The Oklahoma City Thunder, like all teams who find success in the modern NBA, will soon need to reckon with the second apron and the financial restrictions that come with assembling a dominant roster.
Starting in 2026-27, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams will be owed a combined $82.5 million. Combined with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's hefty contract, the financial allocations of their roster will soon become very top-heavy.
That's only natural when you have stars you've got to pay. But the Thunder must now start to trim down their rotation, bringing in new talent on cheaper contracts in order to avoid the harsh second-apron penalties that are looming.
The obvious choices to be made are on the player options for Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Kenrich Williams. But Greg Swartz at Bleacher Report believes that Alex Caruso, who's in his first season of a four-year, $81 million contract, could be the next player on the chopping block.
The unfortunate reality is that Swartz's pick is more than just an outside prediction. Caruso's departure could be the natural result of the way Oklahoma City has constructed their roster.
Alex Caruso's contract number may be too high for what his role will inevitably become
Caruso is one of the most important players on the Thunder, full stop. He plays virtually whatever role the team needs him to on any given night, and his sheer disruptiveness on the defensive end of the court is something to be admired. When the playoffs come, he's the type of role player that can make the difference between a Conference Finals exit and a championship run.
But the Thunder backcourt is moving in a direction that won't long be sustainable for him. With Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Cason Wallace in the fold, Oklahoma City has three players on rookie contracts who are capable of pushing the pace and contributing offensively on any given night.
Here's what Swartz had to say about Caruso's situation:
"Alex Caruso still impacts winning at a high level even at age 32, although the beginning of his decline and the financial constraints of the Oklahoma City Thunder next season may force the team to consider a trade... Averaging just 18.6 minutes a game this year, the emergence of Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace have led to a drop in usage for Caruso, who's also shooting just 28.9 percent from three."- Greg Swartz
Caruso is hugely important. But as these three guards develop, there's a real chance they'll make his skill-set somewhat redundant. Caruso has also lost a step due to injuries, and his usage has seen a decline as a result.
With the amount of money they've devoted to the top of their roster, the Thunder frankly can't afford to have a player with limited run making over $20 million. In the end, it comes down to a question of rotational value. If Oklahoma City were to move Caruso, it could free up the space to retain a piece like Hartenstein or to bring in an external free agent in the frontcourt.
It's a painful realization to come to, but it's a reality Thunder fans must become comfortable with over the next couple of months. This could very possibly be Caruso's last season in an Oklahoma City uniform.