OKC Thunder must decide long-term future of 3 players by this NBA deadline

Everybody knows about Cason Wallace and his contract extension deadline. That has hung over the Oklahoma City Thunder like a stormy cloud since the NBA offseason started. But what about the other contract deadline in the near future?

The Thunder have three players to decide on with their 2027-28 team option. Nikola Topic, Jared McCain and Thomas Sorber. OKC has until Monday, Nov. 2, to pick up or decline their respective options for the next regular season. But I think a decision will be made much sooner. As a reminder, Opening Night is on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

All three remain on their rookie-scale contracts. Topic and McCain are entering their third season, respectively, and Sorber his second. As a reminder, NBA first-round picks are on four-year

contracts to start their careers. The first two years are guaranteed and then the last two years are team options.

Topic has a $7.5 million salary for the 2027-28 season; McCain has a $6.8 million salary; and Sorber is at a $5.1 million salary. The higher you are selected in the NBA draft, the more money you make. Topic was the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft; McCain was the No. 16 pick; and Sorber was the No. 15 pick of the 2025 NBA draft.

Even if some folks think there will be drama with Topic's and Sorber's decisions due to missed time and injuries, I think you can safely bank on the Thunder picking up both of their respective 2027-28 team options. Regardless of whether you're cynical about their long-term place in OKC, it's just bad asset management to decline them.

There's always a chance that the Thunder can flip Topic and Sorber in the future. Surely there are teams willing to take on flyers. But I think OKC is going to give both an honest shot at being a rotation piece to start the 2026-27 regular season. They remain limited in the NBA training camp.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder must decide long-term future of 3 players by this NBA deadline