Blake Griffin in OKC in 2017?

[nymets1]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/242891/Thunder-Hope-To-Pair-Blake-Griffin-With-Russell-Westbrook-In-2017

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been in regular contact with Russell Westbrook and his agent Thad Foucher since the departure of Kevin Durant.

Westbrook has yet to make a commitment to renegotiate and extend his contract with the Thunder. Westbrook is scheduled to be a free agent in 2017.

Westbrook is a proponent of the Oklahoma City roster and is eager to lead the team this coming season.

The Thunder would like to pursue Blake Griffin in 2017 free agency to partner with Westbrook. Griffin is a native of Oklahoma.

The Los Angeles Clippers will have to contend with the free agencies of both Griffin and Chris Paul in 2017.

ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI/THE VERTICAL



i'm very surprised no one hasn't posted a topic about this and I'm a magic fan. Griffin isn't as good as Durant but it will help replace Durant to an extent. If the Thunder got Griffin, They would need to at least get 1 more good piece to say Durant who?? Griffin would instantly fill up seats in OKC if he went there, He played college basketball for Oklahoma Sooners so of course he would get a standing ovation and really good reception on his 1st home game if he went to OKC.

[bondom34]

Blake's not coming to OKC. I'd love to be wrong, but he's not.

[nymets1]

It would make sense if he left the Clippers to go to OKC. I can't imagine right now if Griffin left the Clippers, a team he would go to other than OKC.

[spearsy23]

It's filed under wishful thinking. everything the media pretends Russ is, Blake actually is.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Blake loves the big city. We do not expect him to "come home". The only thing OKC could do to give them a chance at getting Blake is to sign his brother as a package deal. Being able to play with his brother again might be an angle that would work. However, his brother would sit at the end of the bench. Giving away a roster spot to be able to add Blake could be worth it. That is the only way I see Blake to OKC as an option.

[Andre Roberstan]

Yeah, I'd love to have him, but it's not happening. He's Hollywood now.

[Pillendreher]

Come home Blake. I've always believed in you.

[nymets1]

What if the Clippers lost in the 1st round of the playoffs? They'll make the playoffs but going out in the 1st round home, could signal the end of the Clippers run

[spearsy23]

Millsap is a more realistic possibility, especially if Dwight continues his decline ( maybe korver as well).

Hayward would be the ideal but I think he likes Utah.

[oken]

Millsap is a more realistic possibility, especially if Dwight continues his decline ( maybe korver as well).

Hayward would be the ideal but I think he likes Utah.

Mountains?.. Just kidding.
By the way millsap was Utah's 47th pick. Utah also knows how to dig 2nd rounder gold.

[Kizz Fastfists]

What if the Clippers lost in the 1st round of the playoffs? They'll make the playoffs but going out in the 1st round home, could signal the end of the Clippers run

It doesn't matter. He's always wanted out of Oklahoma to the big city. Unless he has decided he doesn't like the big city after being there for several years he'll sign with one of the LA teams, NY, Chicago, Boston, etc.

[realEAST]

Millsap is a more realistic possibility, especially if Dwight continues his decline ( maybe korver as well).

Hayward would be the ideal but I think he likes Utah.

I've thrown a glance at your next year cap, with some precise salary and player managment (getting rid of Kanter and Singler, as it seems it was already set up; asking Robes, Dipo and Adams to wait on their extensions until you sign FAs) you could possibly add both Hayward and Millsap.

It would be a very nice team then, could maybe even challenge GSW

[spearsy23]

Millsap is a more realistic possibility, especially if Dwight continues his decline ( maybe korver as well).

Hayward would be the ideal but I think he likes Utah.

I've thrown a glance at your next year cap, with some precise salary and player managment (getting rid of Kanter and Singler, as it seems it was already set up; asking Robes, Dipo and Adams to wait on their extensions until you sign FAs) you could possibly add both Hayward and Millsap.

It would be a very nice team then, could maybe even challenge GSW

I haven't looked at the actual numbers but I'm almost certain it won't be possible to add two max contracts. Even if it WAS possible, there's no way the franchise would add two max guys then be able to pay Adams, Oladipo, and roberson.

[Andre Roberstan]

Millsap is a more realistic possibility, especially if Dwight continues his decline ( maybe korver as well).

Hayward would be the ideal but I think he likes Utah.

I've thrown a glance at your next year cap, with some precise salary and player managment (getting rid of Kanter and Singler, as it seems it was already set up; asking Robes, Dipo and Adams to wait on their extensions until you sign FAs) you could possibly add both Hayward and Millsap.

It would be a very nice team then, could maybe even challenge GSW

I haven't looked at the actual numbers but I'm almost certain it won't be possible to add two max contracts. Even if it WAS possible, there's no way the franchise would add two max guys then be able to pay Adams, Oladipo, and roberson.

Yeah.

Next year we have 7 players under contract: Kanter, Abrines, Sabonis, McGary, Singler, Payne and Huestis. Their salaries combined come to $38,969,538 (with estimated numbers for Abrines and Sabonis).

Assuming Waiters is gone and we cut the cap holds of Ilyasova, Morrow, Collison and whatever short-term players we had (I'm leaving holds for Westbrook, Dipo, Adams and Robes) our total salary plus necessary cap holds comes to $92,038,494.

Drop Kanter/Singler and your total with cap holds comes down to $69,487,818.

Projected cap next year is $102mil. That leaves roughly 32mil of cap space if you renounce exceptions too, although there are roster charges that probably drop that back to around $29mil (since if you're under a certain number of players you get charged a placeholder salary for everyone short of a 12-man roster).

