What happened: Oklahoma City enters the 2026-27 preseason anchored by the core trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. The Thunder rely on internal roster depth to replace the offseason departures of Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe. The franchise also retains a significant cache of future draft picks.

Why it matters: Moving Dort, Wiggins, and Joe cleared salary cap space and reduced tax penalties, facilitating the re-signing of Isaiah Hartenstein. The altered rotation demands expanded two-way contributions from remaining perimeter players alongside the established core.

What to watch: Oklahoma City utilizes the preseason to establish a revised wing rotation ahead of its regular-season opener against the Spurs.