Summer Bolts: Ajay & the Offseason
What a time to be alive.
The Thunder have been the reigning champs for less than a week. The city is celebrating, the players are reflecting, and the league is rest--wait, the NBA doesn't give us all summer to exult in the championship?
OKC is already in the thick of summer business, having wrapped up the 2025 draft and committed to bringing back 14 of the 15 players from last year's title team (bye bye, Dillon Jones) on the eve of free agency. And Oklahoma City is making all these moves as the reigning champs. Feelsgoodman.
Daily Thunder Staff
Yesterday, the Thunder and Ajay Mitchell agreed to a three-year, $9 million contract. Mitchell has gone from a two-way second rounder to a guaranteed NBA deal on a championship roster. You know how I'd describe $33 million in combined salary for three years of Mitchell and Jaylin Williams? Team-friendly.
Shai, JDub, Chet, and Lu Dort remain extension-eligible. Sam Quinn (CBS Sports) waxes on SGA's supermax choice, as Michael Scott (HoopsHype) wonders whether Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will get fully maxed rookie-scale extensions.
Zack Austin, Chris Youngblood, and Payton Sandfort have received non-guaranteed summer deals.
Branden Carlson was tendered a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. Alex Ducas and Adam Flagler did not receive QOs and are therefore unrestricted free agents. [Correction: the original article cited Ducas and Flagler as presumed restricted free agents.] Reminder: teams can carry up to 21 players before trimming down rosters for the regular season.
