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Victor Oladipo got about the same money and one less year than Evan Fournier according to Shams Charania.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources-oladipo-thunder-agree-to-84m-extension-200751727.html

While things have been rough, at least The Magic got a better deal for Fournier.

Wasn't a max for a player with his amount of experience $25mil/yr?

Almost maxed him out...

Wondered how you guys would feel about this. I know you all hated the thought of giving him the max. Still feels a bit steeper than what his play would dictate to me, but probably fair in this market, and maybe even less than if he'd gone to free agency. In the end I feel fine about it, but not particularly excited.

This is around what I predicted for Dipo and the reason why I'm not shocked we traded him. This can blow up in OKCs face or hit a home run. They are betting on Dipo to dev into a star under Westbrook. Good for him. Glad he got paid, but overpaid at ts point in his career. Big bet by thunder.

spearsy23 wrote:Wondered how you guys would feel about this. I know you all hated the thought of giving him the max. Still feels a bit steeper than what his play would dictate to me, but probably fair in this market, and maybe even less than if he'd gone to free agency. In the end I feel fine about it, but not particularly excited.

If he was on our team, the Board would go crazy, bang their heads against the wall, and say we overpaid. But since he is not on our team, the Board will go crazy, bang their heads against the wall, and say we were fools for not keeping him and extending him at the same price.

It's a risk for you guys, but maybe one worth taking. He has potential.

That's a ton of money for someone who is still considered a 'project'. OKC had no choice though. That said, I would consider this a fair contract as far as open market value goes.

spearsy23 wrote:Wondered how you guys would feel about this. I know you all hated the thought of giving him the max. Still feels a bit steeper than what his play would dictate to me, but probably fair in this market, and maybe even less than if he'd gone to free agency. In the end I feel fine about it, but not particularly excited.

His PER had shown gradual improvement every year and so did his TS%. His 3pt shooting percentage, midrange fg% have gone up every year and his turnover rate has gone down every year he was here. He contributes in nearly every way on the floor including: passing, scoring, defense, and playing within a team concept. He represents the team well and can play multiple positions.

The Magic tried to slot him into the role of a featured scorer but he is more of a do it all guy, which is rare for a player in the NBA who is also not a "star" per se.

He probably does not have legit star potential but this is still solid value for him in this market imo.

The big question now is which scenario is preferable:

a) Dipo at $21M + Fournier at $17M per.

b) Dipo at $21M, let Evan walk last summer and stash the money for next summer.

c) Evan at $17M + one year of Ibaka with a leg up on resigning him should we chose to do so.


While I'm firmly happy with the decision Henny made there, I can see the argument for each case. It's all about what you're willing to gamble.

thelead wrote:That's a ton of money for someone who is still considered a 'project'. OKC had no choice though. That said, I would consider this a fair contract as far as open market value goes.

This summer if we extend AG to same contract (4yr/84) for another "project" , I don't think many will object. It's a gamble on both sides. Two players with potential that could pay dividend.

spearsy23 wrote:Wondered how you guys would feel about this. I know you all hated the thought of giving him the max. Still feels a bit steeper than what his play would dictate to me, but probably fair in this market, and maybe even less than if he'd gone to free agency. In the end I feel fine about it, but not particularly excited.

Great deal for you guys considering the current market. It's awesome he chose to do an extension rather than wait for FA, you would most certainly have had to pay more to keep him. I'll give the signing an A grade.

Not a bad signing for the Thunder. I'd still rather have Evan at 5/85, but not a terrible deal. I question Oladipo's fit with Westbrook and OKC's ceiling with the core they've assembled, but since I don't see many superstar free agents coming to OKC, I don't blame them for making the move.

spearsy23 wrote:Wondered how you guys would feel about this. I know you all hated the thought of giving him the max. Still feels a bit steeper than what his play would dictate to me, but probably fair in this market, and maybe even less than if he'd gone to free agency. In the end I feel fine about it, but not particularly excited.

I think it's a solid deal for you guys. He's a good young player that's shown improvement every year, I like the contract for both sides.

Good for him. I think both he and Fournier got good deals.

OrlandoDream wrote:

thelead wrote:That's a ton of money for someone who is still considered a 'project'. OKC had no choice though. That said, I would consider this a fair contract as far as open market value goes.

This summer if we extend AG to same contract (4yr/84) for another "project" , I don't think many will object. It's a gamble on both sides. Two players with potential that could pay dividend.

In a way yes (the project part) but AG is a WAY better prospect and is 3 years younger.

OrlandoDream wrote:

thelead wrote:That's a ton of money for someone who is still considered a 'project'. OKC had no choice though. That said, I would consider this a fair contract as far as open market value goes.

This summer if we extend AG to same contract (4yr/84) for another "project" , I don't think many will object. It's a gamble on both sides. Two players with potential that could pay dividend.

Personally, Id much rather be gambling on AG's potential and his ceiling than Victors. In my opinion Victor won't see a much better year than he saw in 14-15' on a really bad team that had to have his scoring. I think we have pretty much seen victors ceiling, but I could be wrong.

I don't think it's a bad contract, but I'll take Fournier for the price and Ibaka over it.

21 mil per year is a lot of unreliable dipo... luckily for OKC they got an MVP in westbrook carrying dipo on his back. Would look worse for us if we signed him and he was bricking shots all over the place with no star to hide him.

spearsy23 wrote:Wondered how you guys would feel about this. I know you all hated the thought of giving him the max. Still feels a bit steeper than what his play would dictate to me, but probably fair in this market, and maybe even less than if he'd gone to free agency. In the end I feel fine about it, but not particularly excited.

I'd choose Dipo over Fournier 10 times out of 10. No doubt in my mind.

Good for him, he's a great guy by all accounts. Not sure I like this deal for the Thunder though, but in this crazy market could be worth it.

The Magic were not going to keep them both and I think they made the right call.

As I have always said, the only thing I did not like about the deal was throwing in #11. Otherwise, it was a great deal for both teams.

Agree 100% Howard, a future 1st makes that deal fair, that pick we gave gives them an advantage