Latest news with #SecondApron
USA Today
09-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN: NBA Executive believes OKC Thunder's next great rival is against CBA
After winning an NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season as a popular pick to repeat. They had one of the greatest years ever with a historic 68-14 regular-season record and an all-time best point differential built up with frequent blowouts. The celebrations didn't stop after their parade. The Thunder signed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren contract extensions that'll keep them together for the rest of the 2020s decade. Besides some bottom of the depth chart changes, OKC will run it back with the same group. While some NBA teams spent their offseason upgrading their rosters, it sounds like the rest of the league is more interested in seeing how the Thunder can keep their roster together once the payroll dramatically increases starting in the 2026-27 season when Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren take up around 85% of the payroll. In ESPN's latest "The Hoop Collective" podcast episode, Brian Windhorst revealed an interesting anecdote from an NBA executive. The decision-maker told the media personality in a tongue-in-cheek manner that the next great rivalry will be how the Thunder handles the CBA with their impending expensive roster. 'I was talking to an NBA executive the other day. He goes, 'What are the great rivalries of the game today?' And I'm like, 'Boy, is this an August question. I need to come up with something," Windhorst said. "Then he's like, 'Well, I know what the next great rivalry is in the NBA… The Thunder vs. the CBA.' That adds to the growing concerns that the Thunder may not be able to keep their roster together. The rest of the NBA will soon circle OKC like vultures to slowly see the NBA champion's window close. But their imaginations may be more colorful than reality. Of course, the CBA isn't what the Thunder should be worried about. They're set there. Instead, it'll be the possible cap space limitations like a repeater's tax, along with the First and Second Aprons. Serving as a hard cap, the Aprons have allowed teams to spread the league's talent across teams. We've seen that affect some teams already. The LA Clippers didn't bring back Paul George because of it. The Boston Celtics have shed Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday this offseason to save some money during their gap year next season. For the Thunder, they're better set up than anybody else to fight the Second Apron limitations. They've already won a championship, which means this group has accomplished its goal already. And while the rest of the roster might change over time, the Big 3 being under contract for the next five-plus years gives you enough wiggle room to remain a contender as long as Williams and Holmgren take the next step in their development. And then there's the pile of draft picks the Thunder sit on. They have the chance to get premium draft picks simultaneously with deep playoff runs. That's thanks to other teams gifting them picks. It's already happened twice in recent years. They were given back-to-back top-15 picks from the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat these last two drafts. Of course, championship windows don't last forever. The Thunder will need to make some tough roster decisions next offseason with some of their role players. And there's no guarantee they win another championship because of other factors outside of their control. But the NBA executive's opinion, even if it was just a joke, isn't a reflection of reality. As long as Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren remain healthy, they'll always be in the title conversations. That's how important it is to have multiple All-NBA-esque players on your roster.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
OKC Commits To Future With Chet Holmgren And Jalen Williams Deals
Basketball: Oklahoma City Thunder Jalen Williams (8) and Chet Holmgren (7) in action, look on vs. ... More Houston Rockets at the Paycom Center. Oklahoma City, OK 3/3/2025 CREDIT: Greg Nelson (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164686 TK1) It's been a significant offseason for the Oklahoma City Thunder after winning the NBA Championship, especially as it relates to extending core pieces of the roster long-term. First, it was reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who signed a record-breaking deal to remain in OKC through his prime, but now Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams have joined him. Oklahoma City has committed over $800 million in future salary to that group of three, signaling that this is the core squad being built around moving forward. Both players were signed to rookie max extensions with identical bases, at 25% of the cap, but reportedly have different levels of upside based on future incentives. Williams' deal is worth upward of $287 million over five years, while Holmgren's is closer to $250 million of upside. While those are seemingly massive numbers for a pair of young players, set to make roughly half a billion dollars over five years once these extensions kick in, it's important to remember that the salary cap continues to rise. These deals are no different than the rookie max extensions of years past; it's just that the payouts are higher overall, given these contracts are predicated on a percentage of the cap. Bigger picture, it is important to acknowledge the fact that Williams, Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander are set to make between 85% and 95% of the cap in the very near future. None of these three players' extensions kick in until after the 2025-26 campaign, but at that point the Thunder's financial situation gets interesting. Signing this trio to major deals doesn't mean that Oklahoma City's championship window is closing anytime soon. In fact, the Thunder is still extremely well positioned to put quality supporting casts around these three players moving forward to ensure sustained contention status. It will undoubtedly be a different look each season. Notably, players on the current roster could be on the move after this upcoming season, but that doesn't mean the Thunder can't still be championship favorites. Even with the new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) and the Second Apron, Oklahoma City can avoid having to tear down the roster by simply trading away pieces like Isaiah Hartenstein before needing to get into extension talks when bringing players like him back will be very difficult. The Thunder is still the favorite to win it all in the 2025-26 campaign, and now the three clear best players on the roster are locked in for at least five more seasons, Oklahoma City isn't going anywhere. The roster is getting more expensive, but with the draft capital the Thunder has and the proven ability to make great moves on the margin, this recent championship is still just the beginning. Even with the core three taking up the vast majority of the cap in future seasons, that's part of building a potential dynasty. The Thunder will need to be a tax-paying team in the future to maintain a competitive roster, but that's something ownership has been willing to do for competitive teams in the past. Furthermore, a new arena is on the horizon and the team having success into the next four or five years is extremely important for ownership. Overall, this has been a phenomenal offseason for the Thunder as the three stars on the roster are now under contract for at least five more years.
