The Oklahoma City Thunder have built one of the deepest and most versatile rotations in the league, but depth can quickly turn into a numbers game. With Nikola Topić expected to be integrated into the lineup, Oklahoma City faces a familiar challenge: development versus stability.

Topić isn’t a plug-and-play floor spacer or defensive specialist. He’s a true lead guard, a pick-and-roll operator who thrives with the ball in his hands. 

If the Thunder are serious about accelerating his development, that means real minutes. And real minutes have to come from somewhere.

Here are four players who could feel the squeeze.

Isaiah Joe has become one of the most important role players on the roster. Joe provides elite three point shooting and instant offense, stretching defenses well beyond the arc. His gravity creates driving lanes for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams and punishes teams that overhelp.

But Joe’s role is somewhat specialized. If Topić commands backup point guard duties, Oklahoma City may stagger its creators differently, leaning into lineups that emphasize secondary playmaking over pure shooting. 

Joe’s minutes likely won’t disappear because his shooting is too valuable, but they could fluctuate depending on matchups and whether the Thunder prioritize ball-handling depth over spacing on certain nights.

Aaron Wiggins could face a similar balancing act. Wiggins has carved out a reputation as a steady two way wing who can attack closeouts, defend multiple positions, and score efficiently without dominating the ball. Mark Daigneault trusts him because he rarely forces the issue.

However, Wiggins’ minutes have historically been tied to lineup construction. If the Thunder experiment with three guard groups featuring Topić alongside other creators, that could reduce the need for a traditional wing in certain stretches. Wiggins’ versatility keeps him in the mix, but in a rotation where someone has to lose five or six minutes, he’s a candidate simply due to positional overlap.

Kenrich Williams may be the most interesting case. He brings toughness, rebounding, and connective passing, the type of intangible skill set that stabilizes chaotic stretches. He’s often deployed as a small ball big who can guard up a position and keep the ball moving.

Yet Kenrich’s value is situational. If Topić’s integration pushes Oklahoma City toward more guard heavy rotations, minutes for hybrid forwards could become less consistent. Kenrich doesn’t require touches to impact the game, but roster math can be unforgiving. Developmental priority typically wins out over veteran glue pieces when both can’t coexist in the same minute allotment.

Jaylin Williams offers floor spacing from the five spot, charge taking defense, and high IQ passing. His ability to facilitate from the top of the key fits the Thunder’s read-and-react philosophy.

But frontcourt minutes are already competitive, and if Topić strengthens second unit playmaking, Oklahoma City may not need as much offense initiated through its reserve bigs. His role has often expanded or contracted based on matchups. A deeper guard rotation could mean smaller lineups that trim opportunities for backup centers unless size is absolutely necessary.

None of this guarantees a dramatic reshuffling. The Thunder value flexibility, and injuries or matchups can quickly shift the equation. But if Topić is given a meaningful runway, someone’s rhythm will be disrupted.

That’s the cost of growth for a contender with a developmental mindset. Integration isn’t just about adding talent. It’s about recalibrating opportunity and for Joe, Wiggins, Kenrich Williams, and Jaylin Williams, the margin for error may grow thinner as Oklahoma City prepares for its next evolution.