Thunder 2023 Roster Crunch Will See 21 players vying for 15 spots

Oklahoma City has no shortage of possible roster configurations for the upcoming season, but it does mean some pieces will have to be let go.

Each season team’s have to knock down their rosters to 15 before the season begins. Each team in the NBA has a different way of managing their roster size and each year is different with the circumstances surrounding each individual roster spot.

Last season the Thunder had a difficult roster crunch that saw the team parting ways with a few different young players in order to get down to the 15. This offseason is similar, but even more difficult for the OKC staff and General Manager Sam Presti.

The Thunder roster is chock full of young players who have all contributed in recent years in one way or the other, and all have upside to stick on an NBA roster. In the countdown to next season, there is only one thing for certain: not all of the players currently under contract can remain with OKC.

Prior to Thursday night’s NBA draft the Thunder had 16 players under contract for the 2023-24 campaign. They Thunder then added Cason with the No. 10 pick, Davis Bertans via a trade and Keyontae Johnson with the No. 50 pick in the draft, bringing the grand total to 20 players for 15 spots.

That has to be all, right? 

Not so fast.

Those 20 players don’t take into account the only player from last season’s Thunder team to have their contract expire in Dario Saric.

Saric was a trade deadline acquisition from the Suns in a deal that sent Darius Bazley to Phoenix. He provided a solid 3-point presence off of the bench and would make sense as a free agent target for OKC if they do want to bring him back. The number also doesn’t account for Vasilije Micic and the recent rumors surrounding him. Micic has been reported to be in OKC to possibly discuss a contract that would bring him to the Thunder from Europe, where he has been dominant. If Micic does want to, finally, come over to the NBA and discuss a contract with the Thunder he adds another name to a long, growing list to fit into 15 spots.

The Thunder also signed two rookies after the draft. Rutgers wing Caleb McConnell signed an Exhibit 10 deal and signed Adam Flagler as an UDFA. Though it’s likely, barring big breakouts, these two players won’t be fighting for a roster spot with OKC.

Obviously there are players who are guaranteed roster spots for next season. The key pillars of the roster barring far out, extremely unlikely circumstances will not be involved in the cut down. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are locked into their spots. Contracts for these guys don’t matter as they are the young pillars of what the Thunder have built around.

Lu Dort won’t be cut as part of the roster crunch, but he could be a part of a trade as the OKC roster becomes more competitive. Dort is under contract for three more seasons and has a club option for a fourth before being an unrestricted free agent in 2027. He’ll be making anywhere from $15 million to $17 million in those seasons. He could be a part of a deal, but for all intents and purposes he’ll have a spot in the roster should OKC stay away from the market.

With those players locked in, that leaves 10 available roster spots with 16 players under contract, Saric and Micic remaining to fill in the roster.

Now comes the top bench players. Isaiah Joe broke out last season after the Thunder signed him. He proved to be a lethal 3-point threat and key bench piece for the unit. He’s on a small non-guaranteed deal through this year and has a club option for the 2024-25 season.

Despite an injury last season Kenrich Williams is a key older piece to the Thunder team and when he’s healthy he’s one of the top bench options with his ability to defend and his high IQ.

Aleksej Pokusevski remains one of OKC’s projects, but despite injuries last season showed some flashes of his potential. His added size and length is also significant with OKC’s lack of depth inside. Pokusevski is in the final year of his rookie deal and will be a restricted free agent after this upcoming season.

Ousmane Dieng is another project in OKC. Last year’s No. 11 pick finished his rookie season with an OK campaign. His season was hampered by a wrist injury and long stints in the G League. Though there is hope as he has a lot of potential as an NBA wing and he’s not on an expensive contract. He’ll have a spot on the 15-man roster.

The Thunder didn’t stay back and wait for a rookie to fall to them in Thursday’s draft instead they jumped up two spots and grabbed Cason Wallace. Wallace is guaranteed a spot on the roster, barring unknown circumstances. He’s a great defender and can drive to the rim and make plays offensively.

With those five players likely holding up the top spots on the bench that brings the total to 10 locks with only five spots remaining and 11 possible options.

Jaylin Williams could take up another spot on the roster. He showed a lot of promise last season after taking over the starting center role last season. Williams likely won’t start with Chet Holmgren and other big men healthy coming into the season, but as someone who plays a position that OKC is thin he may get the benefit of that and get a roster spot.

Now the players who could be let go, traded or moved to the OKC Blue. With limited spots available and still a lot of players under contract these are the players in need of a strong off-season to prove themselves.

Tre Mann struggled in his second season with the Thunder after a strong rookie campaign. With the OKC guard room getting stronger Mann may end up being the odd man out and is in danger of losing his spot. Mann remains on his rookie deal and is slated to be an RFA after this upcoming season. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is another player who fell down the roster in his second season. As Jaylin Williams excelled JRE dealt with injuries and is undersized to play center at the NBA level. His contract is non-guaranteed this season and would be an easy contract dump if OKC decides to go separate ways.

Aaron Wiggins and Lindy Waters are two wing players who will be fighting for minutes and position in the roster crunch. Wiggins has shown more upside and has continued to play a larger role than Waters, which could bode well for him.

The final two players fighting for position are the two other draft acquisitions for OKC on Thursday. Davis Bertans and Keyontae Johnson. Johnson as a late second-round pick could likely spend most of his time in the G League to see how he develops. Bertans on the other hand is a veteran that could see new life in OKC. He’s a shooting big man standing at 6-foot-10. He didn’t play the biggest role in Dallas and his large $22 million contract could be one OKC looks to deal before the season to keep off the books.

The Thunder could go a lot of different directions and none of them likely wrong answers, but with the off-season ramping up and the season drawing closer decisions loom and they’ll determine the path OKC faces. 

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