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Hoops Rumors Originals

Offseason In Review: Sacramento Kings

November 28th, 2015 at 2:24pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees and more will be covered as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.

Signings

Extensions

  • None

Trades

Waiver Claims

  • None

Draft Picks

Departing Players

Rookie Contract Option Decisions

Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports Images

Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports Images

The Kings are rapidly becoming known more for their behind-the-scenes drama than for what the team accomplishes on the court. Head coach George Karl has seemingly been on the hot seat since being hired late last season, and this front office soap opera has made it difficult for the franchise to make any forward progress whatsoever. The team’s power structure has been in a perpetual state of flux, and the bulk of Sacramento’s offseason moves have raised more questions about the team’s future than providing much-needed answers.

Nine of the 15 players that began this season with the Kings were not on the roster when the 2014/15 campaign came to a close, which is a level of turnover only matched by the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference and is unmatched in the East. New vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac used the trade market, the draft and free agency to reconstitute 60% of his roster this summer, firmly placing his own stamp on the team, for better or for worse. It remains to be seen just how long Divac will be in power, with team owner Vivek Ranadive reportedly continuing to flirt with the idea of making a run at Kentucky head coach John Calipari. The Kings denied a report over the summer indicating that they reached out to Calipari, and Calipari has continually maintained that he isn’t interested in returning to the NBA, despite persistent rumors to the contrary.

Sacramento began reshaping its roster with a pair of trades that cleared salary cap room, but the team also raised some questions about its direction. Shipping young point guard Ray McCallum to the Spurs for a 2016 second-round pick isn’t a team-changing event, though it was a bit puzzling that the Kings would give up on such a young player who had little impact on their cap figure given that he makes the league minimum. McCallum can hit restricted free agency next summer, but he’s not likely to spark a bidding war, and in the event that he did, the team could have simply chosen not to match the offer and just let him walk.

The other trade that Divac engineered over the summer was even more troubling for me. The Kings dumped Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, and Nik Stauskas on the Sixers to clear the decks for a pursuit of point guard Rajon Rondo, swingman Wesley Matthews, and possibly Monta Ellis, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The team whiffed on both Matthews and Ellis, and while the players shipped to Philly are far from irreplaceable, the draft assets Sacramento gave up may very well become an issue. I also question the team moving on from Stauskas after just one season. While I don’t believe that “Sauce Castillo” will amount to much more than a reserve in the league, if that, it’s troubling to see a franchise giving up on a former lottery pick so quickly.

Sacramento may have missed out on Ellis and Matthews, and I do think that’s a good thing for the long term considering the size of Matthews’ deal with Dallas, and Ellis’ penchant for being a stat sheet player and little more. The team did manage to land Rondo, who has been a triple-double machine thus far in 2015/16. While Rondo has always shown the ability to contribute in multiple ways, it’s his history of being a difficult player to coach that is the major concern. Karl’s situation is already volatile, and the addition of Rondo could be akin to pouring gasoline on a blazing fire if things between him and the embattled coach were to turn sour. The Kings signed Rondo to a one-year pact, which mitigates much of the risk, but it also could serve to throw out any continuity developed if the playmaker departs as an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The Kings made a number of interesting additions over the summer via the free agent market, including signing center Kosta Koufos, veteran swingman Caron Butler, combo forward Quincy Acy, and shooting guard Marco Belinelli. The additions of Belinelli and Koufos were solid moves, and both players bring talent and experience in much-needed areas for the team.

The only issues that I have with the Kings inking Koufos is that he may end up being a redundant piece if 2015 first-rounder Willie Cauley-Stein develops as expected, and I also think handing him a four-year pact is a bit of a risk based on his mediocre track record in the league thus far. But big men always seem to end up getting paid on the open market, and with the expected jump in the salary cap next season, giving Koufos approximately $8MM per season isn’t exorbitant, and that contract likely wouldn’t be a difficult one to move if the need arose. Speaking of Cauley-Stein, I love the selection of the former Kentucky big man, and his versatility and athleticism coupled with his defensive prowess make him an ideal running mate for DeMarcus Cousins.

