The Oklahoma City Thunder Lean Hard into Cost Control
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Washington Wizards Receive: Jalen Williams, Scoot Henderson, No. 12, Sacramento’s 2028 second-round pick (via Portland), Denver’s 2029 first-round pick (top-five protection; via OKC), Portland’s 2031 second-round pick
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Jerami Grant, No. 1
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Anthony Davis
Injuries derailed most of Jalen Williams’ fourth year, but the 25-year-old has already established that he can be the second-best player on a title team. Whether he can be the absolute best is debatable. The same goes for AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson, neither of whom has an NBA track record under their belt.
Getting Williams just as he begins a five-year, $239.3 million extension is actually ideal. It’s a lot of money but cheaper than it could be. He might’ve nudged it up to $296 million had he been healthy enough to contend for All-NBA honors.
The Wizards also don’t have to worry about Williams entering free agency anytime soon. And while their own youngsters will soon require new deals, not one of them has done enough to warrant the kind of money that renders J-Dub’s contract onerous.
Washington still walks away with a lotto pick in this year’s draft to boot, and Scoot Henderson is a reasonable flier even after acquiring Trae Young, whose future remains unresolved (player option).
That 2029 Denver first, meanwhile, is the perfect distance away: not so far it gives the Nuggets time to build a contender without prime Nikola Jokić, but close enough that the Wizards aren’t waiting a half-decade for it to convey.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder do it
Seeing a could-be two-time reigning champion offload arguably its second-most important player in the name of juggling long-term finances would be a bummer. It’s not a scenario any of us should bet on.
At the same time, the Thunder have looked like title favorites all postseason—largely without J-Dub. The breakout of (the unfathomably cheap) Ajay Mitchell is a real game-changer and might compel the front office to rethink its bigger-picture plan for extending this window.
Oklahoma City doesn’t save much immediate money. The salaries are basically a wash when considering how much more the No. 1 pick will earn than the No. 12 selection. But (old friend) Jerami Grant’s deal comes off the books after 2027-28—two full years before the Thunder have to worry about bankrolling AJ Dybantsa’s or Darryn Peterson’s next contract.
This will give executive vice president Sam Presti more flexibility when it comes to planning around the futures of Mitchell (under contract through 2027-28), Isaiah Hartenstein (team option), Lu Dort (team option), Cason Wallace (extension eligible), Jared McCain (extension eligible in 2027) and other players OKC may draft or look to acquire.
Portland has eyes for both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. I would prioritize bigger names who provide more spacing, but the Blazers may see things differently.
While Davis is the riskier acquisition, he’s bound to come at a cheaper asset cost. Portland has the wiggle room beneath the luxury tax to get away with the two-for-one proposed here.
Of everything the Blazers send out, Scoot Henderson is the toughest sell. Then again, with Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday in tow and Damian Lillard on his way back, maybe not.
Henderson turned in some strong postseason moments, but it would be a stretch to declare him the floor general of the future. And with his extension eligibility hitting this summer, Portland might prefer to part with him over any future first-rounders.
Dan Favale is a National NBA Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky (@danfavale), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, co-hosted by Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes.
