Who’s in and who’s out for the Thunder as free agency frenzy is set to begin.
George is top priority, but other free-agent decisions await
Carmelo Anthony never was much of a question. Paul George remains the big one.
But with the start of NBA free agency less than a week away — the frenzy begins on Sunday — the Thunder has other uncertainties on its roster.
Late Saturday night, the deadline passed for Anthony to terminate the final year of his contract. As expected, he remained in the final year, for which he’s owed $27.9 million. If he’s not with the Thunder when the season opens, it’ll likely be because he and the team decide he’d be a better fit elsewhere.
The team is expected to have continuing conversations with Anthony about his role, but those conversations are hard to have until the Thunder knows what its roster will look like.
The key question there is what George decides to do. Assuming he opts out of the final year of his contract, he’ll become a free agent, and whether he remains in Oklahoma City will go a long way in determining the Thunder’s makeup.
But there are other moving parts, including these four free agents.
Jerami Grant
2017-18 salary: $1.5 million Free agency outlook: There are questions of finance and timing with Grant, who figures to be in demand as a long, athletic and versatile forward who’s comfortable switching onto smaller players defensively on the perimeter.
Grant will get a big raise, whether in OKC or elsewhere. Teams with a full mid-level exception of about $8.5 million likely will see Grant as appealing at that number. The Thunder can offer Grant a maximum contract, but if George re-signs, OKC will be well over the luxury tax, meaning any money it pays Grant will come with a hefty tax bill. Keeping both George and Grant might be cost prohibitive.
There’s also a timing issue with Grant. Do offers start to flow in from other teams while George still is making a decision, and if so can he afford to wait?
“There are a lot of different things that have to fall into place, and it’s still early to be able to predict all that,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said of the team’s discussions with Grant. “I think Jerami understands like our number one priority is obviously with Paul, but we also think very highly of him, and we’re really proud of the improvement he made.”
Raymond Felton
2017-18 salary: $2.3 million
Free agency outlook: Felton had a solid year and was a veteran presence on a Thunder bench that lacked one last season at point guard. He’s expressed an affinity for Oklahoma City.
Given the cost of its roster with or without George, and the relative limited minutes available
for a backup to Russell Westbrook, the Thunder likely needs a minimumsalary backup at the point. If Felton is willing to play for the veteran’s minimum again, he could be the guy.
But Felton will turn 34 this week, and in the event that his season — 6.9 points, 2.5 assists per game — was enough to garner an offer of more than the veteran minimum elsewhere, he might have to consider those options.
Corey Brewer
2017-18 salary: $7.5 million (waived by the Lakers; signed for the Thunder for a prorated veteran minimum of $539,405 for the final 19 games of the season)
Free agency outlook: Brewer’s asking price will be interesting to watch. Though he saw his minutes and role diminish in Los Angeles, he’s been a key piece on good teams. At 32 years old, he’s still a solid defender and a high-energy wing, and after making 16.7 percent of his corner 3-pointers with the Lakers, he shot a respectable 38.9 percent there with the Thunder.
If he’s willing to play for a veteran’s minimum
salary, he could be a good fit in OKC. With Andre Roberson recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee, Brewer could be a stopgap starter or a good backup wing defender if Roberson is 100 percent healthy.
Josh Huestis
2017-18 salary: $1.5 million
Free agency outlook: Though Huestis has been with the Thunder for three seasons — and in the program for four, counting the 2014-15 season with the Oklahoma City Blue — 201718 was his first extended look in the NBA.
He showed promise as a defender with tremendous shot-blocking presence for a combo forward. But in inconsistent minutes his offensive limitations were apparent. He shot 33 percent from the floor, 28.7 percent from 3-point range and 30 percent from the free-throw line. He struggled to put the ball on the floor and make plays.
If the Thunder wants him back — and if Huestis wants to return — he’ll likely be available at the veteran’s minimum.