You said at your season-ending press conference that the second apron wouldn?t prevent you from keeping this version of the Thunder together. But if we saw changes, it would be finances that would force a transaction, like the one we saw with Lu Dort. Is that still the case? Sam Presti: Yes, that?s accurate. We were comfortable being over the second apron with this team and how we were uniquely constructed. We have been consistent with that view for a few years now. This was a financial decision. The impression I have been given is that the savings generated this summer, and from being out of the tax the last several years, will be re-allocated to future teams. Along with other new well-documented revenue streams, this will allow us to make more basketball-related decisions over the next several years.
It's good to see a GM being honest, while also putting pressure on ownership.
Next year it will be about the basketball penalties of the second apron then. They are already projected to be over it with only 12 players. Even if they decline the option on Topic (probable) and Sorber (possible if they cannot trade him), they would still be over it with Cason Wallace?s qualifying offer of $10.8 million and only 11 players on the roster, much less the $20+ million he is likely to get with an extension or free agent signing. They are going to have to give up on more young players next year and lose either a starter or Caruso.
That may be ownership's ultimate decision. But, Presti is getting it on the record that ownership told him differently, and that he's sacrificing a good player this year because he's been told that the savings will be reinvested to keep the team a contender. Basically "I saved you $300 million this season and I've kept this team out of the tax, so you have plenty of resources to splurge in the future".
Brad is more of a company man. He'll save the team $300 million, blow up one version of a contender, trade away a star to ensure that we won't contend over the next couple of seasons -- all to save ownership money -- and then blame it all on the CBA. He'll sit there and grin when Chisolm says none of the moves the past two seasons were about finances, and he'll lie to the fans and media and say there's no mandate to be under the tax.
If he was Presti, he'd be hinting at least that the team had plenty of resources not only to keep JB, but to add to him as well. It's kind of nice to see at least one GM that isn't a complete yes man.
Eh, I know last season was about money, but we were always going to blow up that team - especially with Tatum going down.
With the JB trade, Chisolm seemed to put all the responsibility on Brad. He said that he needed to be convinced to do the trade and that while fans will understandably hold him accountable as the owner of the team, Brad is accountable to him. All with Brad sitting right there.
Maybe Brad really is the ultimate company man and would never utter a peep, but that was still pretty bold of Chisolm to say that it was all that guy right there and he'll be on the hot seat if it doesn't work out. I doubt ownership will be willing to go into the 2nd apron again, but I'd be surprised if they just all out continue to duck the tax.
If we are under the tax again next season, I will fully be on board with criticizing ownership. It's not like we saved any money by trading Brown for George. I'd guess that Brad really did want completely out of the Jaylen Brown business and was willing to do anything to get out.
Topic: NBA 2026-27 offseason trades, signings & rumors (Read 156000 times)