The Oklahoma City Thunder's post-All-Star Break mandate is clear. They must get the rest of their roster healthy if they hope to make another championship run this season.
With the revelation that both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell will not return to action for at least a week, this task has become immediately more difficult.
Oklahoma City went 5-5 in their final 10 games before the break. They've fallen from the ridiculous heights they reached at the start of the season, and they must now regain their footing in order to hold onto the one-seed.
Yet as much as the Thunder have at stake over their final 26 games of the season, these three players have even more at stake. They will be fighting for their spot on the team going forward.
3 Thunder players who could be unfortunate sacrifices this offseason
Isaiah Hartenstein
Hartenstein's importance is crystal clear. He missed almost a month between Dec. 29 and Jan. 27, and the Thunder's rebounding and interior presence suffered noticeably in his absence.
Oklahoma City has been 0.8 points per 100 possessions better when he's been on the court. But that number alone doesn't tell the full story. Hartenstein's presence is integral to the way the team wants to play, partnering him and Chet Holmgren in the frontcourt to physically impose themselves against their opponents when necessary.
Hartenstein has a team option this offseason, however. With Jalen Williams' and Holmgren's extensions kicking in this offseason, he could be the first casualty of the Thunder's inevitable financial restrictions. He has little chance to avoid this fate unless he proves his status as an absolute necessity in Oklahoma City.
Lu Dort
After an ascendant 2024-25 season, Dort's production in 2025-26 has been somewhat underwhelming. He's averaged just 8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while knocking down 35% of his attempts from beyond the arc through 45 games.
He's remained a consistent starter for the Thunder. But they have an obvious replacement in Cason Wallace if needed, and Dort's team option this offseason presents the organization with a tough decision.
The advantage Dort has over Hartenstein is his tenure in Oklahoma City. He's been an integral part of the team's core since Gilgeous-Alexander's arrival. His $18 million option, moreover, is far preferable to Hartenstein's $28 million figure.
But from a standpoint of production alone, Dort has not earned the right to be extended this season. He'll need to turn things around through this last stretch of the season to secure his place on the team going forward.
Brooks Barnhizer
This is a less obvious one, but Barnhizer also must fight for his spot on the team over the back half of this season. He still has ample room between him and the 50-game threshold for two-way players, but his impact has been limited in his rookie campaign.
Through 29 games, he's averaged just 1.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists on a slim diet of 7.6 minutes per game. On a team as deep as the Thunder, it's hard to blame him for failing to truly crack the rotation.
But Oklahoma City could have as many as four selections in the upcoming draft. Presumably, one of these selections will earn a two-way contract for next season. In order to stick with the Thunder, Barnhizer will have to make the most of whatever limited minutes he receives over the last 26 games of the season.