The Oklahoma City Thunder have one of, if not the best, young cores in all of basketball, but some are questioning how much longer they’re all going to remain together with the second apron changing the way teams can spend in the NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t going anywhere, though the same can’t necessarily be said for Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams, and Ben Golliver of ESPN went as far as to predict that one of the two stars will be dealt in the coming years as a result.
“Oklahoma City will shift from a big three to a big two because of second apron concerns. The Thunder preserved their star trio of Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren this summer by executing a series of cap-clearing trades, but more financial pain awaits next offseason. Gilgeous-Alexander’s salary will spike in the 2027-28 season, forcing the Thunder to make sharp cuts to their supporting cast or consider moving Williams or Holmgren. Constructing a new-and-improved version of the 2012 James Harden trade would help Oklahoma City maintain its depth and remain focused on its long-term sustainability,”
The 24-year-old Holmgren is about to begin the five-year, $239,193,450 contract extension he signed with the Thunder last July, while Williams, 25, is about to begin the same five-year, $239,193,450 contract he signed to remain in Oklahoma City last July.
Holmgren had a solid 2025-26 regular season but went through ups and downs in the postseason, particularly struggling at times against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. On the other hand, Williams’ year was plagued by injury, so there are some concerns with both players, as good as they are.
It could ultimately wind up being a pivotal upcoming season for the Thunder as they determine whether this big three can truly continue competing for championships together and is worth spending big on, or if one needs to be moved to shake it up and open things up financially.
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