The Oklahoma City Thunder will need to get used to a new status quo in 2026-27.
In terms of the core of the roster, not much has changed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams are still this team's stars. Isaiah Hartenstein remained with the team this offseason, and their injection of young talent should only serve to help them re-shuffle their depth.
But the trades of Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe have opened up a number of new combinations for Mark Daigneault to play with, especially in the backcourt.
Either Ajay Mitchell or Cason Wallace will step into the starting lineup alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, and the respective skill sets of both players present intriguing combinations. Wallace is an elite perimeter defender, and he'll likely be able to fill Dort's role without many gaps in his play. Mitchell, meanwhile, emerged as a real downhill offensive threat last season, and he can serve as an extra bit of on-ball energy when needed.
But even as the microscope focuses in on those players this season, it could be Jared McCain's development that unlocks this team's ultimate rotational weapon. McCain has already proved himself as a lethal off-ball shooter. But if he's able to improve as a connective passer and get more comfortable in the flow of the offense, the ways in which the Thunder's primary four guards can be utilized will become exponentially more versatile.
The Thunder need all of the flexibility they can get out of their backcourt in 2026-27
McCain was one of the bright spots of last year's playoff run for Oklahoma City. Across 15 playoff appearances, he averaged 10 points, 1.9 rebounds, and one assist while shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc. Those aren't star numbers, but they are certainly numbers worthy of a role in the playoff rotation.
The landscape obviously changes with Dort, Wiggins, and Joe out of the picture, though. Both Wallace and Mitchell will be entrusted with larger roles, and who enters the starting lineup will ultimately come down to who has the better fit with Gilgeous-Alexander in the long run.
While Wallace seems likely to win the starting spot out of the gate, don't be surprised if Daigneault is willing to mix and match on any given night depending on what the team needs.
This ethos, then, extends to McCain. Right now, McCain's role is as a complementary offensive contributor— he doesn't have the physicality or the handle to create much for himself on-ball. He'd need to be paired with either Gilgeous-Alexander or Mitchell (or both) if he's going to see extensive time on the court.
Across his two NBA seasons, he's posted more than three assists in a game just 13 times. He has a viable career assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.7, but his first instinct has always been to take his shot. In some ways, that's what the Thunder need— someone who can launch from anywhere on the court without hesitation.
But if McCain becomes more comfortable with the ball in his hands and more confident funneling the ball to the interior or kicking it out to Oklahoma City's other shooters, suddenly his role can take on a different complexion. Imagine being able to pair McCain with Mitchell off the bench consistently and count on them as the primary offensive engines, or even being able to move McCain into the lineup as a starting shooting guard on rare occasions without sacrificing the flow of the offense.
Much of the Thunder's rotational versatility this season will come down to how they're able to maximize their backcourt combinations. If McCain adds another layer to his game, suddenly their flexibility seems exponentially greater.
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