Unlike most NBA clubs, the Thunder likely don’t have any intention of using cap room this summer — with Kevin Durant eligible for free agency, the team figures to stay over the cap to re-sign him (and perhaps Dion Waiters). If Durant and Waiters both return and Oklahoma City makes another modest veteran addition to complement the current core, the Thunder could be one of the league’s only teams to approach the projected luxury tax threshold in 2016/17.
While the focus of this offseason will be on Durant, the Thunder have some other crucial long-term decisions to make. Steven Adams and Andre Roberson are extension-eligible this year, and their salaries will be on the rise. With new deals on the way a year from now for Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka as well, OKC almost certainly won’t be able to keep all of its key pieces, even with the salary cap spiking. Who stays and who ultimately goes? Durant will be the first piece of that puzzle to fall into place in the coming weeks, one way or the other.
See how Oklahoma City’s cap situation looks for 2016/17 as Hoops Rumors continues its offseason salary cap digest series.
Guaranteed Salary
- Russell Westbrook ($17,769,374)
- Enes Kanter ($17,145,838)
- Serge Ibaka ($12,250,000)
- Kyle Singler ($4,837,500)
- Nick Collison ($3,750,000)
- Steven Adams ($3,140,517)
- Andre Roberson ($2,183,072)
- Cameron Payne ($2,112,480)
- Mitch McGary ($1,526,040)
- Josh Huestis ($1,191,480)
- Total: $65,906,301
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Anthony Morrow ($3,488,000)
Restricted Free Agents (Qualifying Offers/Cap Holds)
- Dion Waiters ($6,777,589/$12,846,075)
Unrestricted Free Agents (Cap Holds)
- Kevin Durant ($25,894,800)1
- Randy Foye ($5,956,500)
- Nazr Mohammed ($980,431)
- Total: $32,831,731
Other Cap Holds
- Derek Fisher ($980,431)
Projected Salary Cap: $92,000,000
Footnotes:
- The cap hold for Durant will be the maximum salary for a veteran of 7-9 seasons. The number shown here is an estimate based on the projected cap figure.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
It’s not only smart for KD to sign a one year deal, so he can cash in on the “10yr Max” next year, he can also make his decision whether to stay or go at the same time Westbrook makes his next year.
Injury risk. Dude.
That’s why it’ll be 2 yr with an opt out.
The Thunder will lose I aka next year and use his cap figure in Adams extension. Kanter can replace Ibaka and McGary/Draft pick can earn more PT. either Robinson or Waiters will probably leave. Everyone else will probably stay although Durant and Westbrook are wild cards
Waiters should be let go over Robinson. For all of Robinson’s struggles on the offensive end, they don’t necessarily need him to score a lot for him to be useful…most of his value comes from his defense and his rebounding ability. Waiters on the other hand is purely an offensive option, which handy as a third option behind Durant/Westbrook or as a bench scorer…but Kanter can easily fill that role and Waiters is more easily replaceable.