But it still remains to be seen if Cousins will be with the organization for the long term. Cousins reportedly doesn’t trust Karl, and their relationship has been rumored to be beyond repair. The Kings haven’t admitted that they shopped the center, but Wojnarowski reported that they asked the Lakers for Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, the No. 2 pick that became D’Angelo Russell and other draft assets. Plus, Wojnarowski added that the Kings also wanted any team that would receive Cousins to also take on Landry, since traded to the Sixers. Such a high cost kept the Celtics from even asking about Cousins, as Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported.

The Kings’ offseason was one of mixed direction as they sacrificed a number of assets that could have helped them in the future for a shot at relevance this season. The problem is that the now doesn’t appear to be especially grand, and until the team’s power structure and coaching situation are solidified in some way, Sacramento will continue to flounder and fill up back page headlines with dysfunction. Turmoil seems to repeatedly stalk the Kings, and the moves they made this summer don’t bode well for the long-term future of the organization.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Hoops Rumors Originals 11/22/15-11/28/15

November 28th, 2015 at 11:40am CST by Eddie Scarito

Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week…

  • If you missed the week’s live chat, you can view the transcript here.
  • I broke down the 2015/16 salary cap figures for the Raptors, Jazz and Wizards. You can view the complete series of rundowns here.
  • Chuck looked at where each player who was cut during the preseason is currently playing, breaking it down by conference for the East and West.
  • Zach Links highlighted some of the better basketball blogs around in his weekly installment of Hoops Links.
  • Chuck looked at what happened to each of the four players whose rookie scale team options were declined last season.
  • As part of our Offseason In Review series, Dana Gauruder broke down the Wolves, Chris Crouse looked at the Sixers, Will Joseph delved into the Thunder, while I examined the Blazers, Hawks and Clippers.
  • We ran down how each player who was eligible for a rookie scale extension in 2014 but failed to sign one fared in free agency this summer.
  • If you missed any of our daily reader-driven discussions, be sure to check out the Community Shootaround archives.
  • Here’s how you can follow Hoops Rumors on social media and RSS feeds.
  • Chuck looked at what former No. 1 overall picks are currently earning around the league.
  • I looked at the 2016/17 projected salary cap numbers for the Hawks, Celtics, and Nets.
  • We answered reader questions in our Weekly Mailbag.
  • You can keep track of where your favorite team currently stands in relation to the 2016 NBA Draft lottery with our reverse standings tracker.
  • I ran down the projected payroll rankings for each team this season.
  • Chuck looked at how 2015 second-round picks are faring outside the NBA.
  • We reviewed our commenting policy. Play nice everyone.
  • Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.
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2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Charlotte Hornets

November 28th, 2015 at 10:16am CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 has been set at $70MM, which is an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. The last cap projection from the league prior to the official numbers being announced had been $67.1MM, and the projection for the tax line had been $81.6MM. Many league executives and agents believe that the salary cap will escalate to a whopping $95MM for 2016/17, a higher figure than the league’s last projection of $89MM. This significant bump is a result of the league’s new $24 billion TV deal that kicks in just in time for next season.

The increase in the salary cap will almost assuredly set off a flurry of activity in the free agent market next summer, and it will also make it easier than ever for teams to deal away their higher-priced stars. Prudent executives are acutely aware of exactly how much cap room they have to play with, not just for the current campaign, but for next season and beyond as well. While the exact amount of 2016/17’s salary cap won’t be announced until next summer, it always pays to know just how much salary is on the books for each franchise. With this in mind, we at Hoops Rumors will be breaking down the projected 2016/17 financial commitments for each franchise, and we’ll continue onward with a look at the Charlotte Hornets:

  • Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $48,143,955
  • Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
  • Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $874,636
  • Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $49,018,591

If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Charlotte would have approximately $39,981,409 in cap space, or $45,981,409 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.

