After mostly sitting out last week’s trade deadline – with the exception of a very minor deal involving KZ Okpala – the Thunder are still about $23MM below the $101.2MM salary cap floor for 2021/22, John Hollinger writes for The Athletic.
As Hollinger explains, the Thunder’s situation is a “very hot topic in the agent world,” since teams are required to either spend to the salary floor or pay the difference to their players. Assuming Oklahoma City doesn’t try to get to the floor by signing free agents to deals that include oversized first-year salaries, the team could end up paying about $1.5MM to each of its own players at season’s end.
Hollinger believes this latter scenario is more likely than the Thunder spending big on free agents in the next couple months. Recent European imports who have received big late-season free agent contracts, such as Gabriel Deck and Luca Vildoza, haven’t exactly worked out, and it’s not OKC will feel the need to be a major player on the buyout market.
More importantly, even if the team is required to pay its own players at the end of the season to reach the salary floor, those payments won’t count toward the cap. In other words, the Thunder could still take upwards of $31MM in cap room into draft night, giving them the ability to make trades in June that other clubs wouldn’t be able to accommodate.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Howard Beck of SI.com is the latest reporter to suggest that the alleged tension between Jazz teammates Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell hasn’t exactly dissipated. “I think they’re in trouble, because this thing has run its course and we know there are some tensions that are in that locker room,” Beck said on The Crossover NBA Show podcast with Chris Mannix (hat tip to HoopsHype). “And I’ve been told recently that they might be a little worse than we’ve even been led to believe. And so if this doesn’t end well this postseason, and there’s no reason to think that it will… those ‘Donovan Mitchell wants out’ rumors are going to be starting, like, as soon as the season is over.”
- General manager Monte McNair felt that the players the Kings acquired at the deadline – including Domantas Sabonis, Donte DiVincenzo, and Justin Holiday – are good fits both on and off the court. “We want competitors, toughness,” McNair said over the weekend, per Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee. “We need to improve our rebounding and defense. And I think all these guys that we’ve brought are not just great players, good talents, all that type of stuff, but guys that are going to fit into that type of culture we’re trying to build here.”
- Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala, who has played just once since January 20, went through the team’s shootaround today, but will remain sidelined until after the All-Star break, per head coach Steve Kerr (Twitter link via Anthony Slater of The Athletic). Iguodala is dealing with lower back tightness.
- Dorian Finney-Smith‘s new four-year extension with the Mavericks is worth the maximum amount he was eligible for ($55,560,960) and includes a trade kicker of 5%, Hoops Rumors has learned.
Finney Smith
Contract totals $55.6 million
Everything included
Reasonable
Where did this Rudy-Donovan tension come from? Is this real or a case of a “reporter” hearing some gossip and running with it?
Pretty sure it’s been going on since Rudy shut down the league by fondling press mics at the start of the pandemic
Pretty sure it began when the Jazz gave Rudy a max deal.., someone who can’t shoot, can’t score, is worthless on offense, has bad hands, and thinks he should have MVP of the league consideration.
That’s just what we know, imagine what goes on behind the scenes.
I’m sure Donovan Mitchell is like, “hey can I get someone to help me out and score the ball?”
Yes, Conley is a stud this year, but Rudy Gay is old, Bojan bogdanovic helps and Royce o’neale helps a little bit and they have Jordan Clarkson Off the Bench shooting like he’s getting paid by the shot attempt.
When healthy Joe Ingles was a facilitator, Hassan Whiteside is not a go-to scorer.., who am I missing? Sure I’ll give you Trent Forester. I like his aggressiveness going to the hole but he’s not much of a shooter.
And so Donovan Mitchell has to score on the Suns in the playoffs by himself. That’s not working.
Dead right. The thing is, Gobert would get offended by anything-less-than-a-max, since he is mentally weak. Giving him the max was the only way to get him to try hard and I suppose he is trying his best .. such a shame he simply doesn’t have it in him and he’ll always be a slug and a shame to look at on the floor. God, how I hope they rid of him but it ain’t gonna happen.
