The Oklahoma City Thunder have some financial work to do this offseason. At this juncture, that much is certainly clear.
Beyond that, though, not much else is known. The Thunder have expressed their willingness to dip into the second apron if it means keeping the core of their roster together. But with 15 players currently under contract for next season (including three team options) and three separate selections in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, one thing is obvious— somebody has to go.
Ideally, it won't be Isaiah Hartenstein, who has a $28 million team option this offseason. But there are complicated factors at play here. At the very least, it's prudent to keep an eye out for a potential replacement for Hartenstein's services. With the Austin Reaves sweepstakes beginning to unfold, one could slowly be emerging.
Michael Scotto at HoopsHype reported that the Detroit Pistons have registered interest in Reaves, who is expected to enter free agency this offseason after he eventually declines his $14.9 million player option. But if the Pistons succeed in that hunt, they'll be forced to make a number of moves to fit in Reaves' contract, which could result in the availability of center Paul Reed on the trade market.
"In addition, a Reaves pursuit would require more acrobatics than Simone Biles in the Olympics. Detroit would have to pick up the $4 million team option on Daniss Jenkins, renounce cap holds on [Tobias] Harris, Kevin Huerter, and Malik Beasley, waive Duncan Robinson, likely trade Caris LeVert and one of Paul Reed or Marcus Sasser, and decline Tolu Smith’s $2.4 million team option to be able to offer Reaves a max contract..." Michael Scotto, HoopsHype
Paul Reed could be an adequate Isaiah Hartenstein replacement if he becomes available
Again, the Thunder should do everything they can to hold onto Hartenstein. He was invaluable in the playoffs when matched up against Victor Wembanyama. His presence at the five-spot grants Oklahoma City an enviable flexibility in their usage of shot-blocker Chet Holmgren. He has a team option for $28 million this offseason. If he wants to tear that up and sign a longer, more team-friendly deal, there's a real chance the Thunder are able to hold onto him.
But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has publicly expressed his desire for the team to retain Luguentz Dort, whose $18 million team option, if retained, could make Hartenstein a necessary candidate for a sign-and-trade.
This scenario has multiple moving parts, and it's therefore a relatively remote possibility at this point. But if you map out the logistics, it starts to make sense.
We don't need to spend long justifying Reaves' fit with Detroit. The Pistons took a major leap in 2025-26, winning 60 games during the regular season and finishing as the first seed in the Eastern Conference. But their lack of shooting and additional offensive playmaking beyond Cade Cunningham showed in the playoffs. They were taken to seven games by the Orlando Magic and lost in Game 7 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. A player like Reaves could be what they need to get their offense over the hump.
But what about Reed for the Thunder? Reed is not as offensively skilled as Hartenstein, but he does present exactly what Oklahoma City needs alongside Holmgren— physicality and rebounding. Reed averaged a strong 11.7 rebounds per 36 minutes last season, and he held the 18th-highest offensive rebounding percentage in the league at 14.2. In 2026-27, he'll entering the second season of a two-year, $10.9 million deal he signed with Detroit.
Obviously, Reed is not a one-to-one comp with Hartenstein. But a center rotation of Holmgren, Reed, and Thomas Sorber is, at the very least, an appealing thought.
If Reed ultimately becomes available this offseason, even apart from the Reaves sweepstakes, he's a player the Thunder should be keeping tabs on.
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