The primary storyline of this offseason for the Oklahoma City Thunder was their looming roster crunch.
While some presumed that they may move off of their draft selections and one or two of their other pieces to keep veteran guard Luguentz Dort on the roster, Oklahoma City ultimately felt that his production (along with that of Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe) was replaceable with what it had on the roster.
The team will now trust Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, and Jared McCain—all three of whom will be playing 2026-27 on their rookie deals—to take on enhanced roles in the rotation. But that doesn't mean that Dort, Wiggins, and Joe aren't solid NBA players. Dort and Wiggins landed in complementary defensive and perimeter-shooting roles on the Atlanta Hawks, and Joe will be an integral piece of the Pistons' bench depth as they attempt to overcome their offensive woes in a playoff setting.
These are obviously pure predictions at this point, based on depth charts and projected roles—but it's worth taking a stab at how each of these three pieces will perform in their new homes.
The Thunder's 3 offseason trade departures are each set for a fresh start
Luguentz Dort: 27 MPG, 12.2 PPG, 4.0 REB, 1.1 AST, 36.7 3P%
It's no secret. Dort's final season in Oklahoma City didn't live up to what was expected of him. His efficiency from beyond the arc dropped precipitously, and as his offensive value felt shakier and shakier, it made less sense to insist on keeping him in the starting lineup for his defensive value.
Dort might not start every game in Atlanta, either. Nickeil Alexander-Walker could certainly make a push to start alongside CJ McCollum in the backcourt or even to slide in alongside Dyson Daniels as a small forward when the situation calls for it. But a defensive tandem of Daniels and Dort, at least at the point of attack, will be too tantalizing for the Hawks to pass up consistently.
Dort's days of being a 39%+ 3-point shooter may have been short-lived, but if he can settle in somewhere around 37% and provide his usual defensive value, he should be able to see a major resurgence in Atlanta this season.
Aaron Wiggins: 18 MPG, 8.6 PPG, 2.9 REB, 1.5 AST, 39.2 3P%
Wiggins' path to a major role with the Hawks is less clear-cut. Although he'll be an important additional floor-spacer for them off the bench, the aforementioned wing depth with Alexander-Walker, Dort, and Daniels could prevent him from seeing much more regular-season run than he did with the Thunder last season.
The trade of Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks does help Wiggins' case, though, and the Hawks will need all of the shooting they can get if they're going to consistently keep Jalen Johnson and Daniels on the court together.
I'd expect a small dip in minutes for Wiggins during his first season with the Hawks, but everything else should remain steady.
Isaiah Joe: 20 MPG, 12.1 PPG, 3.0 REB, 1.6 AST, 40.2 3P%
Wiggins and Joe essentially shared a role with the Thunder when it came to the postseason, and now they've been split up to perform that role for two separate Eastern Conference teams. The difference is that Detroit needs shooting across its rotation much more desperately than Atlanta does, and that leaves Joe with a clear path to a massive role by the time the postseason rolls around.
During the regular season, though, expect Joe to be somewhat evenly in the mix for minutes with Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter, and Ron Holland on the wing. There will be situations, especially if Ausar Thompson struggles in the halfcourt, where Joe will some stretches with the starting lineup.
The Pistons had just one major performer (Duncan Robinson) shoot over 40% from beyond the arc in 2025-26. If Joe can keep the pace he's established with the Thunder over the past few seasons, especially on enhanced volume, expect him to play a major part in Detroit's offensive hierarchy by the end of the campaign.
Add us as a preferred source on Google