It is no secret that the Oklahoma City Thunder have accelerated its timeline faster than expected, but it seems that they are arming themselves well for years to come. Nikola Topic‘s future in OKC may take a different turn depending on how the Thunder plan its next few years in chase of a league title.
In that regard, OKC has structured its roster well. However, not all assets will remain for a long time. One of these big assets in question is the Thunder’s draft capital – including Nikola Topic. With the roster seemingly not needing an overhaul, picking the right player to sign comes as a huge must.
Amidst the blazing intensity of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder are worried about the future as well.
Nikola Topic’s Future is a Serious Concern for OKC
The Postseason Revealing the Thunder’s Needs
It is safe to say that the postseason is revealing the Thunder’s strengths and flaws. The first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies showed the Thunder’s need for stable scoring options. So far, the series against the Denver Nuggets highlighted the Thunder’s lack of a real playmaker and its zone weakness. Without a doubt, the playoffs are a way to learn more about a player and a team – and OKC is learning more about each other as a group.
Don’t get too excited for Rookie of the year based on who gets the top pick
We have this demon just waiting in the wings 😈 pic.twitter.com/AHjqoe1oe8
— ThunderChets (@ThunderChats) May 12, 2025
This is where Topic’s future comes full circle as a point of discussion. OKC does not have a pass-first guard who could rotate the ball and dictate plays without scoring a lot. The Thunder had Josh Giddey before, but because he failed to shoot the three well, OKC moved on from him. The guard is thriving well in Chicago after OKC swapped him for Alex Caruso in the 2024 offseason.
With no real point guards – one who isn’t scoring a lot like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does, OKC may have a minor problem at the very least. Topic may be the key to answering that problem. Head coach Mark Daigneault knows the squad’s strengths and weaknesses – and Topic somehow blends well with their play.
Most of the time, teams are blitzing SGA in the half-court. This causes the Thunder offense to break down and look messy, disjointed, and out of sync. Inserting Topic, a certified playmaker who shoots at a decent percentage from three – could at least alleviate these issues. We have seen how OKC can get cold from deep, and it has been a lingering issue in the regular season too.
Ajay Mitchell vs Nikola Topic
Ajay Mitchell is the closest thing to a pure pass-first guard in OKC’s rotation. However, the rookie guard spent most of the season out with injury and did not return until the regular season finale. He has played a bit in the playoffs, and has showed quality minutes. But when the time comes to consider rotational changes, the pick between these two players may end up being a crucial decision.
Ajay Mitchell vs San Antonio Spurs highlights
19 PTS
2 REB
2 AST
1 STL
23 MIN
8-13 [61.5%]Got to his spots effortlessly. Top-tier foot speed and decision-making. pic.twitter.com/4yBYcsFsVX
— 𝐙 (@homahoops) October 8, 2024
In his first season with OKC, Mitchell averaged 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on nearly 50% shooting. He played an average of 16.6 minutes in 36 games but missed a chunk of the season due to injuries. On the other hand, Topic redshirted his rookie year just as Chet Holmgren did in 2023.
Selected 12th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic is seemingly an advantage to keep for OKC. He is still recovering from his torn ACL but has shown signs of growth so far. The Thunder didn’t need a high-impact rookie this season, and he could use the recovery time. Considering that the team will not be bringing any lottery picks, Topic is a go to be the Thunder’s focus for 2025-26.
We got another Nikola ready to take the league by storm 👀
Nikola Topic is a 6’7 point guard from Serbia🔥
(🎥 @DraftExpress )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 21, 2023
In his final year in the EuroLeague, Topic posted 18.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.7 boards on 52% shooting. The Serbian guard played 18 games with Mega before being loaned back to Crvena Zvezda. Topic averaged 6.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in the final games of his EuroLeague run.
Why Nikola Topic’s Future is a Concern for OKC
All things considered, OKC doesn’t necessarily need to make trades whether or not they win a title this year. But with Sam Presti being the genius he is in making use of their draft capital, it may be an option to put Topic on the board as well – or not.
The Thunder’s championship window is closing faster than most people think. Keeping or trading Topic could be the difference between building a dynasty and just an appearance for OKC. It is yet an unknown if he could fit well with the Thunder’s trio of SGA, J-Dub, and Chet, but he is looking like a great trade piece for the team’s draft aspirations.
After all, Sam Presti promised an arrival, so expect the management to handle Nikola Topic’s future with urgency.
Photo credit: © SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK