Thunder coach Scott Brooks will sit down with the team in the next few days to discuss his return, as we heard earlier. Though a dozen Thunder players already have guaranteed contracts for next season, re-signing the coach isn't the only item on GM Sam Presti's offseason agenda. There are possible extensions to negotiate with James Harden and Serge Ibaka, and the team must decide what it wants to do with backup center Nazr Mohammed, who fell out of the rotation in the playoffs and is now an unrestricted free agent. Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor has plenty of work to do as well, and we have news about both teams.
- Harden dropped a hint that he may be willing to give the Thunder a discount, saying he values team success above the ability to make money elsewhere, writes Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman. “This is something special here,” he said. “A dynasty is being built here. So we’re winning, we’re having fun and we’re brothers. The other stuff, you can’t buy it.”
- Mohammed wants to come back, but acknowledged it may be time for the Thunder to give 2010 11th overall pick Cole Aldrich more minutes, as Mayberry notes (Twitter links).
- O'Connor confirmed that the Jazz have an option on DeMarre Carroll for next season, instead of a non-guaranteed deal, according to Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune. The team is still deciding whether to pick it up, and Jones said it's believed that they must decide on the option by June 30th.
- The deadline for the Jazz to pick up Jamaal Tinsley's $1.35MM option is also June 30th, and the chances Tinsley will be back may hinge on whether the Jazz take a point guard in the draft, Jones says in the same piece.
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