It’s been just under two months since the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed their first-ever Larry O’Brien trophy in a thrilling Game 7 win over the relentless Indiana Pacers. The champagne hasn’t even dried, and already the conversation has shifted. That is from celebration to sustainability. That’s how quickly the NBA moves. Championship windows don’t stay open long without sacrifice, strategy, and yes, serious money. And right now, all eyes are on GM Sam Presti. He built a title team from the ground up, but keeping it together? That might be an even tougher job.

Here’s a number that’ll make your jaw drop: $822 million. That’s how much the Thunder have committed to their core: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. And honestly, it tracks. These three didn’t just flash potential, they delivered a title. Each had moments leading the charge, proving they’re the future in OKC. But championship glow doesn’t dim financial pressure. Now, Sam Presti faces a different kind of challenge. According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, decisions on Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein could be next. And they won’t be easy.

On a recent episode of Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, the veteran insider broke down the next big dilemma in OKC. He said, “So Lou Dort Club option at 17.7 million for 2627 and then Isaiah Hartenstein at 28.5 million. But again, we’ll see what happens there. But the point is they’re making their difficult decisions will start at the 4th, 5th, 6 spots on the roster, not 1st, 2nd, 3rd.” With Shai, Jalen, and Chet eating up a combined $822 million, paying high-dollar for depth players like Dort and Hartenstein doesn’t exactly scream smart cap management, especially if they’re not starting. 

Sure, OKC just bagged its first NBA title, but even winning teams hit financial crossroads. Does Presti roll it back and hope for another ring? Or trim key pieces and risk messing with a proven formula? But Windhorst wasn’t done. He also pointed to OKC’s ownership as a looming variable. Brian said, “They have been in many ways a model franchise for their tenure in Oklahoma City. And we’ve seen a lot of new owners have a lot of impacts, a lot of places, and it’s just something bears watching. New owner syndrome. We’ve seen it. We’ve seen it a time or two. I would hope there’s not a new owner syndrome situation if you’ve got a potential dynasty on your hands.”

For those who don’t know, that phrase, “new owner syndrome” isn’t just buzz. It’s a real pattern in pro sports. When owners itched to leave their fingerprints on a team, often through bold, flashy moves that look good in headlines but wreck long-term plans. It’s about power plays over patience, splash over structure. And for a franchise like Oklahoma City Thunder, which just built a title team the hard way, that kind of impulse could be lethal. With the Thunder on the cusp of a dynasty, the smartest play might be the quietest one, letting Sam cook without interference.

So now the million-dollar question, or rather, the $822 million one, hangs in the air: Will Sam Presti make the tough calls, or let the winning roster run it back? With Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein possibly earning big checks off the bench, the math gets murky. But the stakes? Crystal clear. Even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently hinted that the Thunder could be the league’s next great dynasty.

Sam Presti’s OKC Thunder earns high praise from NBA Commissioner as a future dynasty contender

Truly, the NBA’s landscape has shifted. Gone are the days when the Lakers or Celtics ran the table. Parity is the new king, and the Oklahoma City Thunder just became the face of it. With their Game 7 triumph over Indiana, they became the seventh different champion in seven years. It’s a rarity in any era. But what makes their run different? They did it with one of the youngest rosters in the league. And while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rightfully gets the spotlight, credit belongs just as much to GM Sam Presti, the architect behind the blueprint.

Following a recent Board of Governors meeting, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver weighed in on the current state of the league. He didn’t just praise the Thunder, he hinted at something bigger. With Presti locking in SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren through the decade, and a war chest of draft picks still intact, OKC is set up to stay relevant, if not dominant, for years. “I’m perfectly comfortable with dynasties,” Silver said. “I like what we’re seeing right now, I’m not ready to declare we’re not going to have dynasties. I’m sure Sam Presti isn’t ready to hear that,” he added.

The Thunder are already the betting favorite heading into next season, and they’ve got the deepest bench and youngest ceiling. Now, all eyes turn to Sam Presti once more. Will he make another bold move to extend their dominance, or trust the formula already working? Either way, the dynasty conversation is no longer hypothetical. It’s happening in Oklahoma City.