If OKC maxes Enes Kanter, can we move on Steven Adams?

[Evantime34]

OKC won't max out a guy like Kanter when they are already over the salary cap.

They aren't going to pinch pennies the year before Durant is a free agent. They are going to show him that they are willing to spend even if it's not true long term.

That's ridiculous. They are already paying Ibaka 12.25 Million, Westbrook 16.7 Million, and Durant is getting a cool 21 Million next year... they are already spending big, Durant just has to stay healthy to take advantage of that fact. Giving Kanter a max contract, presumably 19 Million, will be shooting themselves in the foot once Durant enters Free agency

Seeing as they will be flirting with the luxury tax next year even if Kanter accepts the qualifying offer.

It's not ridiculous.

The Thunder have shown an unwillingness to go into the luxury tax.This season was the first year they did so. They have been known for not spending big dollars, staying in the luxury tax is certainly a positive move that will help them in their recruitment of Durant.

If they let Kanter walk because he's too expensive, they have no mechanism to replace him because they are over the cap. They are going to hang onto him at all costs, because being over the salary cap means that they can't sign a free agent to replace his production.

This is when trades come in, I already discussed a scenario where they take Olynyk in exchange for their #14 pick, or use that pick on Frank Kaminsky, Kanter is not a star, OKC is not going to break the bank for him and then put themselves in a position where they have to pay millions to the league just to keep him. It's bad for business to be over the luxury tax for more than a couple of years if you are not a big market, OKC is not that big of a market to make it possible for them to keep those players for longer than 2 seasons, but then again the salary cap rise, can aid them in this.

It is bad business to go over the luxury tax for multiple years if you aren't a contending team. The C's consistently were a tax payer during the KG years. I understand that the punishment is worse for doing it now, but if you have the chance at winning a title going over makes sense.

Mark my words OKC will match any offer for Kanter, including up to the max. He scored 18.7 and 11 last year. Put him next to Ibaka and he is the perfect fit.

Don't worry when this happens I won't remind you of how ridiculous an opinion differing from yours is.

Okay but, when Durant hits the market and some team offers him $30 million a year.... I will definitely remind you.

When did I say anything about Durant not getting paid $30 MM? The Thunder could match a max offer for Kanter, then give Durant $30 MM, there isn't a hard cap.

Your point was that Kanter isn't going to get overpaid by the Thunder, correct?

[CelticGuardian]

OKC won't max out a guy like Kanter when they are already over the salary cap.

They aren't going to pinch pennies the year before Durant is a free agent. They are going to show him that they are willing to spend even if it's not true long term.

That's ridiculous. They are already paying Ibaka 12.25 Million, Westbrook 16.7 Million, and Durant is getting a cool 21 Million next year... they are already spending big, Durant just has to stay healthy to take advantage of that fact. Giving Kanter a max contract, presumably 19 Million, will be shooting themselves in the foot once Durant enters Free agency

Seeing as they will be flirting with the luxury tax next year even if Kanter accepts the qualifying offer.

It's not ridiculous.

The Thunder have shown an unwillingness to go into the luxury tax.This season was the first year they did so. They have been known for not spending big dollars, staying in the luxury tax is certainly a positive move that will help them in their recruitment of Durant.

If they let Kanter walk because he's too expensive, they have no mechanism to replace him because they are over the cap. They are going to hang onto him at all costs, because being over the salary cap means that they can't sign a free agent to replace his production.

This is when trades come in, I already discussed a scenario where they take Olynyk in exchange for their #14 pick, or use that pick on Frank Kaminsky, Kanter is not a star, OKC is not going to break the bank for him and then put themselves in a position where they have to pay millions to the league just to keep him. It's bad for business to be over the luxury tax for more than a couple of years if you are not a big market, OKC is not that big of a market to make it possible for them to keep those players for longer than 2 seasons, but then again the salary cap rise, can aid them in this.

It is bad business to go over the luxury tax for multiple years if you aren't a contending team. The C's consistently were a tax payer during the KG years. I understand that the punishment is worse for doing it now, but if you have the chance at winning a title going over makes sense.

