Summer of Sam, again
Sam Presti keeps trading — and trading for – untradable contracts.
The Summer of Sam II continues in Oklahoma City. The sequel was the equal of the original.
Last summer, Sam Presti somehow traded for Paul George. This summer, Presti somehow convinced George to stay, long-term.
Last summer, Presti somehow traded an untradeable contract, Enes Kanter’s. This summer, Presti somehow traded an untradeable contract, Carmelo Anthony’s.
Of course, trading Kanter meant taking on Carmelo’s contract, and trading Carmelo meant taking on Dennis Schroder’s contract, so untradeable contracts go both ways.
But the Thunder clearly is better off with Schroder than Carmelo, on multiple fronts.
•Financial: the Schroder trade saves the Thunder something in the neighborhood of $70 million, counting payroll and taxes.
•Chemistry: Everyone claims Carmelo was a good egg on the court and in the clubhouse. Maybe so. But I’ll say this. Before
the season, Carmelo let it be known and quick that he had no interest in coming off the bench. After the season, Carmelo let it be known and quick that to whatever degree he sacrificed, he wasn’t interested in more. Schroder wasn’t exactly roster glue in Atlanta, but he did meet with Presti and Co. before the trade and was convincing enough that
the Thunder pulled the trigger.
•Basketball: Schroder is not a perfect player. Dang few of those around. But he’s a better fit for the modern NBA than is Carmelo.
Think about it. With every trade of an untradeable contract, Presti gets the Thunder roster a little closer to what the Thunder needs.
Started with Kanter, an old-fashioned backto-the-basket brute who still is an effective player but is a dinosaur in the playoffs, where coaches can create nightmare matchups for OKC. “Can’t play Kanter,” Billy Donovan famously said from the bench in the 2017 playoffs.
So in came Carmelo, and Carmelo could ostensibly find open outside shots, and outside shooting is a staple of contemporary NBA contenders. Seemed like the Thunder had traded a likable commodity for a valuable commodity.
Carmelo wasn’t halfbad for the Thunder. He also was only half-good. His shooting was OK, nothing special. Carmelo’s effort was limited by his diminished athletic ability. The Thunder is at its best when the Russell Westbrook Express is in high gear. Carmelo had trouble keeping up. He was mostly between the foul lines. His defense was acceptable until the playoffs, when Utah forced Donovan to curtail Carmelo’s minutes.
Now comes Schroder. Another minusdefender, but Schroder can score and pass. He can get into the lane and cause trouble for defenses. Schroder’s 3-point shot is no real threat, so he creates space for teammates not by stretching the defense, but by contracting the defense. Drive and dish. Maybe to someone else who drives and dish.
Schroder plays fast. Playing fast is the Thunder’s ticket to success. OKC will not outexecute or outshoot elite teams. But the Thunder might can outrun elite teams.
Meanwhile, Carmelo is headed to Houston, where maybe he’ll be helpful. The Rockets know what they’re doing, and they wanted Carmelo.
Wanted him last summer, too. The Thunder, the Blazers and the Rockets all sought Carmelo. OKC won the derby. Then Portland played above expectations. Houston played above expectations. OKC played below expectations. Not all of that was Carmelo’s fault. Maybe it wasn’t much Carmelo’s fault at all. But it is danged sure interesting.
The Rockets instead signed Joe Johnson in March, after the Jazz bought out the veteran wing, a more than reasonable facsimile to Carmelo, only three years older. Houston put Johnson in the rotation and played him 22 minutes a game. Then in the playoffs, Johnson played 54 playoff minutes total, sitting more games (nine) than playing (eight).
Maybe Carmelo still has game. But the Thunder has shed more than just a $28 million contract. The Thunder has shed a player who can’t help them the way Dennis Schroder can.
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at (405) 760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/ berrytramel.