The news you've all been waiting for.... Ryan Gomes!

[wizkid27]

Gomes should be a decent addition, but doesn't really compare to the upgrades that contending-level teams usually go after in the offseason. I know we're cash-strapped and I wasn't really expecting any additions outside of Fisher, so I guess this is better than nothing. I guess this would fit into the Scott Brooks master plan of signing Gomes and Fisher so that he can avoid trying to develop PJ or Lamb...

[NaturalThunder]

This doesn't excite me or upset me. Reading the GB, though, I see a 3 page thread of people ignorantly making fun of the move. I mean this means absolutely nothing. It's just a low-cost potential back-up plan in case something happens to Durant. Don't know why people are rushing to make fun of OKC's front-office because of this. It's pretty obvious, now, that Presti was content for the roster this year, and probably wants to see what he's got in some of our young guys. The bashing and relentless prodding of Presti has gotten way overblown on here this summer. If he's still penny-pinching next year, when we're already going to be taxpayers regardless if sign a FA or not, then I'd understand.

Just ready for the season to start so our players can go back to reminding everyone how good they are.

[wizkid27]

I agree about reminding everyone how good the team is... This could (maybe should) be an improved version of the team that lead the west last year and at least by my account was a heavy favorite to win the west until Russ got injured.

However, I don't really blame Presti. You've got to figure if he had the green light from ownership, he would've kept Harden and would've been more active this year. IMO, the truth is that he had a hard mandate to avoid the lux tax for one more season before KD/Russ/Ibaka put us well over for the foreseeable future.

[bondom34]

This doesn't excite me or upset me. Reading the GB, though, I see a 3 page thread of people ignorantly making fun of the move. I mean this means absolutely nothing. It's just a low-cost potential back-up plan in case something happens to Durant. Don't know why people are rushing to make fun of OKC's front-office because of this. It's pretty obvious, now, that Presti was content for the roster this year, and probably wants to see what he's got in some of our young guys. The bashing and relentless prodding of Presti has gotten way overblown on here this summer. If he's still penny-pinching next year, when we're already going to be taxpayers regardless if sign a FA or not, then I'd understand.

Just ready for the season to start so our players can go back to reminding everyone how good they are.

Agreed, and I posted this there too, but his stats are crazy similar to our old buddy Jeff Green:
http://bkref.com/tiny/pI4nI

Edit: Bit of an aside, but read a good article on why OKC may not be doing anything.
http://dailythunder.com/2013/07/rinse-a ... ding-back/

In summary, the repeater tax, and not starting it. They can possibly cross the tax line next year, and may view this as another development year, as the core is so young they are still growing and it gives Lamb/Reggie/PJIII time to develop, with KD and Russ still leading the way. Possibly in a year or so they'll even break into tax territory when they think its the team's real window to best win.

[NaturalThunder]

Doing the math, including the players who have team options on their contract next year, and we're going to be right at the tax line regardless.

2012-2013 Tax Line: $70.307M
2013-2014 Tax Line: $71.748M (and that was higher than expected)
OKC Total Player Salaries 2013-2014: $71,035,419

OKC Total Player Salaries 2014-2015: $71,357,927

Lamb, Jackson, PJ3, Thabeet, and Jones all have tam options in 2014-2015. One of them will be gone before this upcoming season (Thabeet or Orton) and the other may be gone next summer, so that'll take another $2M or so off the books. Either way, we'll still be right at the tax line; either right above it or right below it. And of course there's a chance we amnesty or trade Perkins to some rebuilding team next summer whose willing to take on his expiring contract if it doesn't put us over them over the tax line.

But I agree, I think Presti probably has orders from the ownership group to avoid the tax line this year, and the entire FO is content on giving our young team another year to develop. I believe average age wise we're still the 2nd or 3rd youngest team in the league. Something all those people on the GB that have made our FO their whipping boy this summer are either completely unaware of, or are ignorantly choosing to ignore.

[Devilanche]

Doesnt that take us to 16?
And slightly over the tax though we'll be under it once we remove an unguaranteed player.

[BIG EDDIE]

Doesnt that take us to 16?
And slightly over the tax though we'll be under it once we remove an unguaranteed player.

I was thinking the same.

Im counting following players on our roster:

KD, Russ, Ibaka, Thabo, Perk, Nick, Reggie, Lamb, Adams, Roberson, PJ3, Gomes, Fish, Thabeet, Orton, Liggins

We have to release someone and I bet it will be Liggins.

[Podirk]

Doesnt that take us to 16?
And slightly over the tax though we'll be under it once we remove an unguaranteed player.

I think last year the Thunder went into training camp with 17 (if not more) under contract. I would expect the Thunder to pick up a few more players. I think this is how Presti likes to reward some players who have the effort...but not the talent (Reid, etc).

[Bruteque]

HOU is at 20 players under contract right now (20 is the roster limit in the offseason).