Thunder, Presti saves $224 million and adds seven picks
It wasn’t a rebuild – it was a calculated move. The Oklahoma City Thunder kept their core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams intact while adding Draft capital and creating major salary cap flexibility
The Oklahoma City Thunder have just proven that in the NBA, winning isn’t only about keeping everything that works. Sometimes, you have to make difficult decisions if you want to keep winning.
Following their loss in the Western Conference Finals, the front office led by Sam Presti chose a risky but carefully calculated path: sacrifice some key contributors from the championship roster to protect the franchise’s future.
The result? $224 million saved in salary and luxury tax commitments, seven future second-round Draft picks added to their asset pool, and a $17 million trade exception.
It’s another move that reinforces the Thunder’s long-term vision.
The Dort trade was a financial decision. The savings we generated this summer, along with the money we’ve saved by avoiding the luxury tax over the past few years, will be reinvested into future Thunder teams
Sam Presti
The biggest move came on Sunday, when Shams Charania reported a three-team trade that sent Lu Dort and Ryan Nembhard to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Dallas Mavericks were also involved in the deal, acquiring former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, while Oklahoma City received three future second-round Draft picks.
Moving Dort wasn’t an isolated decision. Before him, the Thunder had already parted ways with two other key members of their championship roster: Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
Three important players. Three pieces of a team that had just reached the top of the NBA.
The Thunder sacrifice depth, not their core
The most important thing for Oklahoma City is simple: the core remains untouched.
The Thunder have kept their Big Three intact:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Chet Holmgren
- Jalen Williams
They remain both the present and the future of the franchise.
Presti’s strategy was clear: avoid getting trapped by the NBA’s new second apron restrictions by moving key rotation players while preserving the flexibility to build a championship contender for years to come.
The Thunder’s plan: win today without sacrificing tomorrow
In an NBA where the salary cap can quickly become a cage, Oklahoma City chose to act before it was forced to.
The franchise turned three valuable players into:
- $224 million in savings
- Seven future second-round Draft picks
- Greater salary cap flexibility
- Additional opportunities in the trade market
At first glance, the strategy may seem like a step backward, but it perfectly aligns with the philosophy of a franchise determined to keep its championship window open for as long as possible.
The Thunder didn’t dismantle a championship team. They simply chose to make sure they won’t be caught unprepared when the next set of challenges arrives.
And with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams still at the center of the project, Oklahoma City remains one of the brightest long-term contenders in the entire NBA.