Oklahoma City enters training camp off a 64-18 season and a title, with a $214.8 million payroll that sits above the first apron. The core that won it is largely unchanged, but the price of keeping it together only rises from here.
The Bill For Staying Together
Oklahoma City carries a payroll of $214.8 million on fourteen contracts, above the $200.4 million luxury tax line and the first apron. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren each count $41.5 million against the cap, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $40.8 million, Isaiah Hartenstein $23.1 million and Alex Caruso $19.6 million. Those five deals alone total more than most teams spend on a full roster. None of that money buys new production — it is the cost of keeping the group that won the title together for another year.
What Actually Won It
Last season's net rating of 11.1 led the league, the gap between a 117.6 offensive rating that ranked seventh and a 106.5 defensive rating that ranked first. Oklahoma City went 64-18 at a pace of 100.4 possessions a night, proof the formula worked without leaning on one scorer. Gilgeous-Alexander's 31.1 points a game led the way over 68 games, Holmgren added 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds across 69, and Williams matched that same scoring average in just 33 games played. Wallace, Mitchell and Caruso filled in around them without needing to chase points of their own.
The Next Threshold
The $221.7 million second apron is the next threshold, the one that decides whether this seventeen-man roster can stay fully intact. Oklahoma City sits above the first apron this offseason, with that second line still ahead. The franchise still controls its 2029 and 2030 picks, plus swap rights in 2027 and 2028, options that matter if the tax bill forces a trade. Five players carry day-to-day tags entering camp, with Isaiah Hartenstein, Ajay Mitchell, Thomas Sorber, Jalen Williams and Otega Oweh all given an estimated return of October 1.
Is the Thunder payroll over the salary cap for 2026-27?
Yes. Oklahoma City carries a payroll of $214.8 million, above the $165.0 million cap, the $200.4 million luxury tax line and the first apron.
How many wins did Oklahoma City have last season?
The Thunder went 64-18 last season and beat the Pacers in seven games to win the title that followed.
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