Following a breakthrough year in which they earned the top seed in the West, the Thunder are in position to address their most glaring need by adding another big man in free agency, writes Keith Smith of Spotrac. Oklahoma City can clear roughly $35MM in cap space, mostly by renouncing the rights to free agent forward Gordon Hayward.
Smith points to Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein and Nets center Nic Claxton as two ideal targets. Hartenstein can contribute on both ends of the court, and he may be easier to obtain because New York is limited in what it can offer. With Early Bird rights on Hartenstein, the Knicks can give him roughly $72.5MM over four years, a figure that OKC can easily top. Claxton would add a shot-blocking element to the team’s already-strong defense, but he’s limited offensively and Brooklyn may be willing to pay whatever it takes to keep him.
Smith lists a few other options if the Thunder decide to pursue a forward rather than a center, such as Pascal Siakam, Patrick Williams, OG Anunoby and Paul George.
If general manager Sam Presti prefers a trade, Smith suggests Jazz big man John Collins, who will make $26.6MM in each of the next two seasons and can be acquired via cap space with about $8.5MM left over. Smith notes that Collins’ contract will expire before OKC has to start handing out extensions to its young players.
There’s more from Oklahoma City:
- The Thunder will likely pick up their $2.2MM option on Isaiah Joe for next season with an eye toward a possible extension, Smith adds in the same piece. Smith also expects the team to keep Aaron Wiggins, either by exercising its $2MM team option and trying to sign him to an extension or turning down the option and hoping to reach a new deal with him as a restricted free agent. Smith sees Lindy Waters III on the “roster bubble,” while the team’s other free agents likely won’t return.
- There’s a growing perception that Josh Giddey will be traded this summer, but Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman contends the Australian swingman’s struggles were exaggerated. Even though Giddey was benched in the playoffs and saw his minutes reduced during the regular season, Mussatto notes that he has improved his three-point shooting, having gone from 26.3% as a rookie to 33.7% this season. Mussatto also cautions that it might be too early to make a long-term decision on Giddey, who has another year left on his rookie contract and won’t turn 22 until October.
- Chet Holmgren‘s return from injury cut into Jaylin Williams‘ playing time, but Williams still showed he can be an effective big man in the Thunder’s system, Mussatto adds in a separate story.
Thunder can trade Giddey for picks, then make offer to Paul George
Clippers would absolutely match the offer
You are crazy insane if you think Clippers will let George walk for nothing
Without George, Clippers would miss the playoffs. Fans from other teams always think Clippers don’t plan to compete any more, ….
Most of the teams that would trade value for George is too far over the cap to do a trade. makes his trade options very limited. its not easy finding a team that has over $40 million to trade with.
Like that matters. LAC has sucked since the team was created. Making the playoffs and losing in the first round is meaningless, especially when you have home court.
For those 9 teams who can easily clear big cap space,
please get real and focus on Hartenstein and Monk
This is just not a good year to have a big cap room
So why can OKC offer higher salaries to Hartenstein but NYK cannot?
OKC is way under the cap
The Knicks could offer more if they had cap room available like OKC — because they’re over the cap, the Knicks are limited to whatever cap exceptions they have available (mid-level, bi-annual, Bird rights, etc.) and Early Bird rights are the best they can do.
I think a trade for Capela makes sense for the Thunder. He will absolutely be billable and on an expiring contract. If it works they can re-sign him, if not they’re out a late first round pick.
“Available”
They need someone SGA’s age like Claxton
Capela makes more sense than John Collins.
Giddey may get traded for 1 reason he is a free agent at the end of the season and with all those others getting close to free agency somebody got to go. They are not trading Giddey for picks but players to give them a big push into the playoffs. They know their window is open and want to win next year.
OKC is better off trading for Claxton. They are hoarding picks like NYK but for who? Would OKC want KD back? NYK is in the same place so many picks but no one coming to MSG.
Claxton is a free agent. So no need to trade for him. Sit back and watch a bunch of center type players getting over paid this year. Smart move is for OKC to trade a first rounder and Giddy for Vucevic from the Bulls which gives them a good center.
The smart move it trading up for Sarr. Or Clingan. Imo even someone like Ware can help next yr. They must address the Center position. It also helps Chet. Chet is capable of playing some 4.
They have to overpay to get IHart. His first choice is NY. Knicks can sign a one yr. Then sign for bigger.
They should have done that last trade deadline. They really dropped the ball. Mavs got Gafford and look where they are at. OKC got Hayward and they’re in Cancun.
Why do writers continue to state that Hartenstein is a better offensive player than Claxton. At no time in thier careers have Hartenstein had a higher ppg, or FG% including this year. Hartenstein can’t shoot any better than Claxton, even on the floater Claxton has continuosly had a higher FG%, Hartenstiens only became higher this year when you add his playoff games. So please stop this Claxtin is a one-way player and Hartenstein is a two-way player. Actuall Claxton’s stats are better in ALL categories except freethrows.