Mark my words OKC will match any offer for Kanter, including up to the max. He scored 18.7 and 11 last year. Put him next to Ibaka and he is the perfect fit.

Don't worry when this happens I won't remind you of how ridiculous an opinion differing from yours is.

Okay but, when Durant hits the market and some team offers him $30 million a year.... I will definitely remind you.

When did I say anything about Durant not getting paid $30 MM? The Thunder could match a max offer for Kanter, then give Durant $30 MM, there isn't a hard cap.

Your point was that Kanter isn't going to get overpaid by the Thunder, correct?

Yes, they can do so but not without jeapordizing their chances at signing Durant. How long do you think theykeep paying the league millions until they go broke?, your forgetting that they have other holes to fill.

[Evantime34]

OKC won't max out a guy like Kanter when they are already over the salary cap.

They aren't going to pinch pennies the year before Durant is a free agent. They are going to show him that they are willing to spend even if it's not true long term.

That's ridiculous. They are already paying Ibaka 12.25 Million, Westbrook 16.7 Million, and Durant is getting a cool 21 Million next year... they are already spending big, Durant just has to stay healthy to take advantage of that fact. Giving Kanter a max contract, presumably 19 Million, will be shooting themselves in the foot once Durant enters Free agency

Seeing as they will be flirting with the luxury tax next year even if Kanter accepts the qualifying offer.

It's not ridiculous.

The Thunder have shown an unwillingness to go into the luxury tax.This season was the first year they did so. They have been known for not spending big dollars, staying in the luxury tax is certainly a positive move that will help them in their recruitment of Durant.

If they let Kanter walk because he's too expensive, they have no mechanism to replace him because they are over the cap. They are going to hang onto him at all costs, because being over the salary cap means that they can't sign a free agent to replace his production.

This is when trades come in, I already discussed a scenario where they take Olynyk in exchange for their #14 pick, or use that pick on Frank Kaminsky, Kanter is not a star, OKC is not going to break the bank for him and then put themselves in a position where they have to pay millions to the league just to keep him. It's bad for business to be over the luxury tax for more than a couple of years if you are not a big market, OKC is not that big of a market to make it possible for them to keep those players for longer than 2 seasons, but then again the salary cap rise, can aid them in this.

It is bad business to go over the luxury tax for multiple years if you aren't a contending team. The C's consistently were a tax payer during the KG years. I understand that the punishment is worse for doing it now, but if you have the chance at winning a title going over makes sense.

Mark my words OKC will match any offer for Kanter, including up to the max. He scored 18.7 and 11 last year. Put him next to Ibaka and he is the perfect fit.

Don't worry when this happens I won't remind you of how ridiculous an opinion differing from yours is.

Okay but, when Durant hits the market and some team offers him $30 million a year.... I will definitely remind you.

When did I say anything about Durant not getting paid $30 MM? The Thunder could match a max offer for Kanter, then give Durant $30 MM, there isn't a hard cap.

Your point was that Kanter isn't going to get overpaid by the Thunder, correct?

Yes, they can do so but not without jeapordizing their chances at signing Durant. How long do you think theykeep paying the league millions until they go broke?, your forgetting that they have other holes to fill.

I will bet you TPs that they match on Kanter for big money and after they do so you will hear reports coming out about it's positive effect on bringing back Durant.

It is unlikely maxing out Kanter would have any effect on bringing in Durant. The Thunder last season were one of the highest grossing teams in basketball, they will be able to come up with the money. For all the handwringing on OKC being a small market and not being able to compete with the big boys, they grossed the 5th most in the NBA the previous season.

[CelticGuardian]

OKC won't max out a guy like Kanter when they are already over the salary cap.

They aren't going to pinch pennies the year before Durant is a free agent. They are going to show him that they are willing to spend even if it's not true long term.

