Unless a third team somehow got involved, I don’t see how we get it done financially.
We could theoretically absorb him into the cap space we'd open up by renouncing our FAs.
I can’t help but think that’s a waste of cap space.
It’s not my first choice of cap space, but depending on the return received in future draft compensation, there are definitely many worse ways to use it. We’re not going to have enough space next season for a significant free agent with or without Adams on the roster, so might as well spend it now. If you can get a starter at a position of need for two seasons and a future 1st to go with it, you really could do a lot worse.
I forgot about the prospect of getting compensation for taking on Adams. I certainly prefer trading for Adams to signing a guy like Vucevic, but I’d be highly concerned with the PG spot if we don’t address it.
Why would OKC send draft compensation if they were to move Adams? He's a legit starting center in this league.
Because Adams is owed $53 million over the next two seasons and trading Adams would reduce their luxury tax bill from over $50 million this year and some other lesser, but still 8-figure amount next year to zero. So trading Adams saves them $100 million over two seasons, easily. Starting centers are not worth $50 millions year, especially as the league moves more and more to a perimeter game.
He’s useful, but he’s overpriced even for his own salary, which means he will be difficult to trade. Add in the significant luxury tax savings (OKC paid $60 million to the tax last season) and they have quite the incentive to get rid of him, and should be expect to move at least a first-round pick with him.