Players who spent time with the Thunder this season will receive bonus checks because the team’s total salary is so low, writes Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman. The current league-wide salary cap is $112.4MM and the minimum salary floor is 90% of the cap, which is roughly $101.2MM. Oklahoma City’s total salary was about $79MM, and the remaining $22MM will be distributed to the players.
The Players Association will vote on how the money will be divvied up, but Mussatto says players who were on the roster for at least 41 games are likely to receive full shares, while others will get half or quarter shares. The final determination is kept private.
“We lay a lot out on the floor and we work hard all year,” Luguentz Dort said, “and we’ve got to thank the organization for doing that for us, just all the players.”
General manager Sam Presti considered taking on extra salary at the trade deadline in exchange for draft assets, but ultimately decided to hold onto the team’s cap space.
“When we were sitting there at the deadline, we just didn’t like anything that was being thrown at us to use that space compared to the opportunity to roll it over to the draft,” Presti said. “Now, it doesn’t roll over to July 1, but we will have that room at the draft. I would put the odds of using that room pretty low. But I’d still rather have those odds than the things that were being presented to us (at the trade deadline).”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Presti is a strong supporter of an in-season tournament, Mussatto adds in a separate story. The proposal didn’t have enough support to receive an official vote last year, but it’s likely the Thunder would have voted yes. “I think it’s very future-oriented,” Presti said, “and it takes courage to put something out there that is going to probably be maligned a little bit, maybe won’t get the immediate love, but they’re thinking bigger picture.”
- The Nuggets only got one playoff victory, but they consider this season a success because of all they had to overcome, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post. In addition to playing almost the entire season without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., Denver was missing PJ Dozier, who suffered an ACL tear in November. “I say we beat adversity a lot of the times,” Monte Morris said. “Without Mike and Jamal, two great players, we still found ways in tough, hostile situations to win. That shows the character and how good we can be.”
- Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian examines whether Joe Ingles will have any value to the Trail Blazers beyond his expiring contract. The 34-year-old had a torn ACL when Portland traded for him in February, and he may not be ready to return until midway through next season.
Thunder stay at pick 4. They will get a player who falls to them. Most likely Holmgren then maybe Ivey. Both fit them well. They can be patient with Holmgren. Or they can start Ivey and move SGA to the 3. Both have big upside potential.
I think they’d be willing to overpay to move up if a team is willing to trade. (Honestly all 3 teams ahead of them lottery wise should want more picks)
If they can get Smith or Banchero that would be ideal. They CAN wait and build Holmgren, but they already have 1 project in Poku and this would be another. Granted Chet is much bette than Poku.
It’ll be interesting to see but they have 2 lottery picks and another late first rounder. I think Presti will make some moves before/during the draft.
To me I see PokU as a 4. He also needs bulk and time. But I like him a lot lol. Yeah Banchero and Smith are more ready at the 4. Both will be stars imo. I doubt either falls below three. Pistons could take Ivey at 3. At 1 or 2 they take a big (not Holmgren). OKC is a good place for Holmgren cause no pressure there. He can grow and reach his potential. In 3-4 yrs with 55 LBs he is going to be a serious center. Very skilled for a center. And he is a center. Plays big. His dad was a 7’ center in college. Taught him well.
OKC has very little chance to get pick #4 (less than 12%). Just the way the system works. Best chance is #6, but #7, #1, #2 and #3 are all more likely than #4.
I’m sure (like almost every other team, in almost every other draft) they’d love to trade up to the top. But it rarely makes any sense for a team at the top to trade down. No amount of middling and/or remote 1st round picks is going to make up for leaving a guy you think has the best chance to be a star on the board. It usually has to be the case that the team trading down believes it can still get the player it prefers to draft at the lower spot.
Yeah, I don’t see anyway a team at 1,2, or 3 would have any interest in trading down. There will probably be a LOT of movement the rest of the first round.