Spurs v. Thunder

[Laimbeer]

This is shaping up as an all-time great rivalry.

Who will have more success in the next five years?

[Bornstellar]

Come on, you're comparing the defending champs who look like they're probably going to win 70 and repeat to a team that hasn't made the playoffs this decade. Hard to pick against the Thunder at this point given their roster constructions and the picks OKC has.

[Homer38]

I pick the thunder over every other teams in this league for the next 5 years

[Patches Perry]

Spurs might be the biggest threat to OKC in the next several years due to Wemby alone, but they need to "arrive" first. It looks like they're playoff bound this season and we'll have a better feel for how successful they can be in the next several years.

[UcanUwill]

The better question would have been OKC vs the field over next 5 years.

[dhsilv2]

Wemby is 22. He'll still be in his apex in 5 years. Clearly OKC

[Blame Rasho]

You can’t even remotely make an argument for the Spurs. The Thunder are just loaded. If they want to be great , all they need to do is keep their team.

[Bornstellar]

Wemby is 22. He'll still be in his apex in 5 years. Clearly OKC

22 in January

[Optms]

OKC has their window now because this is Wemby's league very soon. Possibly by next season. They are also compiling elite prospects with Castle and Harper. But Wemby is the x factor. They aren't ready but their growth this year is evident.

Shai better get it in while he can, Wemby will block his shot and come down draining 3's in a year or two.

[Ssj16]

I voted Spurs because they will have the better player and most likely the best player in the league and they have shown so far that they are making competent moves while building this roster with young talent.

[guynumber45]

This is shaping up as an all-time great rivalry.

Who will have more success in the next five years?

If I had to build a modern NBA defense to limit Wembanyama's effectivness, it would be what OKC is deploying. A lineup full of 6'4-6'7 guards/wings who have stocky builds and elite hands to attack Wemby's extremely high dribble.

[Lefty20]

OKC easily.

Their MVP has just entered his absolute prime and Presti has built a near perfect roster to surround him with.

Wemby wont even reach his prime for another 4-5 years.

[SlimShady83]

Lakers when they make the next big trade (somehow) and shock everyone and have a ton of capspace? when the old man retires?

For the thread, I'm rolling with Spurs. Wemby is young and Spurs got a good young team going, not too mention a lot of picks just like OKC, going to be interesting that's for sure.

[BruttoNostra]

OKC will have a huge roster overhaul next summer due to CBA limitations, so people waiting for OKC dynasty might be surprised.
Spurs might not win this year (ofc this year it's OKC vs the field), but their window is wide open, especially if they build around Harper and not Fox as their second banana.

[Lalouie]

it's going to TAKE 5yrs for the spurs to grow into it

[MoneyTalks41890]

OKC will have a huge roster overhaul next summer due to CBA limitations, so people waiting for OKC dynasty might be surprised.
Spurs might not win this year (ofc this year it's OKC vs the field), but their window is wide open, especially if they build around Harper and not Fox as their second banana.

This is incorrect.

[bbms]

OKC will have a huge roster overhaul next summer due to CBA limitations, so people waiting for OKC dynasty might be surprised.
Spurs might not win this year (ofc this year it's OKC vs the field), but their window is wide open, especially if they build around Harper and not Fox as their second banana.

What? They can pay, they payed for worse teams in the westbrook triple double era

And they have contract flexibility to duck the apron whenever they want. And next season they'll have at last two "rookies" drafted in the teens yet to débito, plus maybe more depending on how the jazz, 76ers and clippers season play out

[Optms]

it's going to TAKE 5yrs for the spurs to grow into it

OKC went from a dumpster fire to a juggernaut in less than 3 years.

Spurs are already a second tier contender and Wemby is only 21 playing with rookies and second year players. At the same point in OKC's timeline of rebuilding they had like 22 wins. My point is nothing takes 5 years to develop and the Spurs are already way ahead of schedule.

[BruttoNostra]

OKC will have a huge roster overhaul next summer due to CBA limitations, so people waiting for OKC dynasty might be surprised.
Spurs might not win this year (ofc this year it's OKC vs the field), but their window is wide open, especially if they build around Harper and not Fox as their second banana.

This is incorrect.

Is it?
Currently AFTER renouncing all upcoming free agents (Dieng etc) Thunder salary number still stands at $246M, which is $44M over the projected luxury threshold and $22M over the projected second apron.

If you think your team will be ready to go over the second apron - fine. How about the tax then?

$246M + 3 first round picks, one of which might be in the lottery - LAC --> it's already ~$260M, without resigning any free agents or adding any min salary guys (I even assume there is no miracle where few other teams tank better than Utah + some ping pong magic and their pick falls beyond the 8th).
You know what, I missed Kenrich Williams - let's say you don't pick up his option - it's still $50M over the tax threshold and over $200M in taxes.
A quick reminder - entire revenue of the team for the last season was $357M (https://www.statista.com/statistics/193704/revenue-of-national-basketball-association-teams-in-2010/ --> don't mind 2010 in the link - it shows data for the last season) - I guess you're not ready to pay $450M just for salary and tax, right?
Now, you can trade/cut Sorber, Topic, but it's not enough and to significantly cut the tax you'll need either to trade iHart or both Dort and Wiggins. You'll still be over the tax, but at much smaller number and with enough room below the second apron to operate. Maybe even Caruso instead of one of them, though both iHart and Dort can still give you both salary cap relief AND some assets back and both will be up to a new contract in 2027 that you anyway probably won't be able to afford.
Again - the above scenario is only to reduce the tax. To stay entirely below the threshold, a bigger sacrifice will be needed.

Yet, there is so much talent in that team that there is a good chance losing, say, Topic, Sorber, Dort and Wiggins may be insignificant - seems like Mitchel is ready to take over the bench scoring (Wiggins) and Wallace is another undersized bulldog defender making Dort expendable.

[Wolveswin]

Lakers when they make the next big trade (somehow) and shock everyone and have a ton of capspace? when the old man retires?

For the thread, I'm rolling with Spurs. Wemby is young and Spurs got a good young team going, not too mention a lot of picks just like OKC, going to be interesting that's for sure.

lol Lakers.

And Spurs don’t have a lot of picks like OKC. Not even close. Spurs only have 1 extra 1st. One!

Spurs:
26 own (Hawks Swap)
27 Hawks (don’t have their own)
28 own and Celtics
29 own
30 own (Mavs and Wolves swap)
31 own (Kings swap)
32 own

Presti owns more extra 1sts than Spurs overall in the 2026 draft ALONE.