Charlotte will also need to make a decision regarding Troy Daniels, who is eligible to become restricted free agent next summer. If the Hornets wish to retain the right to match any offer sheets the player were to receive, the team would need to submit a qualifying offers to Daniels worth $1,215,696, though that number would merely be a place holder until the player either inked a new deal or signed his qualifying offer, which would then set Daniels up for unrestricted free agency the following offseason.

Trades and long-term free agent signings made during the season will also have a significant impact on the figures above, and we’ll be updating these posts to reflect the new numbers after any signings and trades have been made official.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 11/27/15

November 27th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kobe Bryant has suffered several major injuries in recent seasons but the biggest pain he’s experiencing now is the sting of criticism. The longtime Lakers superstar has been struggling mightily with his shooting and coach Byron Scott is getting bombarded with questions and critiques regarding what he should do about it.

Bryant is shooting a career worst 31.1% from the field and 19.5% from 3-point range. Just this week, Bryant matched the worst shooting performance of his career by going 1 for 14 from the field against the Warriors. Bryant, as always, remains supremely confident in his ability and says he’s not concerned about his shooting slump.

Scott has held firm that Bryant will come around. Scott indicated this week that he has no plans to cut down on the veteran small forward’s minutes. When asked on Friday if he might bench Bryant for poor play, Scott shot back that he would “never, never, never” do that.

However, there’s a strong argument that removing Bryant from the rotation would help the Lakers in the long run. Bryant won’t be around when lottery picks Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell hit their prime, so having him play such a prominent role — especially at the offensive end — does nothing to facilitate their development and chemistry.

On the flip side, Bryant has given so much to the franchise that it’s hard to shove him to the end of the bench. Bryant doesn’t seem interested in finishing his career somewhere else and his contract is so huge that even if he agreed to a trade, it would be hard to move him. He’s also still a huge fan favorite and a draw. Love him or hate him, people still like to see him play.

This leads us to our question of the day: Should the Lakers reduce Kobe Bryant’s minutes or even bench him?

We’d love to hear your thought on this subject. Please be aware of our commenting policy and use the comments section below to give us your opinion.

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2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Brooklyn Nets

November 27th, 2015 at 3:27pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 has been set at $70MM, which is an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. The last cap projection from the league prior to the official numbers being announced had been $67.1MM, and the projection for the tax line had been $81.6MM. Many league executives and agents believe that the salary cap will escalate to a whopping $95MM for 2016/17, a higher figure than the league’s last projection of $89MM. This significant bump is a result of the league’s new $24 billion TV deal that kicks in just in time for next season.

The increase in the salary cap will almost assuredly set off a flurry of activity in the free agent market next summer, and it will also make it easier than ever for teams to deal away their higher-priced stars. Prudent executives are acutely aware of exactly how much cap room they have to play with, not just for the current campaign, but for next season and beyond as well. While the exact amount of 2016/17’s salary cap won’t be announced until next summer, it always pays to know just how much salary is on the books for each franchise. With this in mind, we at Hoops Rumors will be breaking down the projected 2016/17 financial commitments for each franchise, and we’ll continue onward with a look at the Brooklyn Nets:

  • Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $50,549,334*
  • Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $500,000
  • Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $5,800,000
  • Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $56,849,334

*Note: This amount includes the player options for Shane Larkin ($1.5MM), Wayne Ellington ($1,567,500), Andrea Bargnani ($1,551,659) and Thomas Robinson ($1,050,961). It also includes the $5,474,787 due Deron Williams, who was waived via the stretch provision.

If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Brooklyn would have approximately $32,150,666 in cap space, or $38,150,666 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.

Brooklyn will also need to make decisions regarding Willie Reed and Markel Brown, both of whom are eligible to become restricted free agents next summer. If the Nets wish to retain the right to match any offer sheets the two players were to receive, the team would need to submit qualifying offers to both, with Reed’s being worth $1,215,696 and $1,180,431 for Brown. This would increase the team’s projected cap commitments by a total of $2,396,127, though that number would merely be a place holder until the players either inked new deals or signed their qualifying offers, which would then set them up for unrestricted free agency the following offseason.

