Who will be OKC Thunder's fifth starter in 2026-27 NBA season? Examining the roster

After reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, the OKC Thunder made multiple changes to its roster this summer.

OKC traded away Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe in a trio of cost-saving moves. It also added rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, Otega Oweh and Josh Dix to the equation.

Here's a look at what you can expect from each player on OKC's roster entering the 2026-27 NBA season:

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Gilgeous-Alexander won a second straight MVP award this past season while averaging 31.1 points and a career-high 6.6 assists. He's the best point guard in the NBA and arguably its best overall player, combining elite scoring with strong playmaking and a willingness to defend. And at 28, Gilgeous-Alexander shouldn't be slowing down any time soon.

Williams earned 2025 All-NBA third team and All-Defensive second selections but was plagued with injuries this past season. That caused him to play just 33 regular-season games and miss most of the conference finals. But Williams has had time this summer to recover, and he should return to being one of the most complete players in basketball.

Holmgren underperformed during the conference finals, but he shined throughout the rest of the season. He made the All-NBA third team and All-Defensive first team, and he was a dominant force during OKC's playoff series against Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers. Holmgren's career-high averages of 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds might take a slight dip with Williams back in the mix, but he'll still be highly impactful on both ends.

Hartenstein inked a three-year, $75 million contract this summer to stay with OKC. It was a top priority for the Thunder to bring back the big man, who continues to be an invaluable connective piece. From rebounding to screen setting to playmaking to protecting the rim, Hartenstein brings a lot to the table. And he has only gotten more comfortable alongside Holmgren over time, making him an established starter.

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OKC traded Dort to Atlanta this summer, marking the departure of a full-time starter throughout the past few seasons. One candidate for that open spot is Wallace, who started in 58 of his 77 games last season. He's an All-Defensive second-team guard who could help replace Dort's point-of-attack defense. And while he only shot 35.1% from deep last season, that skyrocketed to 48.4% during the playoffs.

Another candidate is Mitchell, who shined as a starter during last year's playoffs when Williams was injured. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds throughout seven games on 46.7% shooting from the field (32.1% from deep). Mitchell isn't as strong of a defender as Wallace, but he's above average on that end. He's also a better shot creator and playmaker, which could help him get the starting nod for some matchups.

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Even during what was an injury-filled season for OKC, Caruso didn't make any starts. That'll likely be the case again this season, as he's one of the Thunder's biggest game changers off the bench. He's a disruptive guard with two All-Defensive selections under his belt, and he should be even more valuable now on that end since he can size up like Dort did.

Williams averaged 7.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 19.6 minutes last season. Those numbers don't jump off the stat sheet, but it was undoubtedly his most impactful campaign yet. He showed good playmaking and floor spacing, and he made strides as a rim protector. Even with Thomas Sorber now healthy and Mara in the mix, Williams will be a key backup big man for OKC this season.

McCain hit the ground running after being traded from Philadelphia to OKC last season. He averaged 10.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18 minutes throughout 30 games with the Thunder while shooting 46.2% from the field (39.1% from deep), and he had some big performances in the playoffs. With Wiggins and Joe no longer on the team, McCain should have even more opportunities to be a spark plug off the bench moving forward.

Williams didn't consistently get his number called last season. He averaged 15.3 minutes, which ranked 14th on the team, but he could see an uptick in opportunities this time around. He's a 6-foot-7 forward who can size up defensively, which is helpful with Dort gone. And he shot 38.8% from deep last season, giving OKC a nice floor spacing option with Wiggins and Joe gone.

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Topić has overcome a lot since being selected by OKC with the 12th pick in the 2024 draft. After missing all of his first season due to a torn ACL, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October. He then completed chemotherapy and appeared in 10 games last season. The Thunder has a ton of guards, so Topić isn't likely to get many minutes this season. But when he does see the floor, he'll provide good playmaking and positional size.

Stirtz is another talented young guard who'll compete for minutes this season. The 16th pick in the 2026 draft can knock down 3-pointers and create for both himself and others in the pick-and-roll. He was also an iron man who played in every game throughout his four-year college career, making him a solid option at the end of the bench when OKC is short-handed.

OKC selected Sorber with the 15th pick in the 2025 draft. The 6-9 center missed all of last season due to a torn ACL, but he's now ready to make his NBA debut. And while there won't be a ton of opportunities available with the Thunder returning all of its big men and adding Mara, Sorber does have the tools to be impactful. He's a strong shot blocker, an aggressive rebounder and an impressive passer.

Sorber isn't the only rookie center who's now on the squad, as OKC also added Mara this summer with the 12th pick in the 2026 draft. He possesses elite size at 7-3, which helps him protect the rim and rack up rebounds. He's even a skilled player who sees the floor well and makes highlight-reel passes. It'll take some time for Mara to adjust to the physicality and speed of the NBA, and that's OK. He won't be rushed on a team with good frontcourt depth.

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OKC hasn't filled its 15th and final roster spot. And while it's about $6.9 million below the second apron, any signings would also increase its luxury tax bill. The most likely outcome is that the Thunder will promote one of its two-way players, and the only returner is Barnhizer. The second-year forward is an energy guy who defends multiple positions and crashes the glass, although he still needs to improve as a shooter.

Another candidate for that 15th spot is Oweh, who spent two years apiece at OU and Kentucky before being selected by OKC with the 41st pick in the 2026 draft. He then suffered an apparent right foot injury during the Thunder's second Salt Lake City Summer League game and didn't return. Once healthy, Oweh could get upgraded from a two-way deal. He's a tough, physical defender who's looking to become a more consistent shooter.

Floor spacing wasn't an issue in college for Dix, who signed a two-way contract with OKC this summer after going undrafted. The 6-5 guard hit 38.4% of his 3-pointers throughout his four-year career, which included stops at Iowa and Creighton. If that shooting can translate to the NBA and he can hold his own defensively, Dix could land a standard roster spot at some point.

Sandfort earned a two-way contract with OKC near the end of last season, and he appeared in four games. The 6-7 forward averaged 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.8 minutes on 50% shooting from the field (41.2% from deep). Sandfort was then waived but remained with the team for Summer League play, where he had some strong outings. He's a talented shooter who's familiar with the system, making him someone to consider for that last roster spot.

Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who will be OKC Thunder's fifth starter in 2026-27 NBA season? Examining the roster