5 questions still lingering for OKC this offseason
He snagged a superstar to pair with Russell Westbrook.
A floor-spacing power forward? Sam Presti found that too.
And with Andre Roberson agreeing late Wednesday to a threeyear, $30 million deal to return to the Thunder, Oklahoma City has checked off most of the items on its offseason to-do list. Most, but not all. Even with the additions of star Paul George and power forward Patrick Patterson, there are some unanswered questions facing Oklahoma City before between now and the start of training camp.
Five of the key uncertainties:
Will Russell Westbrook sign a contract extension?
Probably the most pressing question for fans, who have been on
pins and needles about Westbrook’s decision. The NBA MVP has one year remaining on his current deal, but he’s eligible to sign a fiveyear extension under the league’s Designated Player Exception that would pay him more than $200 million.
Westbrook could wait and sign the same deal next offseason, or he could enter free agency.
There’s been a sense around the Thunder that Westbrook will sign this summer, but until a deal’s signed, it figures to be the most-asked question surrounding the franchise.
Will OKC add a backup point guard?
If the Westbrook question is the biggest of July, his backup now is the runner-up.
The Thunder is surveying the point guard landscape for options, and it’s no secret that OKC long has been fond of Marcus Smart, the Boston backup who starred in college at Oklahoma State.
Free-agent forward Gordon Hayward’s decision to sign with the Celtics might trigger a need for Boston to shed salary, which theoretically could make Smart available at a bargain price.
Smart is entering the final year of his contract and he’s due to make $4.5 million this season. That would fit nicely into a trade exception the Thunder has at its disposal that would allow OKC to absorb $4.9 million in salary despite being over the NBA salary cap.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Wednesday that Boston and Utah were exploring a sign-and-trade deal for Hayward that could include small forward Jae Crowder, but it’s unclear what other players might have to change hands to make the salary numbers work.
Boston might be reluctant to deal Smart — a high-level defender who can play either guard position or small forward — for minimal return. But Presti traded for George last week out of nowhere. It’s possible he could find a path to Smart.
If the Thunder can’t find another option, it could stick with Semaj Christon, a favorite of OKC coaches who averaged 15.2 minutes per game last season. Though Christon is limited offensively, he’s a solid defender who takes good care of the ball.
Will Nick Collison be back?
It’s anybody’s guess. Collison, who’s been with the Thunder since the franchise was still the Seattle Supersonics, said at exit interviews in April that he plans to play this season. The question is where. Even with last season’s two starting power forwards gone — Taj Gibson will sign with Minnesota; Domantas Sabonis went to Indiana in the George trade — there might not be a path to playing time in OKC.
Patterson is the probable starter at power forward. Jerami Grant figures to play that spot off the bench. And the Thunder likely will explore using Doug McDermott as a floor-spacing power forward more than it did last season.
Is Enes Kater on the trading block?
Presti keeps his personnel movement quiet, so it’s hard to say for sure if the Thunder is shopping its backup center.
Because he’s due to make $17.8 million this season — with a player option at $18.6 million in 2018-19 — Kanter is one of Oklahoma City’s biggest trade chips.
Kanter’s postseason struggles likely didn’t help his trade value. He averaged 4.8 points in nine minutes in a fivegame first-round series loss to the Rockets.
But Kanter had a strong regular season, averaging 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game. And on a newlook Thunder team with more spacing thanks to the addition of George and Patterson, and the expected development of Alex Abrines and McDermott, he could have added value.
If the Thunder keeps Kanter, then finds it has needs to fill during the season, he might prove easier to trade if he’s putting up big regular-season numbers again.
Will Oklahoma City pay the luxury tax?
Unless it drops some salary, the Thunder is assured of being over the tax line at the start of the season. OKC is well over the $99 million salary cap, and about $5.8 million over the tax line.
That equates to a luxury tax payment of $8.9 million, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported. But the Thunder only owes that amount if it ends the season over the tax line. It could get below that line with in-season moves.
Another financial concern for the Thunder is the repeater tax, a penalty for being in the tax three out of the previous four years. Oklahoma City paid the tax in 2014-15 and 2015-16. If it does so again this season, it’ll be classified as a repeater if it goes into the tax in 201819, and that would carry a stiffer financial penalty.
The Thunder has shown a willingness to pay the tax for teams it thinks it can contend for titles. If George elects to return in 2018-19 — he can opt out after this season and become a free agent — the Thunder likely would be forced to pay the repeater tax.