Needless to say, the Oklahoma City Thunder are entering their training camp and preseason with massive aspirations.
Although there was some re-shuffling of the roster this summer, their three stars are all still intact, and Oklahoma City should have plenty of depth to mount another run at a championship. The cards simply weren't in their favor last season with the rising San Antonio Spurs taking control of the Western Conference.
But their slate is clean this time around, and as they enter the new season, they're going to need to figure out how this rotation ultimately looks as they battle again for the one seed. We don't want to put an outsized importance on training camp and the preseason. After all, it's hardly ever a signifier of how the regular season will go.
But with new faces and new storylines to follow in Oklahoma City, here's three threads that are worth keeping an eye on over the next few weeks.
3 storylines worth monitoring as the Oklahoma City Thunder begin preparing for 2026-27
1. Jalen Williams needs to look healthy (and needs to be shooting the 3-ball with ease)
Last season simply was never going to go right for Williams. He missed the start of the campaign rehabbing a wrist injury he suffered in the course of Oklahoma City's championship run, and his various absences due to an ailing hamstring prevented him from ever truly finding his footing. It was disappointing when he missed the bulk of the Western Conference Finals bout with San Antonio, but it wasn't surprising.
That being said, though, the Thunder need Williams firing on all cylinders this season if they're going to reach that summit again. His presence both as an additional offensive outlet and as a staunch defender are too important to overcome with sheer depth. He doesn't need to put up major numbers in the preseason, but it would be a massively encouraging sign if he looked healthy, agile, and confident with the ball in his hands again.
Another important storyline to monitor here is his 3-point shooting. Williams' volume and efficiency from beyond the arc dropped precipitously last season—he hit just 29.9% of his 3-point attempts on 2.3 looks per game. It's not the most important tool in his arsenal, but he needs to return back to his mean if the Thunder's offense is going to take on a fuller complexion again in 2026-27.
2. Aday Mara will get the first shot at rotational center minutes
Both Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic will be limited through training camp. For both players, who have struggled through injuries during their young careers, that's a major disappointment. But for 12th overall pick Aday Mara, who's going to be fighting for rotational center minutes behind Isaiah Hartenstein, it represents an opportunity.
It's hard to project what Mara will be able to accomplish during his rookie season. He looked largely outmatched in Summer League, and there are still some lingering concerns around his conditioning that might limit his opportunities over the early portions of this regular season. But if he can turn some things around, flashing his post-passing skill set and clear defensive upside in the preseason, he has a chance to enter 2026-27 with some real momentum on his side.
3. The battle for the 15th roster spot will start before we even realize it
For a team like the Thunder, the 15th roster spot won't truly matter when the playoffs inevitably roll around. But with the re-shaped depth this roster will be dealing with this season, having a viable option there can certainly help in their quest to claim the one seed.
As of now, the 15th roster spot is still open, and Otega Oweh, Josh Dix, and Brooks Barnhizer all theoretically have a chance to claim it as they enter the season on two-way contracts. Right now, it seems as though Oweh—with his staunch defensive approach and downhill scoring skill set—is the clearest choice for that role. The Thunder also still have some trade flexibility and perhaps some flexibility on the buyout market, so that's something to keep an eye on if none of these pieces establish themselves as true rotational options over the course of the season.
But especially for Oweh, who missed much of Summer League with an ankle injury, training camp and the preseason represent an opportunity to ingratiate himself within the Thunder's overall scheme.
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