That's ridiculous. They are already paying Ibaka 12.25 Million, Westbrook 16.7 Million, and Durant is getting a cool 21 Million next year... they are already spending big, Durant just has to stay healthy to take advantage of that fact. Giving Kanter a max contract, presumably 19 Million, will be shooting themselves in the foot once Durant enters Free agency

Seeing as they will be flirting with the luxury tax next year even if Kanter accepts the qualifying offer.

It's not ridiculous.

The Thunder have shown an unwillingness to go into the luxury tax.This season was the first year they did so. They have been known for not spending big dollars, staying in the luxury tax is certainly a positive move that will help them in their recruitment of Durant.

If they let Kanter walk because he's too expensive, they have no mechanism to replace him because they are over the cap. They are going to hang onto him at all costs, because being over the salary cap means that they can't sign a free agent to replace his production.

This is when trades come in, I already discussed a scenario where they take Olynyk in exchange for their #14 pick, or use that pick on Frank Kaminsky, Kanter is not a star, OKC is not going to break the bank for him and then put themselves in a position where they have to pay millions to the league just to keep him. It's bad for business to be over the luxury tax for more than a couple of years if you are not a big market, OKC is not that big of a market to make it possible for them to keep those players for longer than 2 seasons, but then again the salary cap rise, can aid them in this.

It is bad business to go over the luxury tax for multiple years if you aren't a contending team. The C's consistently were a tax payer during the KG years. I understand that the punishment is worse for doing it now, but if you have the chance at winning a title going over makes sense.

Mark my words OKC will match any offer for Kanter, including up to the max. He scored 18.7 and 11 last year. Put him next to Ibaka and he is the perfect fit.

Don't worry when this happens I won't remind you of how ridiculous an opinion differing from yours is.

Okay but, when Durant hits the market and some team offers him $30 million a year.... I will definitely remind you.

When did I say anything about Durant not getting paid $30 MM? The Thunder could match a max offer for Kanter, then give Durant $30 MM, there isn't a hard cap.

Your point was that Kanter isn't going to get overpaid by the Thunder, correct?

Yes, they can do so but not without jeapordizing their chances at signing Durant. How long do you think theykeep paying the league millions until they go broke?, your forgetting that they have other holes to fill.

I will bet you TPs that they match on Kanter for big money and after they do so you will hear reports coming out about it's positive effect on bringing back Durant.

It is unlikely maxing out Kanter would have any effect on bringing in Durant. The Thunder last season were one of the highest grossing teams in basketball, they will be able to come up with the money. For all the handwringing on OKC being a small market and not being able to compete with the big boys, they grossed the 5th most in the NBA the previous season.

It's about competing, but it is also about making money. Otherwise, you are not owning an NBA franchise as a business owner but as a hopeful fanatic.

So I'd take that bet.

[Endless Paradise]

OKC won't max out a guy like Kanter when they are already over the salary cap.

They aren't going to pinch pennies the year before Durant is a free agent. They are going to show him that they are willing to spend even if it's not true long term.

That's ridiculous. They are already paying Ibaka 12.25 Million, Westbrook 16.7 Million, and Durant is getting a cool 21 Million next year... they are already spending big, Durant just has to stay healthy to take advantage of that fact. Giving Kanter a max contract, presumably 19 Million, will be shooting themselves in the foot once Durant enters Free agency

Seeing as they will be flirting with the luxury tax next year even if Kanter accepts the qualifying offer.

It's not ridiculous.

The Thunder have shown an unwillingness to go into the luxury tax.This season was the first year they did so. They have been known for not spending big dollars, staying in the luxury tax is certainly a positive move that will help them in their recruitment of Durant.

If they let Kanter walk because he's too expensive, they have no mechanism to replace him because they are over the cap. They are going to hang onto him at all costs, because being over the salary cap means that they can't sign a free agent to replace his production.

This is when trades come in, I already discussed a scenario where they take Olynyk in exchange for their #14 pick, or use that pick on Frank Kaminsky, Kanter is not a star, OKC is not going to break the bank for him and then put themselves in a position where they have to pay millions to the league just to keep him. It's bad for business to be over the luxury tax for more than a couple of years if you are not a big market, OKC is not that big of a market to make it possible for them to keep those players for longer than 2 seasons, but then again the salary cap rise, can aid them in this.

