The Thunder’s impressive 2023-24 season has officially ended.
After becoming the youngest team in NBA history to win a playoff series, the Thunder could not get past the Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Led by the trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, OKC has one of the NBA’s brightest futures. With an average age of 25.0 years, this year’s run signaled that the franchise has returned to prominence well ahead of schedule.
If any franchise knows the importance of capitalizing on early success, it’s the Thunder. OKC enters a crucial offseason in which front office maestro Sam Presti will be tasked with making the right moves to bring this team one step closer to being a title contender.
Here’s a snapshot of the situation that faces the Thunder this offseason.
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Key storyline: Does Josh Giddey have a future in Oklahoma City?
In March, The Sporting News’ Steph Noh outlined the Thunder’s Josh Giddey problem, a product of the Australian guard’s adverse effect on OKC’s offense.
That problem was impossible to ignore during the Thunder’s playoff run.
It became evident that Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was in search of answers when he moved Giddey to the bench to start the second half of Game 2 in favor of reserve sharpshooter Aaron Wiggins. Daigneault fully leaned into the switch by moving Giddey to the bench for Game 6 and starting sharpshooter Isaiah Joe.
It’s no secret that Giddey’s shooting is a weakness, and he’s unable to lean on his strengths of playmaking and rebounding when playing alongside the Thunder’s main lineup. Given Oklahoma City’s depth and the issues this fit has caused, it may be time for the parties to part ways.
Giddey finished up his third NBA season and is set to earn $ 8.4 million next season. Essentially a 6-8 lead guard, Giddey’s playmaking and rebounding could be valuable at an affordable rate, just not in OKC.
What could a trade chip like Giddey net the Thunder? An up-and-coming team could benefit greatly from a player like Giddey, who won’t turn 22 until October.
The Thunder’s future doesn’t exactly hinge on finding a home — or different role — for Giddey, but handling the situation correctly could propel the Thunder closer to having a championship-ready roster.
Should the Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Williams trio continue to improve at this trajectory, the Thunder won’t need a blockbuster, just a move akin to Denver’s motion to acquire Aaron Gordon or Boston’s Derrick White move.
Championship rosters are often perfected within the margins.
Thunder upcoming free agents
The Thunder could get younger as the team’s three oldest players are unrestricted free agents in 2024. OKC can exercise team options to retain Isaiah Joe, Lindy Waters III and Aaron Wiggins.
Joe, Waters and Wiggins are on the books for a combined $ 6.3 million, a bargain given their value to the team. The Thunder could look to extend some combination of those players (or all three).
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Player option | Team option |
| Bismack Biyombo | Keyontae Johnson* | None | Isaiah Joe |
| Gordon Hayward | Olivier Sarr* | Lindy Waters III | |
| Mike Muscala | Aaron Wiggins |
*Two-way contract
Thunder future salaries, roster
Contractually, the Thunder are in an incredible position ahead of the 2024-25 season.
OKC has its franchise player under contract through the 2026-27 season and is set to pay Jalen Williams and Holmgren a combined $ 15.7 million as the two are members of the 2022 NBA Draft class.
The Thunder have financial flexibility and have their most crucial players under team control for the foreseeable future.
| Player | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | $ 35.9 million | $ 38.3 million | $ 40.8 million | UFA |
| Luguentz Dort | $ 16.5 million | $ 17.2 million | $ 17.2 million (TO) | UFA |
| Chet Holmgren | $ 10.9 million | $ 13.7 million (TO) | RFA | |
| Josh Giddey | $ 8.4 million | RFA | ||
| Kenrich Williams | $ 6.7 million | $ 7.2 million | $ 7.2 million (TO) | UFA |
| Cason Wallace | $ 5.6 million | $ 5.8 million (TO) | $ 7.4 million (TO) | RFA |
| Ousmane Dieng | $ 5.0 million | $ 6.7 million (TO) | RFA | |
| Jalen Williams | $ 4.8 million | $ 6.6 million (TO) | RFA | |
| Lindy Waters III | $ 2.2 million (TO) | UFA | ||
| Isaiah Joe | $ 2.2 million (TO) | UFA | ||
| Jaylin Williams | $ 2.0 million (NG) | $ 2.2 million (NG) | UFA | |
| Aaron Wiggins | $ 1.9 million (TO) | UFA | ||
| Adam Flagler | Two-Way | RFA |
PO = Player option
TO = Team option
NG = Non-guaranteed
UFA = Unrestricted free agent
RFA = Restricted free agent
Thunder 2024 NBA Draft picks
The Thunder will select 12th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Oklahoma City owns Houston’s pick as part of a four-team deal that involved the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz.
In Kyle Irving’s most recent two-round mock draft , he has the Thunder selecting Colorado’s Cody Williams, younger brother of Thunder rising star Jalen “J-Dub” Williams.
Here’s what Irving said of the potential pick:
Just like J-Dub, Cody would be a great pick for the Thunder as a long, versatile and athletic wing who can defend at a high level, rebound and score off the ball. His length and energy would be a dream fit for Oklahoma City, and it already has plenty of scoring options to give the younger Williams the necessary time to develop his offensive game.