Trades and long-term free agent signings made during the season will also have a significant impact on the figures above, and we’ll be updating these posts to reflect the new numbers after any signings and trades have been made official.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Commenting Policy

November 27th, 2015 at 2:31pm CST by Chuck Myron

We strongly encourage commenting at Hoops Rumors, but we do have basic rules of civility. Comments of this nature are not allowed at Hoops Rumors:

  • Attacks or insults toward other commenters, the post author, journalists, teams, players, or agents.
  • Inappropriate language, including swearing and related censor bypass attempts, lewdness, insults, and crude terms for body parts, bodily functions, and physical acts. In essence, we don’t want any language that parents would not want their kids to see.
  • Juvenile comments or extensive use of text message-type spelling.
  • Writing comments in all or mostly caps.
  • Spam-type links or self-promotion.
  • Comments about how you’re sick of this topic or it’s not newsworthy.
  • Inappropriate avatars or images.
  • Anything else we deem bad for business.

If you see comments that fit the above criteria, please flag them and/or contact us.  Bans may be handed out liberally by our moderators, without second chances. Remaining civil is not that difficult, and most commenters have no problems doing so, nor with helping rein each other in. We are grateful for long-time commenters and readers, though this policy applies equally regardless of tenure.

All comments on Hoops Rumors or the Hoops Rumors Facebook page may be repurposed as a part of the Hoops Rumors Featured Feedback series. In these instances, comments may be edited and abridged.

This policy is always available at the bottom of the site, and will be re-posted monthly.

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Poll: Will The Warriors Win 34 Straight?

November 27th, 2015 at 1:33pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Warriors appear to be an unstoppable juggernaut this season after rattling off 16 straight victories. That mark is the best start to a season in NBA history and the team shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Golden State’s next mark to set its sights on is the 33 straight wins notched by the 1971/72 Lakers, a record that doesn’t appear out of reach judging by how well the team is playing. The Warriors have won 20 straight regular-season games dating back to last season, which means that the team needs 13 more victories to tie the record and 14 wins to be able to make history.

Warriors superstar Stephen Curry admitted to reporters (h/t to Diamond Leung of The Bay Area News Group) that he and his teammates are well aware of the 33 straight wins benchmark, saying, “We talk about 33. I think I’ve probably talked about it more than anybody else on the team, just because I know about the history and just really how hard it is. We’ve had like two 16-game winning streaks the last two years, and those are pretty special feats. For us to have to double that output, I mean we’re going to play hard and hopefully close in on that record, but it won’t be a disappointing effort if we don’t get there. Because there are so many talented teams in this league and for us to just be playing at a high level right now, that’s what we’re worried about. And if we close in and get to 29, 30 games, we’ll talk about it a little bit more.”

It will take more than just skill to break this record, as the team will need to remain healthy and continue shooting the ball as successfully as they have been. Neither are sure bets, especially given some of the talented teams that stand between the Warriors and history. But what say you? Will the Warriors be able to win 14 more games in a row and shatter the mark, or is it something that is likely out of reach? Cast your vote below and don’t be shy about voicing your opinions in the comments section. We look forward to what you have to say.

Will the Warriors Break the Consecutive Wins Record?
Not a chance. 57.08% (363 votes)
Absolutely. 42.92% (273 votes)
Total Votes: 636
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2015/16 NBA Projected Payroll Rankings

November 27th, 2015 at 12:17pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 has been set at $70MM, which is an 11% increase from this past season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. Only five NBA teams are currently under the salary cap, while eight franchises are currently in danger of having to pay luxury tax at the end of the season. We at Hoops Rumors broke down the cap commitments for each franchise, and listed below is how each franchise ranks for total projected payroll in descending order. You can also click on each individual team name to see the franchise’s complete cap rundown for this campaign.

