The Thunder have approximately $110MM in guaranteed salaries on the books for the 2017/18 campaign and with an estimated $101MM salary cap, it’s unlikely the team makes a splash in free agency. Despite the lack of flexibility, GM Sam Presti will continue to function as an opportunist, as Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman relays.
“We’re not in a position where we’re going to be a cap space team, per se,” Presti said. “We’ll look at every opportunity that we can, but it’s not a matter of us necessarily extending offers to people. It’s basically people extending interest to us, you know what I’m saying, and then we can work from there.
“We’ll make every single phone call to every single team, and the players that everyone I think probably thinks about and fantasizes about. You know, if we can make those players be here, they would probably be here by now. Otherwise, we’re going to have to like kind of do our job and keep getting better and go from there.”
Here’s more from Oklahoma City:
- Enes Kanter is “absolutely on the trade block,” Tramel writes in the same piece. It’s unclear whether Tramel has inside sources or he’s just reading the tea leaves. The Thunder have a surplus of big men and after Kanter played well this past season, he may hold the most trade value out of their frontcourt players.
- Tramel adds that the Thunder are in the market for a backup point guard. Presti recently said that Semaj Christon did an “excellent job” behind Russell Westbrook.
- Presti believes the team’s young core can grow from this year’s experiences, as Clint Brunt of the Associated Press passes along. “[The team] knows what it’s like to go through a playoff series where, you know, you’re losing the series on the margins. They know what it’s like to play with one another and understand each other’s tendencies. And I think that’s going to bode well for us,” Presti said.
- Presti said the Thunder are hopeful Westbrook will sign a long-term extension this summer, as we passed along on Monday. The MVP Candidate is eligible for the Designated Player Extension, which could pay him an estimated $217MM over five seasons.
OKC’s success harps on just how good Sabonic could develop
I got a trade for OKC. Trade Kanter to Charlotte for Marvin Williams. OKC gets a floor spacing four which they desperately need and Charlotte gets a offensive minded bench big to pair with Frank Kaminsky
Dude Sabonis will be way better then Marvin ever was, why take on Marvin’s contract? OKC needs to spend smartly and not overpay for Roberson, if he wants too much let him go and invest that cash on a player like Bogdanovic who can play the 2-3-4 and shoot the ball and score off the dribble. Plug him at the 3 and put Abrines at the 2 and Oladipo at 6th man. Sabonis developing a solid 15 foot jumpshot would help elso, he had 3 point range as well Donovan has to get him more involved.
Marvin is making either less than or close too what Kanters making
They should definitely trade Enes Kanter for Danillo Gallinari. They need any small forward they can get
Why the hell would Denver want Kanter with Jokic and Plumlee? Nice try bud
Plumlee is a free agent
Enes to the Sixers for Okafor
They should’ve resigned oladipo and Adams in restricted FA instead now they’re screwed