Foye STORY
THUNDER BOOSTS DEPTH, ROSTER FLEXIBILITY AND WALLET WITH RANDY FOYE DEAL
The trade deadline came and went on Thursday without any seismic shifts across the NBA. But in Oklahoma City, general manager Sam Presti didn’t let it pass without a minor roster tweak attached to broader organizational implications.
The Thunder acquired Denver guard Randy Foye, sending D.J. Augustin, Steve Novak and two future second round picks to the Nuggets in exchange.
In essence, Presti swapped two non-rotation players, both on expiring contracts, for a potential rotation player, also on an expiring contract. So in the immediate, it’s a bench upgrade for the next few months. But in the long view, this maneuver created two more bonuses for the Thunder — roster flexibility and financial relief.
By shedding Novak, the Thunder saved about $9.8 million — the remaining $1.3 million on his contract and the $8.5 million sliced
off the Thunder’s massive luxury tax bill by clearing him off the books.
Denver had no interest in acquiring Novak. The Nuggets will reportedly buy him out in the coming days. So to entice them to take on his contract, the Thunder had to give Denver both its second round picks in the upcoming draft. One is OKC’s own, likely to land 58th overall. The other is Charlotte’s, acquired in the Jeremy Lamb deal. That’s a bit more valuable, on pace to fall somewhere between 40 and 50.
But with a packed roster, plus former second round picks Semaj Christon, Dakari Johnson and Alex Abrines under OKC’s control, it’s not a steep price to pay. Especially considering the other benefit of Novak’s exit.
The Thunder now has a free roster spot. That could be particularly important in the coming weeks, as buyout season unfolds. Now that the trade deadline has passed, some overpriced veterans may work out their release in search of a new home before the playoffs begin.
Joe Johnson, David Lee, Kevin Martin, Roy Hibbert and Ty Lawson are among those rumored to be testing the buyout waters. Would the Thunder be interested in them? Would they be interested in the Thunder? We’ll see. But the avenue for a partnership is now there.
And it’s a route the Thunder has utilized in the past, signing Caron Butler in March two years ago and Derek Fisher what has felt like 86 times.
But the most immediate impact from this deal comes through Foye. He will wear No. 6 for the Thunder and might be available as early as Friday night against the Pacers.
Foye is a 32-year-old whose best years came in his mid-20s. He’s a 37 percent career 3-point shooter who is shooting 29.6 percent from deep this season. His skills and production and minutes, at a career-low 19.8 this season, have declined.
But the combo guard still might help. In an emergency role, Foye is now the Thunder’s third string point guard. In an immediate role, Foye could get minutes at the shooting guard.
He isn’t the two-way create-a-wing Thunder fans have been trying to discover on the trade machine of late. But he’s a balanced option for coach Billy Donovan.
This season, the Nuggets gave up 7.5 points per 100 possessions fewer (101.1 to 108.6) when Foye was on the floor. That’s an encouraging defensive number. As is the 43.7 percent clip players shoot when guarded by Foye this season, slightly more stingy than league average, per NBA.com/stats.
Then offensively, while past his prime, Foye still has the ability to get hot. Earlier this season, he scored 31 points in a Nuggets win over the Suns, nailing seven 3s. In his career, Foye has scored 30 or more points nine times.
Twice in his career, Foye has hit eight 3s in a game. Since relocating to Oklahoma City, no Thunder player, not even Kevin Durant, has done that once.
The Thunder didn’t get substantially better at Thursday’s deadline. The Spurs and Warriors remain a realm above. But within the only move he did make, Presti boosted the Thunder’s wallet, roster flexibility and depth. 7 p.m. Friday Chesapeake Energy Arena
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WWLS-AM 640/98.1 FM • Russell Westbrook is one of two players in the NBA averaging double-digit assists (10.0 per game). Sacramento’s Rajon Rondo leads the league with 11.9 per game. • In the last Thunder-Pacers meeting, Westbrook scored a career-high 54 points, but Indiana won 116-104 in Indianapolis (April 12, 2015). • In seven career games against Oklahoma City, Pacers star Paul George is shooting 36.4 percent.