  1. Cleveland Cavaliers: $109,845,352
  2. Oklahoma City Thunder: $97,157,411
  3. Los Angeles Clippers: $96,452,986
  4. Golden State Warriors:  $95,487,927
  5. Miami Heat: $90,269,303
  6. Chicago Bulls: $89,024,375
  7. Houston Rockets: $87,263,972
  8. San Antonio Spurs: $86,393,645
  9. Brooklyn Nets: $83,332,111
  10. Memphis Grizzlies: $82,491,067
  11. New Orleans Pelicans: $81,680,265
  12. Washington Wizards: $81,495,782
  13. Boston Celtics: $77,554,204
  14. Charlotte Hornets: $76,792,845
  15. Detroit Pistons: $76,654,794
  16. Phoenix Suns: $74,555,313
  17. New York Knicks: $73,780,604
  18. Sacramento Kings: $72,671,296
  19. Dallas Mavericks: $72,544,449
  20. Milwaukee Bucks: $72,323,736
  21. Indiana Pacers: $72,146,260
  22. Toronto Raptors: $71,969,710
  23. Los Angeles Lakers: $71,965,372
  24. Atlanta Hawks: $71,547,369
  25. Minnesota Timberwolves: $71,466,973
  26. Denver Nuggets: $68,615,742
  27. Orlando Magic: $68,460,002
  28. Utah Jazz: $62,736,415
  29. Philadelphia 76ers: $59,874,618
  30. Portland Trail Blazers: $49,375,118

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Boston Celtics

November 27th, 2015 at 10:01am CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 has been set at $70MM, which is an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. The last cap projection from the league prior to the official numbers being announced had been $67.1MM, and the projection for the tax line had been $81.6MM. Many league executives and agents believe that the salary cap will escalate to a whopping $95MM for 2016/17, a higher figure than the league’s last projection of $89MM. This significant bump is a result of the league’s new $24 billion TV deal that kicks in just in time for next season.

The increase in the salary cap will almost assuredly set off a flurry of activity in the free agent market next summer, and it will also make it easier than ever for teams to deal away their higher-priced stars. Prudent executives are acutely aware of exactly how much cap room they have to play with, not just for the current campaign, but for next season and beyond as well. While the exact amount of 2016/17’s salary cap won’t be announced until next summer, it always pays to know just how much salary is on the books for each franchise. With this in mind, we at Hoops Rumors will be breaking down the projected 2016/17 financial commitments for each franchise, and we’ll continue onward with a look at the Boston Celtics:

  • Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $33,971,629
  • Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
  • Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $17,000,000*
  • Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $50,971,629

*Note: This amount will become fully guaranteed if both Amir Johnson ($12MM) and Jonas Jerebko ($5MM) remain on the team’s roster past July 3rd.

If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Boston would have approximately $38,028,371 in cap space, or $44,028,371 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.

Boston will also need to make decisions regarding Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger, both of whom are eligible to become restricted free agents next summer. If the Celtics wish to retain the right to match any offer sheets the two players were to receive the team would need to submit qualifying offers to both, with Zeller’s being worth $3,695,169 and $3,270,004 for Sullinger. This would increase the team’s projected cap commitments by a total of $6,965,173, though that number would merely be a place holder until the players either inked new deals or signed their qualifying offers, which would then set them up for unrestricted free agency the following offseason.

Trades and long-term free agent signings made during the season will also have a significant impact on the figures above, and we’ll be updating these posts to reflect the new numbers after any signings and trades have been made official.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Offseason In Review: Oklahoma City Thunder

November 26th, 2015 at 10:30pm CST by Will Joseph

Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees and more will be covered as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.

Signings

Extensions

  • None

Trades

  • Acquired Charlotte’s 2016 second round pick (top-55 protected in 2016, unprotected in 2017) and Luke Ridnour from the Hornets in exchange for Jeremy Lamb.
  • Acquired the draft rights to Tomislav Zubcic from the Raptors in exchange for Ridnour and $250K.
  • Acquired Boston’s 2018 second round pick (top-55 protected) from the Celtics in exchange for Perry Jones III, Detroit’s 2019 second round pick, and $1.5MM.

