The Oklahoma City Thunder have assembled arguably the best roster in basketball, which is why they’re the defending champions and current favorites to win the title again for a second consecutive season.
Keeping such an impressive collection of talent together gets expensive though. The Thunder are about to learn that the hard way, as they might have to make some difficult decisions over the offseason for financial reasons.
Thunder Predicted to Lose Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein in Free Agency
Star players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are locked up for the foreseeable future, but the Thunder are in danger of losing other key contributors.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report thinks that both Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein’s days in Oklahoma City may be numbered. Both players have team options on their contracts for the 2026-27 NBA season. Dort’s option is for just north of $19 million, while Hartenstein’s is for $28.5 million.
The Thunder could generate some serious cap space by declining one or both of those player options, which Pincus points to as a real possibility.
“Dort ($18.2 million) and Hartenstein ($28.5 million) may also find their team option declined. The Thunder are facing either monster luxury taxes or parting with one or both of their key players. Dort, at important as he is to the club, may be more expendable since Hartenstein can play alongside Holmgren, or in his place should the All-Star big man sit out games with injury,” Pincus wrote.
“The most likely path is for both players to be pushed into unrestricted free agency, with the Thunder hoping to negotiate a longer, but initially cheaper, deal with Hartenstein. The challenge is that he immediately becomes one of the top available big men on the market and a potential target for teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.”
Given the success that they’ve had, both guys would probably want to remain with the Thunder, if given the opportunity. At the end of the day though, basketball is a business, and it will be up to the organization to make the final call on both guys.
The Thunder Have Three Players With Team Options for the 2026-27 NBA Season
In addition to Dort and Hartenstein, the Thunder have one other player with a team option attached to his contract for next season – Kenrich Williams. The Thunder could clear an addition $7 million-plus off the books for next season by declining his option. All of the other non-two-way players on the roster are under contract for next season. That’s some pretty impressive roster control.
The Thunder are unlikely to part with three role players over the offseason, as doing so would decimate their depth, which has been a strength of theirs in recent years. But, they will definitely have some decisions to make, and some legitimate avenues to free up cap space in order to make outside additions in free agency.
Before that though they have another postseason ahead of them that they hope ends with a second consecutive championship.
Oklahoma City Thunder Predicted to Lose Two Key Contributors in Free Agency