Sam Presti has never been afraid to make a move that looks like subtraction on paper but adds up in the long run. The Thunder GM did it again this week, shipping Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks. The headline number is the savings: roughly $71 million in salary and tax penalties, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Oklahoma City was staring down a projected tax bill north of $213 million. That number drops to about $152 million after the trade. It’s not nothing. And it opens up a roster spot heading into Tuesday’s draft, where the Thunder hold picks No. 12 and No. 17 in the top half of the first round.
This is a team that’s already built its core around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. The tax crunch was coming anyway. Holmgren and Williams are due for max extensions that kick in for the 2026-27 season, and Oklahoma City’s payroll is still projected to sit above the dreaded second apron — even after this deal. So Presti is thinking about both the present and the future.
Wiggins was a useful rotation piece. But moving him now, before his salary gets more complicated, is the kind of ruthless list management that keeps dynasties flexible.
What Oklahoma City Might Do With Those Picks
The Thunder have been linked to a bunch of names near the top of the draft. Tennessee’s Nate Ament is reportedly someone Presti really likes, but he’s probably gone before No. 12. ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel says Ament is “Sam Presti’s ultimate target if he can jump into the top 10.” That suggests Presti might try to package those two picks to move up, something that’s been rumored for weeks.
If he stays put, Michigan’s Aday Mara — a 7-footer with defensive chops — has been the mock draft favorite at 12. But the buzz has shifted a bit. Morez Johnson Jr. is reportedly picking up steam as the guy if the Thunder keep the pick. Siegel notes that Johnson “is gaining a lot of traction to be the 12th pick.”
The Wiggins trade basically gives Presti more flexibility. He can chase a big name in the top 10, or grab two solid pieces at 12 and 17. Either way, he’s not boxed in.
Veterans on Notice
The Wiggins move also opens the door for some discussions about the guys still on the roster. Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Kenrich Williams are all entering the final year of their team options. Presti said he wants to keep them around. But with the second apron looming, nothing is guaranteed.
Hartenstein especially has become a key piece — he’s anchored the Thunder’s top-ranked defense. He could be looking for an extension to avoid hitting unrestricted free agency in 2027. That’s a conversation that’s probably already started behind closed doors.
Watching Wiggins leave for draft capital isn’t the headline. It’s what Presti does next that matters.
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