It is bad business to go over the luxury tax for multiple years if you aren't a contending team. The C's consistently were a tax payer during the KG years. I understand that the punishment is worse for doing it now, but if you have the chance at winning a title going over makes sense.

Mark my words OKC will match any offer for Kanter, including up to the max. He scored 18.7 and 11 last year. Put him next to Ibaka and he is the perfect fit.

Don't worry when this happens I won't remind you of how ridiculous an opinion differing from yours is.

Okay but, when Durant hits the market and some team offers him $30 million a year.... I will definitely remind you.

When did I say anything about Durant not getting paid $30 MM? The Thunder could match a max offer for Kanter, then give Durant $30 MM, there isn't a hard cap.

Your point was that Kanter isn't going to get overpaid by the Thunder, correct?

Yes, they can do so but not without jeapordizing their chances at signing Durant. How long do you think theykeep paying the league millions until they go broke?, your forgetting that they have other holes to fill.

... are you arguing that the Thunder will essentially have to pick between Kanter and Durant and that "overpaying" Kanter somehow forces their hand with Durant? Because that's not the case. At all. Assuming he's healthy, there will never be a situation in which the Thunder say, "well, we'd love to re-sign Durant to the max, but we just re-signed Kanter, so we can't afford it and we're going to pick Kanter over Durant!"

[Evantime34]

OKC won't max out a guy like Kanter when they are already over the salary cap.

They aren't going to pinch pennies the year before Durant is a free agent. They are going to show him that they are willing to spend even if it's not true long term.

That's ridiculous. They are already paying Ibaka 12.25 Million, Westbrook 16.7 Million, and Durant is getting a cool 21 Million next year... they are already spending big, Durant just has to stay healthy to take advantage of that fact. Giving Kanter a max contract, presumably 19 Million, will be shooting themselves in the foot once Durant enters Free agency

Seeing as they will be flirting with the luxury tax next year even if Kanter accepts the qualifying offer.

It's not ridiculous.

The Thunder have shown an unwillingness to go into the luxury tax.This season was the first year they did so. They have been known for not spending big dollars, staying in the luxury tax is certainly a positive move that will help them in their recruitment of Durant.

If they let Kanter walk because he's too expensive, they have no mechanism to replace him because they are over the cap. They are going to hang onto him at all costs, because being over the salary cap means that they can't sign a free agent to replace his production.

This is when trades come in, I already discussed a scenario where they take Olynyk in exchange for their #14 pick, or use that pick on Frank Kaminsky, Kanter is not a star, OKC is not going to break the bank for him and then put themselves in a position where they have to pay millions to the league just to keep him. It's bad for business to be over the luxury tax for more than a couple of years if you are not a big market, OKC is not that big of a market to make it possible for them to keep those players for longer than 2 seasons, but then again the salary cap rise, can aid them in this.

It is bad business to go over the luxury tax for multiple years if you aren't a contending team. The C's consistently were a tax payer during the KG years. I understand that the punishment is worse for doing it now, but if you have the chance at winning a title going over makes sense.

Mark my words OKC will match any offer for Kanter, including up to the max. He scored 18.7 and 11 last year. Put him next to Ibaka and he is the perfect fit.

Don't worry when this happens I won't remind you of how ridiculous an opinion differing from yours is.

Okay but, when Durant hits the market and some team offers him $30 million a year.... I will definitely remind you.

When did I say anything about Durant not getting paid $30 MM? The Thunder could match a max offer for Kanter, then give Durant $30 MM, there isn't a hard cap.

Your point was that Kanter isn't going to get overpaid by the Thunder, correct?

Yes, they can do so but not without jeapordizing their chances at signing Durant. How long do you think theykeep paying the league millions until they go broke?, your forgetting that they have other holes to fill.

