OKC Thunder Exercise Options on McCain, Sorber, Decline Topic

Oklahoma City Thunder Decline Nikola Topic’s Option Amid Injury-Plagued Roster Decisions

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced late Sunday night that the organization will pick up the team options for Jared McCain and Thomas Sorber while declining the fourth-year option for Nikola Topic. The transaction arrives during a turbulent stretch for the franchise, which is managing a mounting injury list and consecutive blowout losses.

For McCain and Sorber, the decisions represent straightforward calculations on cost-controlled talent. McCain has established himself as an effective spark-plug guard alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, earning his continued presence on the roster. Sorber, selected at No. 15 overall one season after Topic, has yet to make his debut for Oklahoma City due to a foot injury sustained during his freshman year at Georgetown, followed by an ACL tear prior to his debut and a subsequent scope last offseason. Despite missing the 2026-27 season so far, Sorber retains developmental runway at a position of organizational need.

The Up-and-Down Trajectory of Nikola Topic

The choice to decline Topic’s option breaks from standard organizational practice regarding rookies that have hit the ground running. Selected at No. 12 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Topic entered the professional ranks as a project guard after suffering a major knee injury during the pre-draft process. The Thunder scooped him up at No. 12.

Topic’s professional tenure has since been disrupted by a cascade of medical setbacks. Beyond the initial knee injury, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer—from which he successfully returned—and underwent back surgery during the subsequent offseason. Across three seasons, those physical hurdles limited him to just 10 total appearances, yielding averages of 5.2 points and 4.4 assists in 16.0 minutes per contest.

By declining the option, Oklahoma City shifts Topic toward unrestricted free agency at the conclusion of the current season. This mechanism frees the franchise to pursue a more cost-effective agreement should both sides desire a reunion, while simultaneously preserving financial flexibility to reallocate payroll across the broader roster if other league suitors value the former high-ranked prospect’s playmaking ceiling.

With Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, Topic, and Sorber presently appearing on the injury report, these roster maneuvers offer no immediate relief on the floor. Yet, the front office has secured one bonafide contributor, retained a project forward, and carved out financial maneuvering room for the future.