For the first time in a couple of summers, the Oklahoma City Thunder went through roster changes. Such is life in the NBA. You can't have the same group of guys forever. This offseason was all about shedding some of the complementary pieces in hopes of younger and cheaper replacements.
The Thunder said goodbye to a couple of longtime role players. Aaron Wiggins was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons. The two moves netted OKC four future second-round picks. With their draft currency getting bare, it's a nice restock.
That said, the Thunder lose two of their best developmental success stories. Joe and Wiggins helped OKC bring home the NBA championship in 2025. Now, they're off to the East. One of their former teammates recently talked about their departures.
Talking to SportsCenter mainly about Belgium's run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ajay Mitchell addressed OKC's busy summer. The 24-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign last season. He averaged 13.6 points and 3.6 assists. Alas, injuries ruined his year. He missed the last four games of the 2026 Western Conference Finals due to a calf strain he's still recovering from.
Part of OKC's confidence to make the two cost-cutting moves stems from Mitchell. The plan is for Mitchell to add even more to his plate. He's capable of scaling up as a scorer. It's just all about staying healthy for the drive-heavy scorer. He's only played in 93 of a possible 164 games in his first two regular seasons.
"It's great. Sam Presti is the best at what he does. I was glad to see who we picked up. Obviously, sad to see my two guys go — Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins," Mitchell said. "Just excited to see how this year is going to be."
We'll see if Mitchell can build off his sophomore year. He became a household name. Specifically, when he stepped up for Jalen Williams as OKC's second go-to scorer in its series sweeps over the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.
Source: USA Today
