The season ended with a Western Conference Finals collapse against San Antonio. Now comes the hard part. Not winning. Keeping the team together.
Can OKC Afford Jalen Williams?
In fact, they've already committed to him long-term. Jalen Williams agreed to a rookie max extension that could be worth up to $287 million. The Thunder have made it clear they view him as part of their core alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.
Jalen isn't going anywhere. Even after an injury-plagued season, he's still viewed as one of the franchise pillars.
Do They Trade Chet Holmgren?
Not after one bad series. Chet was disappointing in the Western Conference Finals, but Oklahoma City already committed to him with a five-year extension worth up to $250 million. Teams don't hand out that type of contract and then trade the player months later.
The bigger concern isn't Game 7. It's that San Antonio exposed some real weaknesses:
- Physicality
- Rebounding
- Strength in the paint
- Ability to score when the jumper isn't falling
Against most teams, Chet's skill set is a major advantage.
Against Wembanyama and the Spurs' length, he struggled.
That doesn't mean trade him. It means help him.
What Actually Hurt OKC?
The Western Conference Finals exposed something bigger than Chet - a lack of secondary scoring. When Shai struggled, where was the offense? Game 7 tells the story:
That's not enough support. The Thunder needed another reliable scorer. The Spurs had multiple players reach double figures while OKC became too dependent on Shai's creation.
The Bigger Problem: The New Salary Cap
The real issue isn't this summer. It's the next few years.
With Shai, Jalen, and Chet all on massive contracts, OKC will eventually face difficult decisions regarding role players and depth. Analysts have already pointed to future luxury-tax and second-apron concerns once those deals fully kick in.
That's where Sam Presti earns his money.
What I Would Do
Keep The Big Three
Shai. Jalen. Chet. No panic trades.
Add Size
San Antonio exposed a need for more frontcourt muscle. The Thunder need another physical big who can rebound and defend.
Keep Developing Cason Wallace
Wallace was one of the bright spots of the series. His Game 7 performance showed he can be more than a role player.
Find Another Shot Creator
When Shai was trapped or tired late in games, OKC's offense became predictable. They need another player capable of creating offense without Shai initiating every possession.
S³ Final Verdict
This isn't a team that should blow anything up. The Thunder just ran into a matchup nightmare - Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, a Spurs team that got better as the series went on.
The Thunder don't need a rebuild. They need adjustments.
The question isn't whether Oklahoma City can contend again. The question is whether they can survive the next few years financially while keeping enough depth around Shai, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren to compete with a Spurs team that may be just getting started.
