The Thunder‘s Trevor Ariza trade exception, created in a deal with Miami last March, expired on Thursday, as Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter). As a result, Oklahoma City’s total player salaries and cap holds fell below the $112.4MM cap, which means OKC is now operating as an under-the-cap team rather than an over-the-cap team.
We outlined back in November how the Thunder were technically still operating over the NBA’s salary cap for 2021/22 despite only having about $78MM in player salaries on their books. A series of free agent cap holds, trade exceptions, and other cap exceptions (the mid-level and bi-annual) artificially pushed their total team salary above $115MM.
However, now that the Ariza trade exception has expired, the Thunder’s team salary has dipped below the cap, meaning the team also forfeited its George Hill trade exception, as well as the amounts left on its mid-level and bi-annual exceptions — those exceptions are all only available to over-the-cap teams.
Assuming Oklahoma City renounces its various free agent cap holds, the team will have about $33.7MM in cap room, according to Marks. OKC could’ve renounced all of its exceptions at any point to claim that cap room, but opted to stay over the cap for the sake of flexibility. As of Thursday, that was no longer an option.
In addition to having a ton of cap space, the Thunder remain $23.7MM below the league’s minimum salary floor for ’21/22, says Marks. Each season, NBA teams are required to spend at least 90% of the cap — if they don’t, they must pay the difference to their players at the end of the season.
While they probably wouldn’t be opposed to giving end-of-season bonuses to their players if they have to, the Thunder will be motivated to reach the salary floor by making trades in the coming days, since they’ll have to spend that money anyway. It won’t be surprising to see the team accommodate multiple salary-dump deals before the February 10 trade deadline, taking on unwanted contracts from teams looking to cut costs and acquiring draft picks or young prospects in the process.
OKC: Russ and 2 second rounders
Lakers: John Wall and Derrick Favors
Rockets: Bazemore, Isaiah Roby, and $40 mil in cap relief
Thunder would not do this trade.
He’d have to come off the bench if they did take him back which he wouldn’t do. He does nothing for the thunder at this point in his career.
Russ back to thunder isn’t a horrible take. I’m sure they’d expect the lakers 27 first and maybe one of Houston’s many 1st in the short future. But I like the trade all ways but Lakers. One over paid PG for another. But I wouldnt be surprised if they did go for it.
OKC would never do this trade, they instantly lose all flexibility and only add a few second rounders, to pay an albatross contract, so unrealistic
perhaps they can sprinkle some OKC magic dust on him, make Russ great again then flip him for a first round pick or two…
okay maybe Presti isn’t that great a magician
Russ would just be a legacy player. The Thunder wouldn’t lose all flexibility, imo, because Russ’ contract will be an expiring next year. At that point he might even be moveable, but at worst just a cap hit for another year (a year OKC doesn’t plan to be competitive in anyway).
Yay. More 2029 2nd round picks….
To reduce tax next 2 seasons
Trade idea
Thunder get Saric and Cam Johnson
Suns get 2 second round picks from Thunder and a young player
Why？
It all business move, nothing basketball move
Suns have no tax room for Ayton and McGee this summer
Cam Johnson will reduce his trade value significantly this summer
Long term plan
If Suns don’t have tax room for Ayton, other teams can offer Cam Johnson $80 million contract
No Paul no championships
Terrible take, Suns want to win a championship this year and Cam Johnson is a big part of their rotation, winning teams don’t disrupt chemistry mid season for business reasons, that’s for losing franchises
Why not Booker? Makes as much sense
BRING OUT YOUR BUSTS
WE’LL TAKE YOUR WHIFFED DRAFT PICKS AND BLOATED CONTRACTS FOR A SMALL FEE