Oklahoma City Thunder Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Knicks To Hire Frank Zanin As Assistant GM

May 19th, 2020 at 9:02am CST by Luke Adams

After a Monday report indicated that the Knicks are finalizing the hiring of Walt Perrin as an assistant general manager, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reports this morning that the team is also bringing aboard veteran executive Frank Zanin as an assistant GM for pro personnel.

According to Vorkunov, Zanin’s hiring is not yet official, but he and the Knicks are working toward finalizing a deal. The same is true of Perrin — he and Zanin are expected to complement one another in the Knicks’ front office, with Perrin overseeing college scouting and Zanin dealing with the pro side, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday.

Zanin, who began his career working for the Sixers as a scout, later served as an assistant GM in the Nets’ front office and became the team’s de facto GM for a few weeks in 2016 following Billy King‘s departure. Most recently, he worked in the Thunder‘s scouting department.

As Ian Begley of SNY.tv notes (via Twitter), Zanin and Kobe Bryant played for rival high schools in the Philadelphia area in the 1990s, and Zanin received Bryant’s endorsement for the Nets’ permanent GM job back in 2016.

Having officially named Leon Rose as their new president of basketball operations in early March, the Knicks have slowly been reshaping their front office since then. The organization previously hired away capologist Brock Aller from the Cavaliers to be the Knicks’ VP of strategy and elected to retain GM Scott Perry for at least one more year. Now, Zanin and Perrin are set to take on key roles in New York as well.

Thunder Reopen Facility, Can Conduct Coronavirus Tests

May 18th, 2020 at 11:53am CST by Luke Adams

The Thunder are reopening their practice facility, the Thunder Ion, on Monday and will allow players to conduct voluntary individual workouts there, as Royce Young of ESPN relays (Twitter link). Players are expected to be in the gym today, according to Young.

In addition to opening their facility, the Thunder have received authorization to conduct coronavirus tests on players or staffers who enter the building. Their statement suggests they’ll be able to administer those tests even for individuals who are asymptomatic.

“While our testing will be done through private resources, our state health authorities have given us assurances that any testing of players or essential staff would not impact the needs of the community and have provided the written documentation that is required by the NBA to test any players and essential staff,” the team said, per Young.

Oklahoma City is the 17th club known to have reopened its practice facility on a limited basis following the coronavirus shutdown. We listed the other 16 in our earlier story on the Pelicans and Clippers reopening their buildings.

CP3 Turns Back Clock In First Thunder Season

May 14th, 2020 at 9:12pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

On the cusp of turning 35, Thunder point guard Chris Paul turned back the clock with his play in 2019/20, according to Erik Horne of The Athletic. He made his first All-Star appearance since 2016 in his first season in OKC. Paul is averaging 17.7 PPG, 6.8 APG and 4.9 RPG and has played in 63 of the Thunder’s 64 games. The team is currently 40-24, good for the No. 5 seed in the West.

2020/21 Salary Cap Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder

May 12th, 2020 at 12:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is looking ahead at the 2020/21 salary cap situations for all 30 NBA teams. Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the NBA, it’s impossible to know yet where the cap for 2020/21 will land. Given the league’s lost revenue, we’re assuming for now that it will stay the same as the ’19/20 cap, but it’s entirely possible it will end up higher or lower than that.

After trading away Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Jerami Grant last July, the Thunder seemed on track for a rebuild. However, even after spending the offseason stockpiling draft picks, Oklahoma City still had too much talent on its roster to bottom out.

Instead of returning to the lottery, the Thunder emerged as a no-doubt playoff team in the West, entering the hiatus with a 40-24 record that placed them fifth in the conference. Some form of rebuilding is probably still around the corner for the franchise, but it looks as if OKC will be able to remain competitive during that transition.

Here’s where things stand for the Thunder financially in 2020/21, as we continue our Salary Cap Preview series:

Guaranteed Salary

Chris Paul ($41,358,814)
Steven Adams ($27,528,088)
Dennis Schroder ($15,500,000)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($4,141,320)
Terrance Ferguson ($3,944,013)
Darius Bazley ($2,399,160)
Luguentz Dort ($1,517,981)
Isaiah Roby ($1,517,981)
Kyle Singler ($999,200) — Waived via stretch provision
Patrick Patterson ($737,067) — Waived via stretch provision
Total: $99,643,624

Player Options

Mike Muscala ($2,283,034)
Total: $2,283,034

Team Options

Abdel Nader ($1,752,950) ¹
Deonte Burton ($1,663,861) ²
Hamidou Diallo ($1,663,861)
Total: $5,080,672

Non-Guaranteed Salary

None

Restricted Free Agents

Kevin Hervey (two-way qualifying offer / $1,445,697 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Total (cap holds): $1,445,697

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Danilo Gallinari ($33,923,339): Bird rights
Andre Roberson ($16,111,110): Bird rights
No. 25 overall pick ($2,105,520)
Nerlens Noel ($1,620,564): Early Bird rights
Norris Cole ($1,620,564): Non-Bird rights ³
Nick Collison ($1,620,564): Bird rights ³
Raymond Felton ($1,620,564): Early Bird rights ³
Jawun Evans ($1,445,697): Non-Bird rights ³
Total: $60,067,922

Offseason Cap Outlook

A taxpaying team for all but one of the last six seasons, the Thunder are finally in position to remain below that threshold in 2020/21, even if the cap doesn’t increase.