Dude … Gobert’s a more valuable player than Mitchell, who plays no defense, is tiny, and guns almost as much as Clarkson. He’s a perimeter scorer who only shoots 34%. I think you have your “overrateds” backwards.
seamaholic, I respect your opinion and it’s a valid one. But I think when Donovan Mitchell leaves this summer because he wants out, you’ll see the Jazz crumble from perennial 2 seed or 3 seed to “play-in game” status.
Just my opinion, and it’s no better than yours, but just what I think.
The 3 time DPOY, 5 All Defensive team, 4 time All-Star who anchored his team on Defense while making 5 consecutive playoff appearances should be offended if he didn’t get offered the max. If Draymond Green is worth 24 million than Gobert is worth 34. He’s so weak willed that despite being the 27th pick in his draft he put in the work and became the most dominant defensive force in the league.
I don’t disagree with your position on Gobert but the rift between them was reported well before Rudy signed that deal
Huh? Yeah you’re probably right. 16.1ppg with a .707!? FGP while being 2nd in the league with 277 screen assists. Completely useless! I mean it’s not like usually draws a double team when he rolls off his screens clearing out space for open shooters or anything?
Naw man, people sing the praises is Clint Capela and Jarrett Allen while both being very good are both equivalent to Gobert lite.
Tacocat, if someone were to offer you Clint Capela or Jarett Allen or Rudy Gobert, who would you choose?
It’s my opinion that Rudy Gobert is a better player than Clint Capela, but I would rather take Jared Allen all day long every day of the week and twice on Sunday. My reasoning is stated in my posts below. You’re not wrong, I’m just letting you know what I think.
As a side note I think James Harden made Clint Capela a great player. Yes he’s “Rudy gobert light” on defense and just slightly better on offense. Capella definitely has better hands I’ll tell you that right now with a straight face.
It wasn’t the Suns but 14pts was plenty to blow the Warriors out by 26 a few days ago.
Yes I watch that one too. The Jazz were awesome in that game. I’d like to keep that one a distant memory. Already erased the recording of it LOL.
I’ll say this though, your comment lets me know where you’re coming from. You are anti Warriors and that’s okay. But it shows me your takes are not legitimate and just biased towards 1 team and against another.
But that’s okay.., that’s what these comment sections are for. I love it. I probably do the same thing without realizing it.
I’m not anti Warriors though, I absolutely love watching Steph and Klay. I’ve defended Wiggins since they acquired him. I love watching them run the motion offense. Hell I’ve even softened my stance on Dray since he stopped playing dirty and started being a mentor instead of a hot head. Hell I’ll go way back Run TMC was one of the funniest teams to ever set foot on the court. If they aren’t playing the Jazz I always cheer for the Warriors. All I’m saying is that few people appreciate Gobert’s game and the impact he has on winning basketball games.
This is all sounds like an angry kid that Rudy ignored when you screamed for an autograph.
The Jazz are decent on offense without big men. However, notice how much better the offense was when Doke started? He plays more like Rudy.
However, nobody sets a screen like Rudy does. Do you know how many more open looks the perimeter gets when Rudy’s screens? Add his have-to-guard or even double-team rolls to the basket and that = a major offensive boost.
How many centers on any team, including the Jazz have several 20-20 games this year? Rudy has scored over 20 points quite a bit this year.
The rest of the guys you listed just needed to be more active on both ends. Ingles needed time away from the game. Didn’t have that fire anymore. But he’ll be back at a later point with the team. Right now everyone is very active on both ends and it’s created the current win streak. The Jazz are playing their best basketball. Add Rudy and they win by 34 points! Rudy only makes the Jazz better. The rest of the team just needed to wake up and believe, for real!
This whole Rudy and Donovan rift is just another team trying to cause friction. They want Donovan for themselves. Spida himself said it was nonsense. I would just ignore it.
Suppose time will tell if there’s more than just the rumors. In any case, hope they rid of Gobert, but what team would agree to take on the inversly-proportional contract of this oversized oaf.
Honestly I wouldn’t blame Donovan if he doesn’t want to have to do with Gobert. I wish him well as he deserves better, he’s prime just around the corner.
