The Oklahoma City Thunder declined to pick up 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topic’s $7.4 million option for next season, making him a pending unrestricted free agent.
The Thunder also picked up their options on Jared McCain and Thomas Sorber.
Topic’s Injury-Hit Career
Topic, the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, has appeared in only 10 games for Oklahoma City over the past three seasons. He is still recovering from back surgery he underwent this summer and has no timetable to return.
Topic missed all of his rookie season because of a knee injury he suffered before he was drafted. He then missed a large chunk of last season after receiving a testicular cancer diagnosis during the preseason.
He underwent a procedure to address the cancer in October 2025, then completed chemotherapy and worked his way back into shape. Topic made his NBA debut on Feb. 12 and appeared in 10 games.