The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) harshly penalizes franchises that grossly mismanage their cap sheet by racking up immense salaries. It’s more vital than ever to correctly utilize cap space, which is a strength for Sam Presti and the OKC Thunder.
OKC Thunder Own A Clean Cap Sheet Until 2026
Because the Thunder are an extremely young team built on rookie contracts and bargain deals, they possess an enormous amount of flexibility. Their core players combine for 77.2 percent of the salary cap this season and an estimated 75.7 percent next season. That’s roughly 36 and 34 million in space, respectively. The figure for next season doesn’t include a potential new contract for restricted free agent Aleksej Pokusevski, but it assuredly won’t be too expensive.
Since Sam Presti opted for asset accumulation this off-season, OKC is currently over the salary cap due to the acquisitions of Davis Bertans and Victor Oladipo. However, Oladipo’s contract is expiring, while Bertans is guaranteed only $5,000,000 next season. Therefore, expect OKC to retain flexibility for the next three seasons until Giddey (2025), Holmgren (2026), and Jalen Williams (2026) all secure monster deals.
Essentially, the Thunder can experiment with cap space or absorb large contracts until the 2026 off-season, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren will terrorize the cap sheet. What’s the optimal plan for the present with that future in mind?
How OKC Thunder Should Utilize Cap Space Now
The OKC Thunder are quickly transforming into a perennial contender, and one significant addition could boost them into serious contention this season. However, OKC cannot afford to add hefty contracts that extend to the 2026-27 season.
The ideal target is an All-Star two-way wing on a bargain contract for the next three seasons. Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges perfectly fits the description, and it’s not unreasonable that they would move him for a massive offer.
Though, They reportedly turned down four first round picks at the deadline, but that’s child’s play for the OKC Thunder, who own 11 first round picks and a swap in the next four drafts. Though, all indications are that the Nets want to build around Bridges. A trade framework could revolve around the following:
Thunder receive:
Mikal Bridges
Dorian Finney-Smith
Nets receive:
Davis Bertans
Victor Oladipo
Ousmane Dieng
Aleksej Pokusevski
Tre Mann
As many future first round picks as it takes
Bridges is an elite perimeter defender, three-point shooter, and scorer that provides yet another option for OKC’s offense. Meanwhile, the Thunder fielded a rock-solid defense last season, and they now add Bridges, Holmgren, and Wallace. Losing Dieng stings, but it would have been difficult for OKC to pay him since he enters free agency with Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
With this trade, the Thunder would have the following deadly playoff rotation:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren
Micic, Joe, Dort, Kenrich Williams, Jaylin Williams
Wallace, Wiggins, Finney-Smith
It’s filled with self-shot creation, playmaking, defense, shooting, and depth at all levels. The Thunder would immediately vault into championship contender status for the next few seasons. OKC’s cap sheet also remains relatively clean, as they would hover around the salary cap mark for the next two seasons before jumping to the tax line in the 2025-26 season due to Giddey’s new deal. Bridges enters free agency with Holmgren and Jalen Williams, so the Thunder could maximize his prime years (27-29) before parting ways.
Overall, OKC must efficiently use their cap flexibility before it’s completely diminished in 2026. A win-now veteran is the ideal path because there is no need for further asset accumulation, and Bridges checks every box. It’s time to finally cash in and make the Godfather offer to Brooklyn.
Editors note: In all likelihood, the OKC Thunder will elect to remain patient and not make a splash-y trade. Though, Mikal Bridges is certainly an appealing player to target for this group.
0:00 – Intro
0:48 – OKC’s Problem
2:52 – Warriors Reponse
4:08 – What The Thunder Should Do
5:02 – Thunder Season So Far
29 Comments
To me the anti-Warriors rules are pretty bullshit. Warriors was also pretty much built the right way.
Adam Silver really is the worst NBA commissioner ever, creating a generation of players who don't abide to contracts, turning NBA into elementary school basketball where a simple touch is a foul, and putting in rules to not allow teams to build tvia draft and player development.
U tripping dort is not getting a max and they would trade Giddey out the whole core
They are not all max players
WTF is this OKC has a bright future and the fact you analyze this team like we’re repeating with KD Harden and Westbrook OKC will be very bright and OKC take care their players how the Warriors took care of their players
We not trading Jay-Dub fam!
half of what you said just is not accurate. do your research and look up sam presti. this whole vid is an overreaction
Thoughts? 👇🏾
Bro Look at the Suns and the clippers etc. how they gone pay Russ, kawhi, mann, harden, Goerge …. people just be saying stupid shit cuz they sad the thunder are gonna run the league in the years to come we aint tradin nobody we got picks for that we dont need to go get anybody we got a team right here. they will 100% be able to pay everyone we were literally so far under the capp last year the offered players more money. motherfuckers are jealous of what sam presti has built and all i can say is STAY ON THAT SIDE. We Thrive off the Doubt and ignorant comments. #ThunderUp
Lu Dort and Giddey are not getting max deals from any team.
In presti we trust
Shai, Chet, and J Dub should get the max if they want to keep this future dynasty. Dort will take a paycut to stay hes not selfish like that. Giddy is the one that i dont know about.
Yap session
Yeah so you def don’t know OKC well or Presti 😂 They will 100% for sure be able to keep SGA-J-Dub-Chet AT MINIMUM. That’s 3 Superstars my guy with the ability to fill in your roster with high draft picks as role players. I promise you Presti has thought this out since the day PG wanted that trade and it started with Securing there Superstar SGA. 99% of OKC fans aren’t dumb, we know who’s left out, but we also know we have the best GM in the game and the best core to build from that you could possibly ask for.
They'll trade giddey for either more picks or a good player on a good contract
Bro they're not getting rid of jalen williams. His game compliments SGA and Chet. They'll get rid of giddy his game is similar to sga
As a thunder fan who keeps up with every single interview of every player coach and GM I can tell u these guys have said multiple times especially chet they wanna be here long term Im willing to bet someone is willing to take a pay cut to get paid later on down the line im confident presti will figure it out
Y’all must not know what presti always saying
Let Giddey walk. Problem fixed.
You are trippin
Lol that’s funny
Ruined?? They just getting started
But sadly I could see that happening.. I don’t think it will, but history does repeat itself
Nah. They have the culture. These guys will win a chip then each of them can cash in if they like.
Stop
Stop talking… thunder up
Even if we trust Presti, Clay Benett and the rest of the ownership still owns the power whether who of these young players they will decide to pay. And if they are willing to pay at least 40M – 50M to about 4 of these players, then OKC will be fine.
chet and shai are worth the max. bye giddey
If I was a good player on a great team, I would GLADLY take less money and win multiple rings. Like $15-18 mill aint enough money??
Nope dort staying. Jdub can go tho
you're right, josh giddey IS getting a super max!
(federal correctional facility)
This is a result of wade lebron and bosh creating a team in Miami not the golden state warriors