Thunder's $500 million problem: Execs on what they could -- and should -- do — SkimNews
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- Jalen Williams suffered a fractured left fibula and dislocated ankle, while Cason Wallace suffered a labrum tear; neither is being ruled out for the season, but both face lengthy recoveries.
- Rival executives split on urgency—one urged Sam Presti to trade aggressively to cash in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s prime, another said that prime is not a short window—but the broader read favored patience, echoing Oklahoma City’s decision not to react after Kevin Durant’s three foot surgeries in 2014-15; the Thunder won 45 games that season and 55 the next.
- New Orleans Pelicans were identified as a possible trade partner, with Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III floated as wing targets; Murphy’s $27 million salary and $60 million due over the next two years make the financial fit prohibitive, while Jones’s new extension lowered his trade value.
- Oklahoma City Thunder are projected to surpass $500 million, including luxury taxes, in 2027-28 as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s supermax and Cason Wallace’s five-year, $139 million extension begin next season; a new deal for Ajay Mitchell after his $2.8 million team option could add significantly, with payroll potentially reaching $600 million if no players are offloaded.
- Oklahoma City Thunder does not need to solve payroll immediately: the February 2028 trade deadline is 15 months away, before 2027-28 spending and taxes must be finalized, while a potential one-time expansion payout exceeding $500 million per team and a new taxpayer-funded arena make budgeting uncertain.
- Sam Presti chose a salary-clearing 2024 deadline trade for Gordon Hayward over bundling future first-round picks; the flexibility it created allowed Oklahoma City to sign Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency.
- Oklahoma City Thunder faces a Monday decision on Thomas Sorber’s and Nikola Topic’s options, worth $12.5 million combined next year; declining them would produce potentially $100 million in next-year savings, including luxury taxes.
Why it matters: Oklahoma City’s projected $500 million-plus payroll is not an immediate deadline: Presti has 15 months until February 2028, while a potential one-time expansion payout exceeding $500 million per team and new arena revenue complicate the budget. Declining Sorber and Topic’s options Monday would yield potentially $100 million in next-year savings, including luxury taxes, without a trade.
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