The Oklahoma City Thunder have trimmed their roster to 15 players, waiving Zhaire Smith, Anthony Pritchard, and Andrew Holifield on October 16, 2026. This move follows the team's 116-89 preseason finale loss to the Houston Rockets on October 15. All three waived players were on Exhibit 10 contracts, a common arrangement for training camp invites.
The Thunder released three players: Zhaire Smith, Anthony Pritchard, and Andrew Holifield. Smith is the most recognizable name, having been a first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. His career, however, was disrupted by significant health issues during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. Pritchard spent last season in the G League, while Holifield was an undrafted rookie out of Lamar University.
These cuts are a standard part of the NBA calendar. Exhibit 10 contracts are designed to provide teams with extra bodies for training camp and preseason games. They allow teams to retain a player's G League rights, which Oklahoma City has done for all three. Smith, Pritchard, and Holifield are now expected to join the OKC Blue for the 2026-27 G League season.
With these waivers, the Thunder's main roster is taking its final shape before the regular season tips off. The team's preseason schedule provided the final evaluation period, featuring games like a 114-112 win over the Indiana Pacers on October 13 and a 113-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on October 12. The decision to keep Christoph Tilly, the other Exhibit 10 player from camp, is notable.
Tilly remains on the roster for now. His status is interesting because the Thunder have an open two-way contract slot. Otega Oweh is out for the entire 2026-27 season with a torn Achilles tendon, and the team is expected to waive him to free up that spot. Tilly could be a candidate to fill it, giving the Thunder a developmental big man on a flexible contract.
Attention now turns to the regular season opener. The Thunder will begin their 2026-27 campaign on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on October 20. The team will look to quickly move past its preseason results, which included a 128-126 loss to Milwaukee on October 7 and a 116-110 defeat by New Orleans on October 6.
Finalizing the roster is the last major piece of business before that game. Fans can track the team's upcoming schedule on our schedule page. These final roster moves confirm that the Thunder's front office is satisfied with the core group they have assembled for the new season.
