The Oklahoma City Thunder didn't get the result they wanted in 2025-26. With two of their primary scorers absent for virtually the entirety of their Western Conference Finals bout with the San Antonio Spurs, their offense looked flat and uninspired. They were ultimately defeated in seven games, ending their season short of their bid for a repeat.
Could they have beaten the New York Knicks with everyone healthy? While that hypothetical is largely beside the point, it's worth thinking about heading into an offseason where the Thunder will be obligated to push the envelope even further.
Perhaps it's better to distill the question like this. If the Thunder are able to retain much of the core of their roster despite their looming financial obligations, should they be considered the NBA's top team heading into 2026-27? The answer is likely yes, and ESPN, in their recent post-Finals power rankings, seems to agree with that sentiment.
Even after Oklahoma City's playoff defeat, ESPN's panel of NBA analysts still ranked the Thunder as the best team in the league heading into the offseason. Here's the rationale they provided:
"There are subtle ways to shave down that money, but Thunder general manager Sam Presti has planned and prepped this perennial contender for this next stage of luxury tax living. Expect them to bring back a majority of the nucleus that won 64 games and stretched the Spurs to the brink in the conference finals despite missing [Jalen] Williams, their second-best player, for a majority of the season and that San Antonio series." ESPN
While the Thunder have some work to do this offseason, therefore, there's a compelling case to be made for their return to the top of the league in 2026-27.
Thunder have some serious questions to address this offseason, but they're still poised to field a dominant roster in 2026-27
This offseason for the Thunder is 'make-or-break' in the sense that, for the first time since they began their rebuild, the constrictions of the new CBA will be setting in. The extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will be kicking in this offseason. While the Thunder seem relatively unfazed by looming second-apron penalties, they will face a hefty luxury tax bill if they don't shave salary between now and the start of next season.
They have team options on Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort, and Kenrich Williams. The smartest move there would be to bring Hartenstein back on a lengthier, more team-friendly extension while moving off of both Dort and Kenrich Williams. They can also move off of the contracts of either Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins. Both will garner interest on the trade market as capable defenders and perimeter shooters.
Beyond that, though, the core of a team that won 68 games in 2024-25 and 64 games in 2025-26 will almost certainly return in its entirety. Even with the ascension of the Spurs as serious contenders, that's a thought that should terrify the rest of the league.
San Antonio showed in their Finals defeat that they still have major steps to take in search of a championship. Their offensive hierarchy often fell apart in clutch moments. De'Aaron Fox didn't provide the impact they needed him to relative to his four-year, $221 million contract. Victor Wembanyama also has major strides to take on the offensive side of the ball.
Given the clear gap between those teams and the rest of the Western Conference, the Thunder should feel extremely confident heading into this offseason. ESPN's rankings only serve to corroborate that fact.
Add us as a preferred source on Google