The Oklahoma City Thunder's cap situation has come to a head this offseason.
With the extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren kicking in, they were forced to make roster decisions based on purely financial reasons for the first time in this current era of the team. While the production of Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe is replaceable, these were not easily undertaken moves.
As we enter the new season, though, things will only get tighter. Cason Wallace is eligible for an extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, and the Thunder are waiting with dread for the time when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's contract kicks up to its whopping $60 million annual value.
Every contract decision from here on out takes on the utmost importance.
Most of these choices, though, can wait until next offseason—including extensions for Wallace, Jared McCain, and Ajay Mitchell. Nikola Topic can't.
The Thunder will need to make a decision on Topic, who has played just 10 games over his two NBA seasons in an inspiring battle back from injury and a testicular cancer diagnosis, by Oct. 31—the deadline to active his fourth-year team option.
As much promise as Topic seems to hold as a pure playmaker, this will represent a nearly impossible decision for Oklahoma City.
Thunder's decision on Nikola Topic's team option will be a gamble no matter what
For most teams, picking up Topic's team option would be a no-brainer.
Although his time on the NBA court has obviously been limited, Oklahoma City just spent a lottery pick on him in 2024, selecting the Serbian guard with the 12th overall pick in the draft. Beyond that, though, he holds serious promise at a position of need for the Thunder—back-up point guard.
He's likely the best pure passer on the Thunder roster, and he carved up the G-League last year upon his return to action—averaging 18.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 46.5% from beyond the arc across 13 games.
Oklahoma City needs as much backcourt and ball-handling depth as they can get, and Topic certainly provides that if he can remain healthy.
But with the Thunder's current financial landscape, every dollar needs to be accounted for. As the former 12th overall pick, Topic will be owed roughly $7.5 million in the fourth year of his deal, per Spotrac. If you optimistically project an extension for Wallace somewhere in the range of $20-22 million annually, that still puts the Thunder over the second apron in 2027-2028.
If a change of scenery for Topic is the best thing for both parties, so be it—especially because Topic's minutes will be limited this season by the current structure of the Thunder's depth chart. But the problem is that Oklahoma City won't even have the luxury of seeing how things play out this year.
All they'll have to go off of in regards to Topic is his training camp performance. Although Topic projects to be ready for the preseason after a minimally invasive back surgery in June, any sort of setback could erase that time for the Thunder as well.
In all likelihood, the Thunder will pick his option up—even if it's just to use Topic as a trade chip when the time comes. But the financial constraints closing in on Oklahoma City will make an already difficult decision nearly impossible when the deadline rolls around on Oct. 31.
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