For a while now, the OKC Thunder have been operating on borrowed time. Favorable superstar contracts and breakout seasons by previously unknown commodities have led to a team that boasts unparalleled depth.
However, all that good changes sooner than fans think, evidenced by the Jaylen Brown saga that has just finished playing out -- and not in the Boston Celtics' favor.
Boston GM Brad Stevens recently opened up about why he elected to move Brown in the first place, and it might send shivers down the spines of Thunder faithful.
"The path [to a championship] looked a bit more challenging with 70.0 percent of our cap and such a high percent of our usage tied into two players, and the reality of this era... is that you have to do a great job and you have to have the optionality of doing a great job of building out depth," Stevens said.
In other words, the Celtics found themselves too top-heavy and, in their eyes, had no choice but to break up the Jays. While the Thunder are busy enjoying their spoils, such a future may await them, and it could come sooner rather than later.
Thunder are about to feel the true effects of superstar paychecks
OKC has had the ridiculous fortune of having players like Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Ajay Mitchell put up stellar levels of production while making less than $7 million a year.
The only exception to that was Chet Holmgren, though his $13.7 million salary from last season didn't come close to matching the same value as his contributions.
Whether it was because of general manager Sam Presti's genius or a stroke of good fortune, these bargains directly contributed to the Thunder's depth, and it's why they won the championship in 2024-25.
The upcoming season, however, is going to look a lot different, and fans have already been given a glimpse of what's to come.
Both Holmgren and J-Dub will now be making $41.5 million a year, which will only increase each passing season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be making $61 million beginning in 2027-28. This means that, in two years, the Thunder will have over $157 million tied up among just three players.
It will be Presti's job to somehow find a way to fill out the rest of the roster.
Thunder run the risk of being a top-heavy team in the future
The dilemma raises the question: Should the Thunder keep their star trio intact, or should they move one in an attempt to retain some of their depth?
It's a near-impossible decision that may not have a clear right answer.
Stevens and the Celtics elected to choose the breakup route, and their return for Brown was marginal at best.
Whether that was because suitors knew how desperate the Celtics were or simply that there wasn't a high enough demand for Brown in the first place is anybody's guess. But it's a symptom of what happens when a team holds on to its superstars, perhaps even for too long.
Thunder fans have already had to say goodbye to beloved players like Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe this offseason, who were casualties of the financial acrobatics the Thunder have been forced to perform.
The reality is that the decisions will only continue to get harder. Eventually, it may be more beneficial to move Williams or Holmgren simply to spread salary out to the rest of the roster. After all, it takes more than three players to win a championship.
In the meantime, the Thunder are still reveling in depth, and it is in their best interest to capitalize on this kind of advantage while they can before it's too late.
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