The Oklahoma City Thunder may never escape the polarizing story of how they came to be. Despite setting down roots in Oklahoma City and building a potential dynasty in a way that set the new standard for team-building, some will always view the Thunder as the team that stole the SuperSonics from Seattle.
As a strange twist of fate would have it, the years it took to build the Thunder into the world-beating team they are today could be unraveled by the Sonics' potential return to the NBA.
The NBA is soon to vote on expansion into two markets: Las Vegas and Seattle. If the Association ultimately votes to expand to 32 teams, then the SuperSonics would presumably return and an expansion draft would ultimately be held.
The rules of such a draft remain unclear, but if history is a sign of things to come, then the Thunder could be in trouble.
The last time the NBA held an expansion draft was 2004, when the then Charlotte Bobcats were brought into the Association. Teams were allowed to protect up to eight players, with all other members of their roster being eligible to be drafted.
If the same transpires in 2026 and two new franchises enter the mix, then the Thunder's unrivaled depth could be destroyed by an expansion draft.
Expansion draft, return of Sonics threatens Thunder's unrivaled depth
Oklahoma City has exceptional star power with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-NBA honoree Jalen Williams, and All-Star big Chet Holmgren. What's made this team so dominant, however, is the fact that it has an overwhelmingly deep rotation flush with high-level talent.
At any given moment, those three stars could be complemented by some combination of Alex Caruso, Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, and Jaylin Williams.
Add those names up and the Thunder's rotation somehow reaches 12 players capable of cracking any roster in the NBA. The list also excludes promising up-and-comers such as Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber, who could factor into future Oklahoma City lineups.
For as exhilarating as that thought may be, it also poses a simple question: What would happen to the Thunder's extraordinary depth if an expansion draft were to be held?
For an Oklahoma City team that's already over the second apron and in danger of losing one or even both of Dort and Hartenstein, drastic personnel changes may already be on the way. Sam Presti has earned fans' confidence in his ability to accumulate talent, but there's no guaranteeing anything in the world of sports.
Considering the expansion draft may not be held until a year or two after the Thunder lose Dart and/or Hartenstein, their rotation could be dissected between 2026 and 2027.
The NBA voted to bring a new team to Charlotte early during the 2002-03 season and held the expansion draft in 2004 ahead of the Bobcats'—now Hornets—first season back. If Las Vegas and Seattle are voted into NBA existence, then an expansion draft could thus be held in 2027.
With this in mind, less than 20 years after Seattle lost the Sonics to Oklahoma City, it could exact a measure of revenge that breaks up the Thunder's dynasty just as it begins.