The Oklahoma City Thunder have reminded the rest of the league why they are as dangerous off the court as they are on it. Despite not adding a single new free agent to their roster this offseason, the defending champions managed to walk away with one of the biggest wins of the summer, and it all comes down to how they structured their contract extensions.
Both Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams received rookie max extensions this summer, which is no surprise considering their value to the franchise. But the way those contracts were constructed reveals a level of precision from the front office that could have long-term implications for Oklahoma City’s financial flexibility.