Waiver Claims

  • None

Draft Picks

Camp Invitees

Departing Players

Rookie Contract Option Decisions

Mark D. Smith/USA Today Sports Images

Mark D. Smith/USA Today Sports Images

Unable to satisfy those in the organization who believed the Thunder should have at least one title by now, Oklahoma City replaced Scott Brooks with new coach Billy Donovan in a bold offseason move. The decision made sense to critics of Brooks because the team failed to make the playoffs and things seemed rather stagnant offensively. On the other hand, the timing of the coaching change was interesting because many supporters of Brooks pointed to the fact that health was a significant issue last season for the Thunder. Kevin Durant, most notably, missed 55 games and Russell Westbrook was out for 15.

The Thunder returned a talented nucleus and were without a glaring weakness on the roster heading into the offseason, so the coaching change was all about wanting a new leader with a new voice, in my opinion. Perhaps it will be what this team needs. It seemed inevitable for Donovan, who won two titles with Florida and is well-respected by players around the league, to land a job like this one, but his success will likely be measured by how well the Thunder perform in the postseason.

Assuming health doesn’t become a repeat issue for Oklahoma City, the Thunder seem poised for a deep run and should be in the championship mix. Durant and Westbrook still have several years left in their respective primes. Besides making a coaching splash, the Thunder didn’t do much in the offseason because they didn’t have to.

Of significance, however, the Thunder matched the Blazers’ $70MM, four-year offer sheet for then-restricted free agent Enes Kanter. Many fans and columnists asked if Kanter was worth the money and the common opinion was no. The deal nonetheless signaled the Thunder were all in. Kanter, a center who is adept at hitting elbow jumpers, is performing well and is currently averaging 12.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The move was widely expected because Oklahoma City offered Kanter about $62MM, not much less than the max deal he ultimately wound up with, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). While critics pointed out his inconsistent defense, Kanter, 23, excelled after Oklahoma City acquired him from the Jazz. He averaged 15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season with the Thunder and Jazz. The new deal for Kanter pushed the team far beyond the $84.74MM tax threshold at the time.

To help alleviate some of the financial hit, the Thunder traded Perry Jones III to the Celtics. They made the move with luxury tax savings in mind. It saved the Thunder about $7MM in combined salary and tax payments, according to Royce Young of ESPN.com. Oklahoma City did not acquire much in return (a protected 2018 second-round pick), but shedding Jones’ money was somewhat vital. Still, star power comes with a price and the Thunder currently have a payroll of $97,749,910, second-highest in the league. The Thunder also cut ties with Jeremy Lamb when they dealt him to the Hornets for Luke Ridnour and a conditional 2016 second round pick. The Thunder flipped Ridnour to the Raptors for the rights to draft-and-stash prospect Tomislav Zubcic. Oklahoma City also got to create a trade exception worth $2.75MM.

The Thunder didn’t quite stop at Kanter, though, as far as bringing guys back. Oklahoma City re-signed Kyle Singler to a deal worth nearly $25MM over five years. Singler, a reserve small forward, provides bench depth. Singler, 27, appeared in 26 games for the Thunder last season after being acquired by the Pistons at midseason, averaging 8.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 17.5 minutes per contest.

The good thing about not making the playoffs last season is that it enabled the Thunder to draft Cameron Payne as the No. 14 overall pick. Payne starred at mid-major Murray State, averaging 20.2 points and six assists per game. His rookie contract did little in terms of having an effect on the Thunder’s financial flexibility because the team was well over $70MM cap anyway. The Thunder make sense for Payne because he won’t be asked to do too much as a rookie, considering all the other talent on the team.

The Thunder had a mostly quiet offseason (aside from the hiring of Donovan and matching the offer for Kanter), but they could have benefited, in my opinion, from acquiring a defensive-minded shooting guard. Even with Donovan, a good defensive coach, guiding the team, the Thunder have still struggled to stop opponents, allowing 103.8 points per game (ninth-worst in the league).

Still, there is no doubt that the Thunder are a title contender if they remain healthy. They are gambling that their coaching change pays off in the postseason. After all, next summer should be far more interesting for an obvious reason: Durant is set to be a free agent. Playing with Westbrook and being on a title contender likely hold a lot of weight when it comes to Durant re-signing next summer, so it behooves the Thunder to have strong season.

Eddie Scarito contributed to this post. The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of it.

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