeping them might become prohibitive.
Hartenstein, Dort and Alex Caruso all reiterated a desire to stay with the Thunder during their exit interviews.
Caruso, entering the second season of a four-year, $81 million extension, is considered a firm member of the long-term core, league sources said, proving again his extreme playoff value the past month in the locker room and on the court.
Hartenstein and Dort also remained beloved organizationally, but their team options demand a more urgent decision – opt them into an expiring, opt them out, trade the number at a positive market value or work out a decline-and-extend at a lower starting number.
There is a strong anticipation among team and league sources that Hartenstein will be back in Oklahoma City next season, whether the Thunder choose to pick up his team option or the sides agree to an extension. With Wembanyama and the Spurs looming as a long-term rival, it would be a significant step in the wrong direction for the Thunder to thin out their big man depth, especially after Hartenstein had some success defending Wembanyama during the West finals.
The decision on Dort is considered murkier, in part due to Wallace’s presence as a potential replacement in the starting lineup who is in line for a significant raise, starting in the 2027-28 season. While Gilgeous-Alexander publicly vowed not to provide input to Presti on personnel matters, sources familiar with the superstar’s thinking said that he privately intends to emphasize to management how much he values playing alongside Canadian countryman Dort. Dort switched agents from Thaddeus Foucher to Klutch Sports’ Mike George this season, a move that hardly signifies a willingness to accept a team-friendly deal.
Executives with other teams are also monitoring whether the Thunder could seek to trade other players to shed salary and limit the luxury tax bill – or simply make room on their roster. Including the three players with team options – Hartenstein, Dort and Kenrich Williams -- Oklahoma City has 15 players under contract for 2026-27, plus two first-round picks in this month’s draft, both of whom would receive guaranteed contracts if the Thunder made both picks.
The most likely candidates to be moved in a trade to rebalance the roster are Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, who have proved to be quality role players but fell out of the rotation during these playoffs. Joe is due \(11.3 million next season and has a team option at the same salary for 2027-28. Wiggins is due \)9.2 million next season and \(8.3 million in 2027-28 with an \)8.3 million team option in 2028-29.
Kenrich Williams, another quality role player who has been in and out of Oklahoma City’s deep rotation, has a team option for $7.2 next season. Rival executives anticipate that the Thunder will decline that option, although Williams could return at a reduced salary.
That trio combined to average 10.7 points in the conference finals. OKC has recent first-round picks Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber waiting in the wings should some role players need to be shed for cost purposes.
One major factor in this series of decisions will be the financial pain threshold level of Bennett and the ownership group. With three additional first-round picks plus a pair of swaps in their treasure chest, the Thunder won’t be as impacted by second-apron ramifications such as the freezing of their own future first-round pick.
The Thunder, who own the 12th, 17th and 37th picks in the upcoming draft, are expected to be active in trade discussions during the draft. League sources said they’ve had exploratory discussions with teams in the top 10 about what it could take to move up, the type of trade that is typically dependent on a specific target still being available when a pick goes on the clock.