OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 19: Brandon Carlson #15 of the Oklahoma City Thunder rebounds during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Paycom Center on March 19, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)
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During the course of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rebuild leading up to becoming competitive and ultimately winning an NBA title last season, one of the team’s weaknesses has recently been at the center position. Of course, drafting Chet Holmgren was a significant step in the right direction toward fixing that problem, but even then, he missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury.
But fast forward three seasons, and the center position is arguably the Thunder’s deepest spot in the rotation. Just last season, the Thunder ran a double-big lineup with Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein with a ton of success. From there, Jaylin Williams has continued to develop to the point where, at times during the regular season and even into the playoffs, he was performing at the caliber of a quality backup big — even though he was technically third string on this loaded Thunder roster.
Oklahoma City retained all three of these centers for the upcoming season, but there’s one more who deserves attention entering the 2025-26 campaign. Brandon Carlson will be back with the Thunder on a two-way contract, and while he won’t be a nightly rotation center on the roster, his importance could ultimately end up being much greater — and not only this season, but into the future.
During the upcoming season, there will more than likely be times in which Oklahoma City’s center rotation faces injuries or needs rest, as the team load-manages efficiently to ensure the roster is healthy and ready to go in the playoffs. In many of those circumstances, Carlson will have the opportunity to play, just like he did last season. He will be an important piece not only for managing the other centers’ minutes but also when, inevitably, the position gets thin at some point during the 82-game season and he’s asked to step up and play a bigger role.
But even beyond this season, his purpose could be greater. It’s no secret that the Thunder’s payroll continues to increase as the plethora of young talent earns massive contract extensions. At some point, the team will be unable to afford the incredible depth that it has today, especially if the franchise wants to avoid the second apron.
It’s also not a surprise that Hartenstein will be one of the more difficult players to retain. He’s still only 27 years old and very clearly a starting-caliber big man in the NBA. After getting a massive payday from the Thunder in free agency last summer, he will soon be looking for a new contract, whether in OKC or elsewhere. If the Thunder isn’t able to retain him due to wanting to maintain more financial flexibility or needing to pay other players on the roster, Jaylin Williams appears fully capable of filling some of his void, along with incoming rookie Thomas Sorber.
Regardless, even Williams is now on a decent-sized contract, and there’s no guarantee Sorber will be ready to play meaningful minutes in his first few seasons. As such, there’s a world in which Carlson may need to step up as the team’s third-string center and shoulder even more of a responsibility shorter term.
While he’s still a relatively inexperienced player in the league, what he has shown is promising. He’s a floor-spacing big with shot-blocking upside and a modern skill set that fits exactly what the Thunder wants to do. As the team gets more expensive, it will become increasingly more important to have cheap players who are able to contribute on the margins.
As a stopgap in between a potential Hartenstein exit and Sorber being in a position in which he can make an impact in huge moments like the playoffs, it’s not out of the question that Carlson could be a meaningful piece as a bridge between the two players. He would, of course, need to be converted from a two-way contract to a standard NBA deal if this situation ever unfolded and he was needed in a more full-time capacity. But if he shows enough to be in that position, he would be well worth it.
It was somewhat surprising when Oklahoma City was able to bring Carlson back on another two-way deal, given how great he was last season and with other teams expected to show interest. But it’s a luxury for the Thunder — now and into the future.