I will bet you TPs that they match on Kanter for big money and after they do so you will hear reports coming out about it's positive effect on bringing back Durant.

It is unlikely maxing out Kanter would have any effect on bringing in Durant. The Thunder last season were one of the highest grossing teams in basketball, they will be able to come up with the money. For all the handwringing on OKC being a small market and not being able to compete with the big boys, they grossed the 5th most in the NBA the previous season.

It's about competing, but it is also about making money. Otherwise, you are not owning an NBA franchise as a business owner but as a hopeful fanatic.

So I'd take that bet.

Sounds good. If you win your TP total doubles (those tps will come from me) if not your all your TPs will go to me.

BTW this is my favorite way to solve arguments on this site, a TP bet!

[BDeCosta26]

OKC's not voluntarily maxing out Kanter, but they'll match any offers he receives. Sam Presti traded for Kanter with the full intent of keeping him; he wouldn't have traded a first rounder for him just to rent him for 20-something games in a lost season. He's basically said as much.

Very true. But the Kanter we saw in Utah isn't the same guy as the one we saw in OKC, he was certainly better with Westbrook on his team, and the plausibility of him getting the max has risen a lot. I don't think Presti planned on giving him a full max deal when they traded for him.

But he certainly needs to prove to Durant and Westbrook that they will be willing to spend to put together a winner, in one way or another. Getting rid of Waiters and trading Adams for AB, Zeller and the pick-swap (plus maybe an early second) is a net positive for them. Assuming they keep Kanter, they'll have him, Ibaka, McGary, Morrow and Adams. Considering how desperate they're going to be this summer to prove they want a chip, using one of their excess bigs to fill their big hole at the 2 with the perfect guy in Bradley makes a ton of sense. Plus, Zeller can give them a lot of what Adams gives them, and they'll get two picks from us. Take away Adams, add those two and they'll be right in it for the finals.

[Geo123]

Hmm, they don't really need to trade him. They still need a good backup center behind Kanter. Preferably a more defensively minded center which is exactly what Steven Adams offers them.

Adams is still on rookie scale contract for another two years. I expect they keep him at least another 12 months and monitor how both Adams + Kanter develop before deciding whether they are willing to pay (or trade) Adams.

Exactly...

[vjcsmoke]

Adams would look good in green if we can't land Cousins.  And should cost considerably less to get.

[Sixth Man]

OKC won't max out a guy like Kanter when they are already over the salary cap.

They aren't going to pinch pennies the year before Durant is a free agent. They are going to show him that they are willing to spend even if it's not true long term.

That's ridiculous. They are already paying Ibaka 12.25 Million, Westbrook 16.7 Million, and Durant is getting a cool 21 Million next year... they are already spending big, Durant just has to stay healthy to take advantage of that fact. Giving Kanter a max contract, presumably 19 Million, will be shooting themselves in the foot once Durant enters Free agency

Seeing as they will be flirting with the luxury tax next year even if Kanter accepts the qualifying offer.

It's not ridiculous.

The Thunder have shown an unwillingness to go into the luxury tax.This season was the first year they did so. They have been known for not spending big dollars, staying in the luxury tax is certainly a positive move that will help them in their recruitment of Durant.

If they let Kanter walk because he's too expensive, they have no mechanism to replace him because they are over the cap. They are going to hang onto him at all costs, because being over the salary cap means that they can't sign a free agent to replace his production.

This is when trades come in, I already discussed a scenario where they take Olynyk in exchange for their #14 pick, or use that pick on Frank Kaminsky, Kanter is not a star, OKC is not going to break the bank for him and then put themselves in a position where they have to pay millions to the league just to keep him. It's bad for business to be over the luxury tax for more than a couple of years if you are not a big market, OKC is not that big of a market to make it possible for them to keep those players for longer than 2 seasons, but then again the salary cap rise, can aid them in this.

It is bad business to go over the luxury tax for multiple years if you aren't a contending team. The C's consistently were a tax payer during the KG years. I understand that the punishment is worse for doing it now, but if you have the chance at winning a title going over makes sense.

