With news breaking late Sunday night that the OKC Thunder are trading guard Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks for picks, their offseason plan is becoming crystal clear.
General manager Sam Presti is attempting to maneuver around the second-apron roadblock, and he is trimming the fat to do so. The next name on that list could be none other than Isaiah Joe.
Like Wiggins, Joe fell victim to the Thunder's overwhelming depth as the season progressed and struggled to carve out a consistent role. While Wiggins averaged a mere 5.8 minutes per game during the postseason, Joe didn't fare much better. Once thought to be important pieces of the championship puzzle, both have seen their roles diminish to the point of irrelevance. Now, fans will likely see Joe endure the same fate as Wiggins.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing a trade to send guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks (Atlanta's in 2030 and the least favorable of Hawks/Lakers in 2032), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ypffJ3jMOk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
For some time now, the main goal for the Thunder was to get under the second apron this offseason. That said, there were several ways to do that. With Chet Holmgren in line for a payday next season and the Thunder set to take on three more salaries via the draft, Presti began the offseason with a few options.
Thunder's offseason strategy is becoming apparent
That being said, it appears he is electing for the safest of those choices. During the second half of the season, it was clear that OKC had more quality players than spots in the rotation. Players like Wiggins, Joe, Kenrich Williams, and others, who were non-factors in a number of Thunder victories, could easily earn significant playing time elsewhere. Now, Wiggins gets to do just that, and Joe is awaiting his turn.
The former Arkansas product came off a season in which he made $12.3 million, good for sixth-most on the team. Wiggins made just over $10 million in his own right. By slowly chiseling down the current payroll, Presti is attempting to make room for incoming talent he may pick up through the draft.
The trade on Sunday night was essentially a punt. In return for the guard, the Thunder received two second-round picks, one in 2030 and one in 2032. Given the fact that they won't reap any benefits of the deal for another four years, it's obvious that Presti's first priority was to dump unnecessary salary, not to improve the team for the upcoming season.
The writing is on the wall for Joe, who finds himself in a nearly identical boat as the now-Hawk. He has given fans plenty to cheer about in his time in Bricktown, and, like Wiggins, will probably have Thunder faithful rooting for him after his inevitable departure.
Add us as a preferred source on Google