Howard's options as a Free Agent

[ManUp]

Please tell me I read that wrong... The Thunder still have room to sign Howard in 2012? If that's the case I think we're just about screwed. IMO, Howard clearly wants to win and I doubt the market will make too much of a difference. If OKC can pick him up while keeping their starting lineup it's an easy sell, IMO. BTW, although they are a small market they have great fans.

[cman88]

Please tell me I read that wrong... The Thunder still have room to sign Howard in 2012? If that's the case I think we're just about screwed. IMO, Howard clearly wants to win and I doubt the market will make too much of a difference. If OKC can pick him up while keeping their starting lineup it's an easy sell, IMO. BTW, although they are a small market they have great fans.

I cant see how they would have cap space to go after howard...they just gave Perkins a pretty big contract too.

[GreenEnvy]

Please tell me I read that wrong... The Thunder still have room to sign Howard in 2012? If that's the case I think we're just about screwed. IMO, Howard clearly wants to win and I doubt the market will make too much of a difference. If OKC can pick him up while keeping their starting lineup it's an easy sell, IMO. BTW, although they are a small market they have great fans.

I cant see how they would have cap space to go after howard...they just gave Perkins a pretty big contract too.

They're slightly under $30 million for Durant, Perk, Sefolosha, and Collison. But then their are the options on Ibaka and Harden they are sure to pick up which will bring their total to ~$38M. Maynor and Aldrich about $2.3-2.4M each if they pick up their options. So $43M with them, or still only $38M without those two.

But then there is Westbrook. His QO is only $6.7M, but he is sure to get an offer of at least double that. Even conservatively at $10M, that brings them up to $48M for 7 players.

So technically they are in play, but I doubt it with Perk unless they move him. No point in tying up like $22M+ for the same position, especially if the cap isn't as flexible.

[LilRip]

when do those rookie contracts expire?? i don't think OKC would have the space if they resigned Harden, Westbrook, etc.

and i think DH12 will enter FA. he's not going to get traded because who would trade for him without an extension? Lakers are not trading Bynum. Celtics will likely not have enough to get him. Heat aren't getting him. It will need to be a relatively obscure team (like Nets or Rockets). But is Dwight really better off with those teams rather than staying in Orlando?

[heitingas]

when do those rookie contracts expire?? i don't think OKC would have the space if they resigned Harden, Westbrook, etc.

and i think DH12 will enter FA. he's not going to get traded because who would trade for him without an extension? Lakers are not trading Bynum. Celtics will likely not have enough to get him. Heat aren't getting him. It will need to be a relatively obscure team (like Nets or Rockets). But is Dwight really better off with those teams rather than staying in Orlando?

http://www.shamsports.com/content/pages/data/salaries/thunder.jsp this explains better, I think if there is a 62 million cap and they excersided option to Harden,Ibaka and not for mullens,maynor and aldrich they would be under 40 and if westbrook is resigned to 10 million they would be 48 million so they do have a chance at a max contract for Howard since max contracts won't be as big as today.

[heitingas]

Think about this, OKC could send Westbrook and a 1st or multiple picks for Curry+filler, they won't have to worry about WB qualifying offer in 1 year and get a guy that would actually pass the ball to Durant and D12.

They get significantly under the cap if they don't excercise options to mullen,maynor. They would keep Harden of course and maybe Aldrich, and trade either Collison or Perkins.
If they kept Perkins imagine how intensive their practises would be going at each other and how huge Perkins would be off the bench, but I think Perkins will not be happy with 13-15 MPG behind Howard so he would likely be traded,they could use a scoring wing.