The Oklahoma City Thunder are back to making moves ahead of their NBA title defense.
The defending NBA champions have reportedly agreed to trade former first-round pick Dillon Jones and a second-round pick to the Washington Wizards. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Thunder are getting back Colby Jones, who the team plans to release immediately.
> Washington is sending guard Colby Jones to the Thunder, who will then release him, sources said.
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> — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) [June 29, 2025](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1939135500595667163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The move is clearly a cost-cutting measure for the Thunder. The Western Conference powerhouse remains below the luxury tax line because several of the team’s key pieces are still on their rookie contracts. But the team’s payroll may become a real issue in the coming years.
Reigning MVP [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be eligible to sign a $380 million supermax](https://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/shai-gilgeous-alexander-midseason-agent-change-thunder/682563) extension in the 2026 offseason. Co-stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will want nine-figure deals as well. Jones will make just under $3 million next season with team options for his third and fourth seasons. But every penny counts toward balancing the team’s cap sheet.
OKC cut its losses with Jones, whom the Thunder traded for in the first round of the 2024 draft. The 26th overall selection cost the team five second-round picks.
Jones played sparingly in his rookie season. He averaged 2.5 points on 38.3% shooting to go along with 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists across 54 games. The Weber State alum will get much more burn on a Wizards team still entrenched in a rebuild.