Re-signing Gallinari would push team salary well beyond the cap, and even if they don’t bring him back, the Thunder figure to operate as an over-the-cap team. But there’s some flexibility here that Oklahoma City didn’t have in past seasons. That flexibility should only increase as pricey contracts for Paul, Adams, and Schroder expire in the next couple years.

Cap Exceptions Available

Mid-level exception: $9,258,000 ⁴
Bi-annual exception: $3,623,000 ⁴
Trade exception: $10,389,997 (expires 7/10/20)
Trade exception: $9,346,153 (expires 7/8/20)
Trade exception: $1,620,564 (expires 1/25/21)

Footnotes

If his team option is exercised, Nader’s salary remains non-guaranteed.
If his team option is exercised, Burton’s salary becomes partially guaranteed for $1,174,336.
The cap holds for Cole, Collison, Felton, and Evans remain on the Thunder’s books because they haven’t been renounced after going unsigned in 2019/20. They can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
These are projected values. If the Thunder’s team salary continues to increase, it’s possible they’d be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5,718,000).

Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are based on the salary cap and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and Early Bird Rights was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Knicks Notes: M. Jackson, Paul, Aller, Robinson

May 10th, 2020 at 11:02am CST by Arthur Hill

Former Warriors head coach Mark Jackson admits he dreams of getting another NBA coaching opportunity, but added that he won’t be upset if it doesn’t happen, writes Ian Begley of SNY.tv. During an appearance this week on ESPN’s First Take, Jackson talked about his experiences in Golden State and shared his opinions on other head coaches, including Steve Kerr and Tom Thibodeau.

Jackson, who grew up in New York City and played for the Knicks, was a candidate to take over the team before David Fizdale was hired two years ago. Begley isn’t certain how strongly he would be considered if the Knicks decide to replace interim coach Mike Miller, but adds that Jackson still has supporters in the organization. Jackson is reportedly being considered by the Nets as well and has a strong relationship with Rich Kleiman, Kevin Durant‘s business partner and manager.

Begley also notes that Jackson wanted to hire his current broadcast partner, Jeff Van Gundy, who is also under consideration to become the Knicks coach, as his top assistant with the Warriors.

There’s more from New York:

The financial fallout from the NBA’s hiatus may make it easier for the Knicks to trade for a star such as Thunder guard Chris Paul, suggests Marc Berman of The New York Post. Paul was the favorite client of new president of basketball operations Leon Rose when he was an agent, Berman points out, and his huge contract might make him available. Paul remains an elite point guard at age 35, but is owed $41.4MM next season and $44.2MM in 2020/21. With the salary cap expected to fall, the luxury tax will be a greater concern than ever and sources tell Berman that some teams will be eager to move their larger contracts.
Newly-hired VP of strategy Brock Aller spent more than a month consulting with associates before deciding to leave the Cavaliers for the Knicks, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Cleveland general manager Koby Altman wanted Aller to stay with the organization where he spent the past 15 years, but Aller decided the chance to be part of a historic turnaround in New York was too good to pass up.
Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic takes an in-depth look at center Mitchell Robinson to determine how much he can improve after two years in the league.

Thunder Notes: Donovan, Practice Facility, Dort

April 30th, 2020 at 6:53pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Billy Donovan is in the final year of his contract with the Thunder, but GM Sam Presti says that he expects the two sides to have “positive” conversations about the coach’s future with the club, as Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman passes along.

“Obviously this is a unique situation for everybody,” Presti said to Lee and the local media during a conference call. “We’ve always been really proud of the fact that Billy’s been our coach. He’s been our coach now for five years, and I think he’s done an excellent job all five years. And our hope is that once we get some clarity on if this is the end of the season, or if we’re playing more, or what have you, we’ll sit down and have those conversations that we always have.”

“…I’m confident that at the right time we will be able to sit down and have a positive conversation with Billy about his future.”

