Credit: David Berding/Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images

Jeff Teague warns Oklahoma City Thunder star is ‘tradeable piece’ despite major contract extension

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 4:32 PM ET

Jeff Teague believes one key Oklahoma City Thunder star is not safe from a trade despite re-signing for massive money recently.

After winning the 2025 NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder front office got right to work for the offseason.

The Thunder’s first big move was to select Thomas Sorber in the 2025 NBA Draft. The young rookie will only add to their already-stacked rotation.

Right after that, the Thunder extended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a massive $273 million contract. But he wasn’t the only OKC star to get paid.

Next up, OKC extended Chet Holmgren to a five-year, $250 million contract. And finally, they completed the trifecta by extending Jalen Williams to a $240 million deal.

With their core trio locked in for the remaining decade, the Thunder are set to rule the NBA world. But Jeff Teague believes one of these three players is not safe from being traded later down the line.

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Jeff Teague says Chet Holmgren is a tradeable piece despite $250 million extension

Former NBA champion Jeff Teague spoke on his Club 520 podcast about the Oklahoma City Thunder re-signing all three of their young stars.

He believes Thunder GM Sam Presti didn’t want to make the same mistake that he did with James Harden. But Teague also thinks that Chet Holmgren, despite the extension, is still a tradeable asset.

“They learned from the mistake they made with James Harden, we got these young boys, we ain’t going to mess this up.”

“I think Chet was more of a ‘we picked him with a number two pick, we know his skillset, we know he can be really good,’ and we’re just going to solidify it because we did what we did.

“He is a tradeable piece. At all times. People would trade for that. All them contracts don’t kick in for a minute. They cool. They can go with a championship again, and then it’s going to get spooky.

“Caruso and all those guys out of there. Hartenstein will be a free agent.”

Oklahoma City Thunder will have to sacrifice one star in years to come

While the Thunder have committed nearly $750 million in salaries to their core trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, that just isn’t going to be sustainable in the long run.

Yes, the salary cap increases by 10% every year under the current CBA. But even accounting for that growth, their combined salaries, along with the salary cap rules, will make team building a challenge.

Eventually, the Thunder will have to sacrifice either Williams or Holmgren in order to keep a star duo with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander intact as the foundation of their team.

Which player between the two will go? It’s too soon to answer that question. But if you’re Sam Presti, you’re keeping a close eye on the Thunder stars’ progress.

Expect the Thunder to be a competitive team for another two seasons with this trio. But after that, they will have to move one of them to keep their star, Shai, happy.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: