Oklahoma City Thunder wing Ajay Mitchell would've been a strong contender for Most Improved Player had he reached the 65-game plateau. Though he can play no more than 60 games in 2025-26, what he's accomplished on the court has mirrored the unrivaled importance of what he provides off of it.
Between his critical contributions as a player and the team-friendly salary that may very well save the Thunder from the devastation of personnel losses, Mitchell is the epitome of elite value.
Mitchell has been sensational during his second season, recording averages of 14.3 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 three-point field goals made in 26.3 minutes per game. It's been a colossal step forward from a player who played just 16.6 minutes per contest in 36 appearances as a rookie.
More important than his individual production, however, is the fact that the Thunder are outscoring opponents by 16.0 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court.
That statistic reflects the type of impact Mitchell has consistently made on the goal of winning games. In addition to being a crafty scorer and playmaker who offers off-ball value, he's a malleable talent who has played essential and evolving roles as the season has progressed.
Considering he's done all of this in the first season of a three-year, $8.7 million contract, there may not be a more valuable player per dollar than Mitchell.
Ajay Mitchell: A rising star making just $8.7 million between now and 2028
Rewind the time to Jan. 21 and the Thunder were 37-8 and looking like an outside threat for a 70-win season. Unfortunately, Mitchell proceeded to miss the next 20 games due to ankle and abdominal injuries, and the Thunder never quite seemed like themselves without him.
Oklahoma City still played well, going 13-7 without Mitchell, but that's a drastic drop in winning percentage from .822 with him to .650 without him.
This isn't meant to paint the picture that Oklahoma City is hopeless without Mitchell, but instead that he makes them a significantly better team. Keep in mind: When All-NBA wing Jalen Williams missed the Thunder's first 19 games, it was Mitchell who stepped up in his absence.
As fate would have it, Mitchell made his return from a 20-game absence on Mar. 9 and posted 24 points in 29 minutes—once again stepping up with Williams sidelined by an injury.
Ajay Mitchell elevates Thunder, offers invaluable financial flexbility
Mitchell's salary has offered the Thunder a degree of flexibility few franchises could even dream of. There are widespread concerns that change could be just over the horizon, with club options for Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein consistently regarded as key turning points.
Oklahoma City is currently projected to be $27,993,372 over the second apron in 2026-27, per Spotrac, and could thus look to cut salary during the upcoming period of free agency.
What Mitchell provides the Thunder with, however, is an opportunity to potentially lose a top talent and still have a star on the rise at a bargain price. Even if Mitchell never realizes that level of his potential, he's already an NBA-caliber wing playing big minutes on the team with the best record in the NBA.
To have that type of value at an average of just $2.9 million per season is a luxury that every general manager in the NBA wishes they had. Then again, few even have a player with his talent level at an annual rate that reflects such abilities.
The fact that the Thunder have found the perfect medium is exactly why the dynastic dream is real.