Here’s more from Oklahoma City:

The league has targeted May 8 as the first day that teams can open their facilities, but Presti would not commit to the Thunder starting back up on that date, as Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman relays. “With respect to the May 8 date, what I can say is the league has stated that’s a target date,” Presti said. “And we’re still a week or so away from that before we can even get there. And I think what we’ve all seen that live through this experience is that things are changing literally day by day. So we’re evaluating that. I wouldn’t say we’re committed to doing that.”
In the same piece, Presti said that he doesn’t believe teams that return earlier will gain an advantage over those that return later. “And I don’t mean from a basketball standpoint, I just mean in general,” Presti explained. “And a big part of that is because the amount of uncertainty that everyone is working with. You could make the argument that coming back too soon is a disadvantage, you know what I mean? I think it all depends on how you’re defining that.”
In a separate piece, Lee details how Luguentz Dort ended up with the Thunder. The rookie, who is on a two-way contract, appeared in 29 games for Oklahoma City this past year.

Gallinari Wants To End Career In Italy

April 20th, 2020 at 7:18pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Oklahoma County prosecutors have decided not to press charges against Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson regarding a rape allegation, Maddie Lee and Nolan Clay of The Oklahoman report. Ferguson was not arrested and there was a lack of evidence to support the allegation that the sexual conduct was not consensual. The incident dated back to a house party in 2018.
Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari wants to finish his career in Italy with Olimpia Milano, Nicola Lupo of Sportando relays. Gallinari played for that organization before heading to the NBA. “Absolutely, it would be great to play a couple of seasons at a high level in the EuroLeague and win with that team. I’d like to finish my career in this way,” Gallinari said in an Italian radio interview. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season, though the 31-year-old seems several years away from the end of his career.

Andre Roberson Talks About Returning

April 19th, 2020 at 10:01am CST by Arthur Hill

Thunder swingman Andre Roberson believes he’s close to returning to action after missing more than two years with a knee injury, writes Moke Hamilton of USA Today. Roberson discussed his status during an appearance on the Catching Up With The Family podcast with Nate Tomlinson, his former college teammate.

“I’m kinda past the rehab stage,” Roberson said. “I’m almost to the point where — I should be playing, honestly. But I’m still taking it a day at a time until I get back into our medical staff’s hands and get reevaluated. Just staying patient through it all and knowing that the light is right there at the end of the tunnel. … It’s definitely been a long journey and it’s coming to an end.”

Roberson was a defensive specialist for Oklahoma City for four and a half seasons before tearing his left patella tendon in January of 2018. Some setbacks along the way have extended his rehab process. Roberson indicates in the interview that he would like to take the court if the NBA is able to resume its current season at some point.

Roberson’s desire to return may be related to his contract situation. He’s earning $10.74MM in the final year of his current deal and is headed for free agency whenever the offseason arrives.

Nader Improved In Second Season With Thunder

April 14th, 2020 at 5:04pm CST by Luke Adams

In his third NBA season and second with the Thunder, Abdel Nader improved his shooting efficiency and made major strides on the defensive end, writes Logan Meyer of Daily Thunder. Oklahoma City is in position to keep Nader for one more year before he reaches free agency — he has a minimum-salary team option for 2020/21.

Northwest Notes: Weaver, McCollum, Daniels, Jazz

April 11th, 2020 at 3:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

Thunder VP of basketball operations Troy Weaver turned down an interview during the second round of Chicago’s search for a new head of basketball operations because he considered it a “token offer,” tweets Marc J. Spears of the Undefeated. Someone in the Bulls organization told Weaver that Arturas Karnisovas was likely to be hired to fill the role, and he didn’t want to go through the process with little chance to get the job, Spears adds.

That contradicts a report from earlier this week suggesting that Oklahoma City declined permission for Chicago to talk to Weaver, who is African American. The Bulls came under criticism this week for seemingly not including any black candidates in their front office search.

There’s more from the Northwest Division:

Like many NBA players, Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum is trying to find ways to stay ready for a resumption of the season even though he doesn’t have access to a basketball court, writes Casey Holdahl of NBA.com. “I’m still working out so I’m holding out hope that we’re going to be able to come back at some point. Honestly, I have no idea, I think it’s a coin flip,” McCollum said. “… I’m continuing to put my head down and work as if we’re returning here shortly. I think that’s how you have to approach a situation like this. There’s 24 hours in a day, plenty of time for me to still get some work in, work on other sectors and things I’m interested in.”
Troy Daniels didn’t get an opportunity to establish himself with the Nuggets before the hiatus began, notes Arash Markazi of The Los Angeles Times. Daniels was waived by the Lakers on March 2 after agreeing to a buyout, then signed with Denver on March 5, which was six days before the season was suspended. He got into one game and played just one minute during his time with the Nuggets. “We were playing when we found out (about the shutdown) so I didn’t know if we were going to stop but we kept going, and as soon as it was over everyone was talking about it in the locker room,” Daniels said. “We were supposed to go to San Antonio that night but we went back to Denver. That’s when I knew it was serious.”
Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report suggests five potential trades if the Jazz can’t resolve the reported rift between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Bailey sees the Knicks, Mavericks and Bulls as possible destinations for Gobert, while the Thunder and Nuggets may be able to swing a deal for Mitchell.