Jason Burgos
A new report offers up some huge updates on whether Alex Caruso, Lugentz Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein will be back with the Oklahoma City Thunder next season.
The Thunder are still licking their wounds after they saw the defense of their championship come to a difficult end on Saturday in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Their series loss to the San Antonio Spurs sent a clear message. Victor Wembanyama and his teammates are going to be a problem for OKC for the next decade-plus.
While there have been rumors about the Thunder making a bold trade this summer to better themselves to overcome Wembanyama and the Spurs next year, a case can be made to stick with the status quo. Jalen Williams only played in three of the seven games, and wasn’t healthy even when he was on the floor. Furthermore, Ajay Mitchell, who emerged as a rising star in 2025-26, also missed four of the seven games.
Yet, to make a run with the same team in 2026-27 won’t be easy. The Thunder must decide if they want to pick up Hartenstein’s $28.5 million option for next season. Also, they have three picks in the top 35 picks of this month’s NBA Draft and not many roster spots. It has created speculation that the Thunder could move on from players like Hartenstein, Caruso, and Dort this summer to avoid bigger tax payments and open up roster spots.
Hartenstein & Caruso expected to return to Thunder in 2026-27, Dort more likely to be moved
In a new report this week, ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Tim MacMahon offered up a major update on which player they could keep and which could be moved.
When it comes to Hartenstein, the NBA insiders claim, “There is a strong anticipation among team and league sources that Hartenstein will be back” next season. It could be under the club option, but opting out and signing a new long-term deal for less annual money is still an option.
Caruso is heading into the second season of a four-year, $81 million extension he signed last year. Moving that money would certainly help the Thunder avoid bigger tax penalties. However, the ESPN insiders report the talented defender is viewed as a key member of their core, and trading him is not under consideration by the organization.
However, not all three of the trio of elite defenders are a lock to return to the Thunder next season. Slater and MacMahon claimed that Dort’s future in OKC is “considered murkier.” The main reason is the emergence of 2023 first-round pick Cason Wallace as a viable replacement option for Dort.
But the report did add that sources claim Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could use his influence in the organization to keep Dort despite saying he would not give his input on management decisions after their loss in Game 7.
