NBA Notes: Thunder payroll, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nuggets, Knicks

The Thunder have plenty of talent and draft picks. They also have a looming bill that rival executives don’t expect them to pay in full.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Oklahoma City projects to carry roughly $250 million in salaries next season, accompanied by approximately $200 million in luxury taxes. That’s before accounting for three potential first-round picks in the 2027 draft.

Add those selections, and the combined salary and tax bill could approach $500 million. Naturally, other front offices are watching to see who might become available.

“They will not be paying that much, so it comes down to who and how they cut some of it,” a rival executive told Windhorst. “Sam I’m sure has studied it at length and will develop two or three paths out and will look for the cleanest option over the next year.”

The Thunder hold a $7.8 million team option on Jaylin Williams for next season and face November 2 decisions on the salaries of Nikola Topic ($7.5 million) and Thomas Sorber ($5.1 million). Keeping Topic and Sorber would add more than $60 million to the projected tax bill, Windhorst reported.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City holds incoming first-round picks from the Clippers, Nuggets and Spurs. The Denver selection is top-five protected, while San Antonio’s is lottery protected.

Presti has accumulated enough options to keep improving the roster. Finding room for all of them, financially and otherwise, is another matter.

More from around the NBA:

• Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak of 141 consecutive games with at least 20 points ended Thursday against Denver. He finished with 17 and chose to stay on the bench after seeing the Nuggets remove their starters with 1:24 remaining, per Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman. “I was going to go out there,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But then I saw that (Denver) had subbed, so I was like, ‘I should probably sub too.’ I feel like you should always treat the game with respect.”
• Nuggets: Spencer Jones was scratched from the opener because of a lingering hamstring issue, despite expectations that he would play. Coach David Adelman said the decision was precautionary, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “It’s not a serious thing, just precautionary. It’s one of those injuries that could turn out to be a serious thing,” Adelman said. Denver expects a larger role for Jones after matching his two-year offer sheet from Oklahoma City over the summer.
• Knicks: Friday’s visit to Boston brings a reunion with Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics after helping New York win the championship. Karl-Anthony Towns called the reunion “bittersweet,” telling Steve Popper of Newsday, “It’s gonna be amazing to be able to see our brother. To hug him, be able to show him some love and to obviously compete playing basketball, like we love to do.” Robinson sounded less sentimental. “It’s basketball, it’s a business,” he said. “Got to play the team just like you play any other team.”
• Knicks: Mike Brown wants Towns to stop seeking contact at the expense of making shots, writes Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. Towns picked up two early fouls against Philadelphia, including one for kicking out his leg on a three-pointer and tripping Tyrese Maxey. “KAT: You’re a freaking perennial All-Star. So just make the bucket, and if he happens to foul you, then great,” Brown said.