Entering the offseason with over $30 million in cap space, the Oklahoma City Thunder utilized the funds to extend a pair of key role players that contributed over the years.
The Thunder extended Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to lengthy, team-friendly deals. This came after their cheap team options for next season were declined. Joe signed a four-year, $48 million deal; Wiggins signed a five-year, $47 million deal.
Both players have had similar arcs of unexpected contributors who became key rotation pieces these last couple of seasons for the Thunder.
Joe was a late training camp addition in 2022. The Philadelphia 76ers cut him after two forgettable seasons. Wiggins worked his way up the depth chart as a late second-round player in 2021. Three years later, he’s the last player left from his OKC rookie class.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti discussed their decision to sign Wiggins and Joe to new deals. As the summer league is on the verge of starting, he said they’re great reminders that anybody can carve out an NBA career regardless of draft positioning.
“I used this as an example with some people the other day, our coaches for summer league the other day about remaining open,” Presti said. “Remaining non-judgmental, having a beginner’s mindset when we’re looking at younger players in summer league.”
Presti noted that player development is a unique path for every player. He said that draft positioning shouldn’t box in what a player’s potential can be once they enter the league.
“When you go out and watch everybody in summer league, we’re all humans and people generally want to get to the fastest answer possible with as little work as possible,” Presti said. “And that’s where we get into these big judgments and plant our flag on things and hopefully no one remembers when we’re so wrong.”
Presti noted that all of OKC’s biggest acquisitions this offseason were players who either went late in the second round or were undrafted, which further proved his point.
“I think Caruso, Isaiah, Joe, Wiggins, Hartenstein, I think all these guys, some of the guys that we’ve drafted, they’re coming from behind,” Presti said. “And we like those types of guys.”
Presti continued: “We want to try to invest in those people and put as many of them together because they’re hungry, they’re grateful, and they’re driven.”
Overall, it was a smart usage of their cap space. They lock down both players for the foreseeable future on extremely movable deals.
Just like paying bills with extra money founded, it might’ve not captured headlines by it’s the type of investments that build a healthy squad.