That story is so old & boring by now, UTA is not competing for the title & these 2 can’t stand each other, time to move one of them or even better both & start from scratch without either headache of guys that think they are better than the average guys they are!
Interesting stance that I almost entirely disagree with :D I think UTA can be stingy in the playoffs this year.
You guys should stop talking Jazz basketball, you all have no clue what you are talking about. I don’t even know where to begin smh
Sorry to disappoint you Quin.
You guys are a bunch of idiots! Gobert is equally valuable to Donovan on the Jazz. All of the defense revolves around Rudy. Clearly you don’t watch the games.
I’m not sure it’s “you guys.” I’m probably the main one who started the: Rudy Gobert is useless out there on offense. I think most here are right that the Jazz have learned to use him the right way, and by that I mean, get it to him in the right spots, don’t try to throw him the ball and expect him to score on his own…, that would be a big disappointment. But do some lobs, some screen and rolls and he’s decent and obviously worth 40 million… PER YEAR.
But I’m not sure “idiot” applies. That’s just wrong and offensive and immature. Just try to have a discussion and not use that angle has your attack. It’s not a good look and I know you’re capable.
And then you have to love the, “you don’t watch the games” snarky line. It’s a winner every time.
You know what, let me add this. Which of these things I wrote is not true?
“Someone who can’t shoot.”
Are you saying Rudy Gobert is a shooter? Okay well that’s not correct. Even you can see that.
“Can’t score.”
Again.., even the casual basketball fan can point that out.
“Is worthless on offense.” Okay he’s good at the screen and rolls as pointed out by the person above with the stats. He’s decent at that.
“Has bad hands.” Holy smokes Rudy Gobert has the worst hands in the NBA. Bar None, hands down, and if you don’t agree then that’s okay you’re entitled to your opinion. This is what I see “from watching the games.”
So the only item in my post that is probably out of line is that “he’s worthless on offense.” I believe everything else to be true.
So you’re paying a Max contract of 40 million bucks approximately every year for a guy who’s a stud on on defense, pretty much, and is a ZERO WITH THE BALL IN HIS HANDS on offense. Oh wait.. he sets screens. LOL
Like I said, you should watch the games.
Great comeback! :D
I think the issue here is that while the people other than you also watch the games, they just see (subjectively ‘see’/’perceive’) things differently than you :)
The ‘screen’ offense over and over, since Gobert is 100% reliant on someone else to create. Maybe bring Gortat out of the retirement. (Go[ber|rta]t, all the same :)
It get’s worse when the ball hits him in the face or he stumbles, falls, cries and blames the opponents because of his overall oafishess. Absolute lack of eye-hand coordination and body control :D But hey, he’s a ‘maxed-out’ all-star :D
Honestly I don’t think there’d be that many top-tier teams genuinely interested in Gobert.
Curious how a guy with “bad hands” manages so many blocks and is so effective at shutting down opposing offenses?
You’re referring to catching the basketball, right? We’ll, what about all those lobs and dunks at the basket? How many guys can catch and dunk with one hand like Rudy can?
I think you’re referring to post passes with a move and score opportunity? The Jazz and Rudy don’t need to force those since he’s so much taller than almost everyone in the league. Those above the rim love is all that’s needed. He can also dunk over almost everyone in the league. No post move needed there either.
Sounds like the Jazz and Rudy’s teammates just needed time to figure it out. Sure look great right now. Stop living in the past.
I agree on Rudy b/c the Jazz have had the reps, system, and time to build around Rudy appropriately
As far as value to the league tho lb for lb DM fetches a whole lot more currently as he’s a plug and play guy for 30 teams
I don’t fault Utah for the massive ink, free agency is so difficult for them and their owner has shown a willingness to spend lately offsetting the massive number and really just making it a large number (w tax implications) rather than a burden to bring in more talent via FA or exceptions, etc .
Contracts are so strange in the NBA in that one player can have substantially more worth to one team than another depending on a set of variables that are out of said players hands to begin with.
Well said Cap.
Exactly. It takes a system to utilize player’s max potential. Look at the teams with no real structure. They usually have a high turnover rate for coaches and players. While teams like the Spurs and Jazz keep their playoff hopes alive every year.