When taking into account the recent frustrations voiced about the new NBA CBA<\/a>, this mindset clearly goes against the grain.<\/p>\n As things currently stand, Oklahoma City has all 15 roster spots filled out and accounted for. Next on their to-do list is to figure out the best way to structure each player in their positional pecking order.<\/p>\n Fortunately, the breakdown seems pretty straight forward.<\/p>\n Early Thunder depth chart projections for the 2026-27 season<\/p>\n Point guard<\/p>\n Starter: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/p>\n Reserves: Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic<\/p>\n To lead off the majority of no-brainer rotational structures, we have the point guard position.<\/p>\n Needless to say, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is guaranteed to once again serve as the club’s starter, and, after winning his second-straight MVP while putting forth the most efficient 30-plus point per game scoring season in league history, this shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone.<\/p>\n Perhaps the only possible debate that could be held regarding the point guard position is who should serve as Shai’s understudy, but, even that seems like an easy answer.<\/p>\n Ajay Mitchell just had himself a true breakout campaign in Oklahoma City, posting remarkable averages of 13.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game while finishing in the top-six in the running for Sixth Man of the Year.<\/p>\n By all accounts, he should be the primary backup to Gilgeous-Alexander, with Nikola Topic serving as more of a change-of-pace piece to this positional puzzle by sprinkling in his pure floor general style of play.<\/p>\n Shooting guard<\/p>\n Starter: Lu Dort<\/p>\n Reserves: Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, Bennett Stirtz<\/p>\n Until he either gets traded or has his contract expire next summer, the expectation should be that as long as he’s a member of the OKC Thunder, Lu Dort is the starting two guard.<\/p>\n With his experience manning the position throughout the majority of his seven-year tenure, along with his league-wide reputation of being one of the game’s best star-stopping defenders, it’s hard to argue against his lead-off status at this point.<\/p>\n Now, while this may be a tough pill for a guy like presumed primary backup Cason Wallace to swallow, as he’s believed to be coveting Dort’s position himself, at the end of the day, it’s not about who starts a game but, rather, who finishes.<\/p>\n With his All-Defensive abilities and steady long-range shooting stroke (boasts a 37.4 career three-point percentage), no matter if he’s slotted into the first five or coming off the pine, his services will always come in handy for the Thunder.<\/p>\n Jared McCain, meanwhile, will be third in the shooting guard pecking order, but should expect to see a significant uptick in on-court usage what with the departures of both I-Joe and Aaron Wiggins this summer, as his offensive talents will most likely be used to make up for their absences from the rotation.<\/p>\n Their departures may even play a role in rookie Bennett Stirtz seeing more action than initially expected during his debut campaign in the association, especially considering how impressive he’s looked in this year’s Summer League<\/a>.<\/p>\n Small forward<\/p>\n Starter: Jalen Williams<\/p>\n Reserves: Alex Caruso<\/p>\n The Thunder’s small forward position is equally as imposing as it is scarce.<\/p>\n On the one hand, they truly have one of the best threes in the game manning the spot in Jalen Williams who, when healthy, has proven to be nothing short of a two-way monster.<\/p>\n When last at full strength during the 2024-25 season, he earned All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive honors while dropping 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game and playing a vital role in guiding OKC to its first NBA Championship.<\/p>\n Of course, on the other hand, their lack of depth at the position is so debilitating that the most logical backup option to J-Dub is the likes of traditional two guard Alex Caruso, who, though is a true force on the defensive end, lacks both the size and offensive firepower to be an ideal understudy to Williams.<\/p>\n While most may be looking to Oklahoma City’s center depth as an area of slight concern (more on that later), perhaps there’s an argument to be made that Presti may want to consider addressing the three spot to get a more seamless insurance policy for Williams while simultaneously sending Caruso back to his more natural shooting guard position.<\/p>\n Power forward<\/p>\n Starter: Chet Holmgren<\/p>\n Reserves: Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams<\/p>\n Chet Holmgren is widely considered one of the game’s best young big men, and for good reason.<\/p>\n Throughout his three-year playing career, the 7-footer has established himself as an elite defensive force and a highly proficient offensive floor spacer.<\/p>\n This past year proved to be his best in the pros, as he earned All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive honors behind averages of 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while shooting 55.7 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from deep.<\/p>\n Without question, he is both the immediate and long-term starting power forward for this Thunder team.<\/p>\n Directly behind him is a guy in Jaylin Williams, who, with his defensive chops, passing skills, and floor-spacing abilities, has him soundly in the conversation of being the best backup big in the league<\/a>.<\/p>\n Filling out the position is Kenrich Williams, who, though he might not play all that regularly, has the elite level of hustle and drive necessary to step in and make an impact at any moment’s notice.<\/p>\n Center<\/p>\n Starter: Isaiah Hartenstein<\/p>\n Reserves: Aday Mara, Thomas Sorber<\/p>\n Rounding out the starting five is the center slot, a position that has been a major point of discussion throughout the offseason.<\/p>\n Isaiah Hartenstein has been the primary pivot for the club since arriving back in the summer of 2024, and, being that he just inked a brand new three-year, $75 million contract this offseason, one should expect the title-tested big to remain in this role moving forward.<\/p>\n The big question is, who will spell him?<\/p>\n Right now, both Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber are slated to square off for a shot at the number two spot in the center rotation.<\/p>\n The former is the club’s lottery pick from this past June’s NBA Draft, who, though he came into the association with a ton of hype, has somewhat underwhelmed<\/a> during his time spent in the Summer League.<\/p>\n The latter, meanwhile, is the 15 pick from the 2025 NBA Draft who, since being selected, has yet to play a lick of in-game action as a result of a torn ACL.<\/p>\n Just recently, it was reported that he went under the knife once again in the same surgically repaired knee, though he is expected to be ready to go for training camp.<\/p>\n With this in mind, Mara seems to have the slight edge in this particular rotational battle, though things could easily change come the time October rolls around.<\/p>\n
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