Mark my words OKC will match any offer for Kanter, including up to the max. He scored 18.7 and 11 last year. Put him next to Ibaka and he is the perfect fit.

Don't worry when this happens I won't remind you of how ridiculous an opinion differing from yours is.

Okay but, when Durant hits the market and some team offers him $30 million a year.... I will definitely remind you.

When did I say anything about Durant not getting paid $30 MM? The Thunder could match a max offer for Kanter, then give Durant $30 MM, there isn't a hard cap.

Your point was that Kanter isn't going to get overpaid by the Thunder, correct?

Yes, they can do so but not without jeapordizing their chances at signing Durant. How long do you think theykeep paying the league millions until they go broke?, your forgetting that they have other holes to fill.

I will bet you TPs that they match on Kanter for big money and after they do so you will hear reports coming out about it's positive effect on bringing back Durant.

It is unlikely maxing out Kanter would have any effect on bringing in Durant. The Thunder last season were one of the highest grossing teams in basketball, they will be able to come up with the money. For all the handwringing on OKC being a small market and not being able to compete with the big boys, they grossed the 5th most in the NBA the previous season.

It's about competing, but it is also about making money. Otherwise, you are not owning an NBA franchise as a business owner but as a hopeful fanatic.

So I'd take that bet.

Sounds good. If you win your TP total doubles (those tps will come from me) if not your all your TPs will go to me.

BTW this is my favorite way to solve arguments on this site, a TP bet!

Congratulations on winning this bet, because, as you already realize, you will win
this one.  Too bad you didn't offer to bet real $$$!  I mean, if the fish are really biting...

[chambers]

Wouldn't Adams start ahead of Kanter?
Adams' defense is worlds ahead of Kanter and his offense is developing. In all seriousness, Adams has the potential to be a top 5 defensive big man in the NBA, and that's next to Ibaka.

Can't see them 'maxing' Kanter.
Can't see them trading Adams.

The Western Conference teams currently moving towards the WCF should enjoy it while it lasts, because that OKC team next year is going to be BEASTLY and they'll come out with a vengeance.

[hwangjini_1]

...
Sounds good. If you win your TP total doubles (those tps will come from me) if not your all your TPs will go to me.

BTW this is my favorite way to solve arguments on this site, a TP bet!

just curious here. how does one "move" tps in this manner? the only thing i know is to click on the give a tp link. ha, ha...obviously i am not nuanced on the subtleties of tps here at gm. 

[Endless Paradise]

Wouldn't Adams start ahead of Kanter?
Adams' defense is worlds ahead of Kanter and his offense is developing. In all seriousness, Adams has the potential to be a top 5 defensive big man in the NBA, and that's next to Ibaka.

No one really knows. Adams is obviously the better defender, but Kanter pretty much needs to be paired with Ibaka since they fit so seamlessly on offense and defense; the Adams + Kanter combo was clunky, at best. Additionally, Donovan's offensive schemes apparently are better suited for Kanter to start as he employs lots of low-post feeding/kickouts.

[D.o.s.]

Hmm, they don't really need to trade him. They still need a good backup center behind Kanter. Preferably a more defensively minded center which is exactly what Steven Adams offers them.

Adams is still on rookie scale contract for another two years. I expect they keep him at least another 12 months and monitor how both Adams + Kanter develop before deciding whether they are willing to pay (or trade) Adams.

Exactly...

I think that's fair.

I would still be super stoked if we managed to pry him off of OKC.

[Evantime34]

...
Sounds good. If you win your TP total doubles (those tps will come from me) if not your all your TPs will go to me.

BTW this is my favorite way to solve arguments on this site, a TP bet!

just curious here. how does one "move" tps in this manner? the only thing i know is to click on the give a tp link. ha, ha...obviously i am not nuanced on the subtleties of tps here at gm. 

I know the mods can do it. Back when the C's played the Lakers in the finals, we did a TP bet where a bunch of people put there tps on the line in support of the C's. A lot of people including myself ended up with 0 tps.