OKC Thunder in Prime Position to Build a Dynasty Despite New Challenges
No NBA team has yet attempted to build a dynasty under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but Oklahoma City will be the first to try.
Over the last decade, the league has witnessed the rise of several super teams. While not all have captured championships each season, teams like the Spurs, Cavaliers, and Heat have remained in contention, holding their core groups together and securing multiple titles. Then, of course, there’s the true dynasty, the Golden State Warriors. 
However, the Warriors’ dominance marked the tail end of an era, as the NBA introduced a new CBA following their reign. The days of building super teams without facing significant financial penalties are over. Today’s NBA focuses on team-building, strategic drafting, and shrewd front-office decisions, designed to foster parity and prevent the formation of super teams. So far, the shift has been effective.
Still, there’s no blueprint for success under the new system. No team has yet figured out how to build a dynasty under these constraints, and it’s likely that mistakes will be made along the way. While it won’t look like the Warriors’ era, the potential for another dynasty still exists. The real question is which front office will unlock the formula first — and right now, Oklahoma City seems to be leading the charge.
ESPN’s recent article on building a modern NBA dynasty delves deep into the painstaking approach required in today’s environment. According to Tim Bontemps, “No team is better positioned to navigate the league’s financial picture than the defending champion Thunder.” Oklahoma City locked down its three stars — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren — with lucrative contract extensions. The team then filled out its roster with veterans on reasonable contracts and young players on rookie deals. This strategy, combined with numerous future draft picks, will allow the Thunder to avoid the repeater tax until at least the end of the decade.
The Thunder’s approach is clear: surround their core stars with cost-effective players and rookies. Players like Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams, and Ajay Mitchell have all signed team-friendly deals, providing the team with solid depth and flexibility.
That said, not every player can be paid indefinitely. As Oklahoma City’s stars grow more expensive, tough decisions may have to be made. As one anonymous executive told ESPN, “Chet, Shai, and Jalen can stay together, but Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, and Alex Caruso might have to move on as those guys become more costly.”
The most intriguing part for the Thunder is that they don’t need to address these issues for several more years. Their financial books are clear for next season — and likely beyond. With one championship already in the bag, Oklahoma City’s potential dynasty is off to a promising start before their financial situation becomes a major concern.
While it’s still uncertain how teams will navigate the new CBA and whether building a true dynasty is even feasible, Oklahoma City might become the first successful case study — no matter how things unfold.
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