What happens if George leaves this year?

[ThunderBolt]

We would essentially be faced with two scenarios. George leaves and Melo opts in and we have no cap room, or George and Melo both leave and we have cap room.

My guess if is if George leaves and Melo opts in, then we are more likely to trade Russ and rebuild. If not, we would essentially be wasting another year of russ’ prime waiting for Melo’s deal to expire before we could pursue anyone.

If George leaves and Melo opts out will we try to use our cap space to sign some decent players at a low price? I believe only four teams are projected to have cap space next year. This scenario would make OKC the fifth team.

[Pillendreher]

Russ will never get traded. That's not happening unless he asks for it.

[bondom34]

Yeah there are a lot of possibilities, and I know a few guys want a full tank rebuild, but in reality there's a zero percent chance Russ gets traded.

If George leaves (which was always likely), they're capped and pretty much a bad team anyways. Might just miss the postseason the way it would be.

[ThunderBolt]

Russ will never get traded. That's not happening unless he asks for it.

Well, I think that’s a possibility too. Russ wants to win. He told Presti we wanted the poster improved this offseason. Would he really want to play it his career under those circumstances?

[Dadouv47]

I won't be mad at Russ if he wants to get traded

[Kizz Fastfists]

If George leaves and Melo opts out will we try to use our cap space to sign some decent players at a low price? I believe only four teams are projected to have cap space next year. This scenario would make OKC the fifth team.

If George leaves and Melo opts out they will still only be around $10M in cap space so it isn't like they will be chasing anyone significant.

[Bergmaniac]

Melo must be crazy to opt out. His player option is for 28 million next season and he'll be 34 at that point. Why would he even consider it?

[slick_watts]

the only way he opts out is if sam presti foolishly agrees to sign him to a multi-year deal with more long term $ (but less tax hit in 2018-19).

[ThunderBolt]

So when he opts in, what do we do? Absolutely nothing.

[ThunderBolt]

If George leaves and Melo opts out will we try to use our cap space to sign some decent players at a low price? I believe only four teams are projected to have cap space next year. This scenario would make OKC the fifth team.

If George leaves and Melo opts out they will still only be around $10M in cap space so it isn't like they will be chasing anyone significant.

Kind of makes you wonder if the supermax contracts are worth it.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Kind of makes you wonder if the supermax contracts are worth it.

It depends on the situation. It wasn't worth giving it to Russ. It was worth it to give it to Curry. The difference is that one of those teams was complete and has the supporting cast in place and will just be looking at a tax bill while getting a significant amount of vet minimum help. The other team is a likely first round exit, even if they were healthy, with minimal supporting cast, no bench and no quality veterans offering to take the vet minimum for them.

[spearsy23]

We try to make a run next year and end up trading Russ at the deadline is my guess.

[spearsy23]

If George leaves and Melo opts out will we try to use our cap space to sign some decent players at a low price? I believe only four teams are projected to have cap space next year. This scenario would make OKC the fifth team.

If George leaves and Melo opts out they will still only be around $10M in cap space so it isn't like they will be chasing anyone significant.

Kind of makes you wonder if the supermax contracts are worth it.

The bigger problem is the 25 million dollars to a good but not great center. If you max out non all-stars you're going to have cap issues.

[ThunderBolt]

If George leaves and Melo opts out they will still only be around $10M in cap space so it isn't like they will be chasing anyone significant.

Kind of makes you wonder if the supermax contracts are worth it.

The bigger problem is the 25 million dollars to a good but not great center. If you max out non all-stars you're going to have cap issues.

Adams is going to have a good season playing alongside Russ withthe spacing that George and Melo create. If George leaves, we might be wise to try to move Adams. I see his value dropping and him looking like he did last night and last season on a regular basis.

[RalphSampsonJr]

I was waiting for someone to create this thread.
I honestly think hes as good as gone. The more he talks about it the more he talks about "fanily" decision.
If he moves there its not because he wants to win but just the fact that he wants to live there.

Melo will opt in no matter what PG does. If that happens then Adams will be the one moved not Russ.
Melo may want to waive his no trade clause to go to a contender next year but i highly doubt it.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Melo will opt in no matter what PG does. If that happens then Adams will be the one moved not Russ.
Melo may want to waive his no trade clause to go to a contender next year but i highly doubt it.

Moving Adams wouldn't clear salary. Very few teams will have cap space to absorb Adams, or Melo, so it would require contract matching. Melo being an expiring I would expect Presti to either let him expire or stretch him which might be enough to keep them out of the tax.

[Dadouv47]

Some overreaction here. Let's see what PG13 will do and if he leaves what Presti can do (not a lot obviously).

No reason to trade Adams, unless we trade Westbrook before and go into full tank mode.

I still prefer to keep Westbrook and Adams. Last year was the most entertaining season to watch as a Thunder fan (for me at least)

[Dadouv47]

And worst case scenario will be one year of Melo and then we will have cap space to sign great players. Main issue is that prime Westbrook will not last forever We are still in a better position than last year before the offseason trades.

[RalphSampsonJr]

Melo will opt in no matter what PG does. If that happens then Adams will be the one moved not Russ.
Melo may want to waive his no trade clause to go to a contender next year but i highly doubt it.

Moving Adams wouldn't clear salary. Very few teams will have cap space to absorb Adams, or Melo, so it would require contract matching. Melo being an expiring I would expect Presti to either let him expire or stretch him which might be enough to keep them out of the tax.

There would be a few teams that could take on Adams contract without having to give us 25 mil worth on contracts back isnt there?

[Thundershock88]

Westbrook will not be traded. At least, not without it being his choice. If George leaves next year, and Melo opts in, you ride out the season and then reload. Hopefully Westbrooks knees are still working.