Sam Presti traded James Harden in 2012 for picks that helped build a deeper roster, a strategy that produced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. That group won the franchise's first championship since Seattle last season, and now carries a payroll built on the same asset logic.
The Harden Trade Blueprint
In October 2012, Oklahoma City traded James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and first-round picks from Toronto and Dallas rather than pay him near max money. The deal set the pattern Sam Presti has followed since: turn exits into draft capital. Paul George's trade to the Clippers later brought back Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the 2022 draft delivered Chet Holmgren at second overall and Jalen Williams at twelfth.
Assets Turned Into a Banner
That capital matured into the group that went 64-18 last season and beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games for the franchise's first championship since it left Seattle. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points and 6.6 assists, Holmgren added 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, and Jalen Williams put up 17.1 points in only 33 games. The roster built from that capital remains young, averaging 24.3 years across 17 players, with room to keep growing together. The same front office that once dealt Harden away for future value is now paying to keep this trio together.
The Bill for Keeping Them
Payroll sits at $214.8 million, above the $200.4 million luxury tax line, with Jalen Williams and Holmgren each making $41.5 million and Gilgeous-Alexander at $40.8 million. Oklahoma City still owns its 2029 and 2030 first-round picks outright, plus swaps in 2027 and 2028, the same kind of capital that built this roster in the first place. How much of it gets spent on more depth, and how much gets held back against the tax, is the question now facing the same front office that turned Harden into assets in 2012.
Why does Oklahoma City still hold so many draft picks after winning a championship?
Sam Presti's front office has turned player exits into draft capital since trading James Harden in 2012, and that approach continued even as the team built its title core; Oklahoma City owns its 2029 and 2030 first-round picks outright and holds swaps in 2027 and 2028.
How much is Oklahoma City paying its championship core?
Payroll totals $214.8 million, above the $200.4 million luxury tax line, with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren each earning $41.5 million and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at $40.8 million.
