Oklahoma City's payroll sits at $216.2 million, above the $209.0 million threshold and the $200.4 million tax line, built on a core that delivered a 64-18 record and a No. 1 net rating a season ago. The picks still in hand say ownership is not panicking yet.
The Bill Comes Due
Oklahoma City's payroll is $216.2 million across 15 contracts, clear of the $209.0 million threshold and the $200.4 million tax line, with Holmgren and Jalen Williams each drawing $41.5 million, Gilgeous-Alexander $40.8 million, Hartenstein $23.1 million, and Caruso $19.6 million. Every one of those numbers climbs before it falls, and the $221.7 million second apron is the ceiling Presti has to plan around next, a line that also restricts the trade tools he used to build this roster in the first place.
What That Spend Bought
Last season's answer was a 64-18 record, a No. 1 net rating in the NBA at 11.1, and a seven-game Finals win over the Indiana Pacers, the franchise's first championship since leaving Seattle. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points and won MVP; Holmgren added 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds a night. The roster that did it is 21 deep with an average age of 24.2, young enough that the production has room to grow before it costs even more. That case is the one for paying the bill rather than shrinking from it.
The Assets Still in Hand
The Thunder own their 2029 and 2030 first- and second-round picks outright and hold swap rights in 2027 and 2028, capital that few contenders this deep into a payroll crunch manage to keep. RealGM reported Oklahoma City and Cason Wallace, who averaged 8.6 points over 77 games last season, are discussing an extension in the $25 million annual range, a sign the front office is locking in value before it costs more rather than letting it walk for nothing. That is the answer: the bill is worth paying as long as the picks stay in the vault to cover the wager.
Is Oklahoma City over the luxury tax this season?
Yes. The payroll is $216.2 million, above the $209.0 million threshold and the $200.4 million tax line, though still short of the $221.7 million second apron.
Does Oklahoma City still control its future draft picks?
Yes. The Thunder own their 2029 and 2030 first- and second-round picks outright and hold swap rights in the 2027 and 2028 rounds.
More from The Bricktown Brief
all Thunder news →
Morning · Wed, Oct 14Five Players Target Thursday's Return as Oweh Injury Report Lands
Postgame · Tue, Oct 13Thunder Beat Pacers 114-112 Playing Through Zero Rest
The big question · Sun, Oct 11The Big Question: Can Oklahoma City Afford to Stay This Deep?
The big question · Wed, Oct 7Is Oklahoma City's Apron Bill Worth the Title Defense?
The big question · Sun, Oct 4The Big Question: Can an Apron-Level Payroll Repeat?
The big question · Wed, Sep 30The Big Question: Too Deep For The Cap Sheet?