Projected maxes based on this CBA are $25mil, $30mil, $35mil based on seniority. Ain't no way we're getting 2.

[bwgood77]

I brought this up a while ago in the offseason thread, and yes, he may be big city type now, but if he has any desire to be on a contending team, where else would he go if the Clippers want to move on from him? What if they trade him and he becomes a free agent with the team he gets traded to? I wonder if he'd prefer to be in Boston than OKC. Or play for the Lakers?

Edit: Just read the post above mine. That's insane that you can't get more than one max guy with that roster when you look at all the big name players GS has. I guess they just lucked out due to timing of when people got locked into contracts along with Curry's bargain contract.

[spearsy23]

I brought this up a while ago in the offseason thread, and yes, he may be big city type now, but if he has any desire to be on a contending team, where else would he go if the Clippers want to move on from him? What if they trade him and he becomes a free agent with the team he gets traded to? I wonder if he'd prefer to be in Boston than OKC. Or play for the Lakers?

Edit: Just read the post above mine. That's insane that you can't get more than one max guy with that roster when you look at all the big name players GS has. I guess they just lucked out due to timing of when people got locked into contracts along with Curry's bargain contract.

Golden state definitely got lucky, everything broke just right for them. 2018 is going to be more interesting though, the team will essentially be those 4 plus vet minimums, and they may not be able to keep klay the next year.

[nymets1]

What if the Clippers lost in the 1st round of the playoffs? They'll make the playoffs but going out in the 1st round home, could signal the end of the Clippers run

It doesn't matter. He's always wanted out of Oklahoma to the big city. Unless he has decided he doesn't like the big city after being there for several years he'll sign with one of the LA teams, NY, Chicago, Boston, etc.

If that's the case, this is my thinking, You can still live in California, Chicago or New York(Big City) but if you really want to you could still go play for a small market team like OKC, and maybe have 2 places to live:

1.In OKC(Small market team)
2. In California( Big city/ Big market)

These nba players make so much money, they can easily have 2 homes in 2 different states, buy multiple vehicles and fly on airplanes a bunch of times, etc.

[realEAST]

I've thrown a glance at your next year cap, with some precise salary and player managment (getting rid of Kanter and Singler, as it seems it was already set up; asking Robes, Dipo and Adams to wait on their extensions until you sign FAs) you could possibly add both Hayward and Millsap.

It would be a very nice team then, could maybe even challenge GSW

I haven't looked at the actual numbers but I'm almost certain it won't be possible to add two max contracts. Even if it WAS possible, there's no way the franchise would add two max guys then be able to pay Adams, Oladipo, and roberson.

Yeah.

Next year we have 7 players under contract: Kanter, Abrines, Sabonis, McGary, Singler, Payne and Huestis. Their salaries combined come to $38,969,538 (with estimated numbers for Abrines and Sabonis).

Assuming Waiters is gone and we cut the cap holds of Ilyasova, Morrow, Collison and whatever short-term players we had (I'm leaving holds for Westbrook, Dipo, Adams and Robes) our total salary plus necessary cap holds comes to $92,038,494.

Drop Kanter/Singler and your total with cap holds comes down to $69,487,818.

Projected cap next year is $102mil. That leaves roughly 32mil of cap space if you renounce exceptions too, although there are roster charges that probably drop that back to around $29mil (since if you're under a certain number of players you get charged a placeholder salary for everyone short of a 12-man roster).

Projected maxes based on this CBA are $25mil, $30mil, $35mil based on seniority. Ain't no way we're getting 2.

As I said, just threw a glance, but either way I miscalculated it greatly then...I somehow dug up 45 mil space and was working under assumption they would take slightly less money (25+20) to really contend. Too bad.

[Andre Roberstan]

I haven't looked at the actual numbers but I'm almost certain it won't be possible to add two max contracts. Even if it WAS possible, there's no way the franchise would add two max guys then be able to pay Adams, Oladipo, and roberson.

Yeah.

Next year we have 7 players under contract: Kanter, Abrines, Sabonis, McGary, Singler, Payne and Huestis. Their salaries combined come to $38,969,538 (with estimated numbers for Abrines and Sabonis).

Assuming Waiters is gone and we cut the cap holds of Ilyasova, Morrow, Collison and whatever short-term players we had (I'm leaving holds for Westbrook, Dipo, Adams and Robes) our total salary plus necessary cap holds comes to $92,038,494.

Drop Kanter/Singler and your total with cap holds comes down to $69,487,818.

Projected cap next year is $102mil. That leaves roughly 32mil of cap space if you renounce exceptions too, although there are roster charges that probably drop that back to around $29mil (since if you're under a certain number of players you get charged a placeholder salary for everyone short of a 12-man roster).

Projected maxes based on this CBA are $25mil, $30mil, $35mil based on seniority. Ain't no way we're getting 2.

As I said, just threw a glance, but either way I miscalculated it greatly then...I somehow dug up 45 mil space and was working under assumption they would take slightly less money (25+20) to really contend. Too bad.

Did you count QOs instead of cap holds?

[bwgood77]

What if the Clippers lost in the 1st round of the playoffs? They'll make the playoffs but going out in the 1st round home, could signal the end of the Clippers run

It doesn't matter. He's always wanted out of Oklahoma to the big city. Unless he has decided he doesn't like the big city after being there for several years he'll sign with one of the LA teams, NY, Chicago, Boston, etc.

If he always wanted out of Oklahoma, why did he go to OU?