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**Organized Chaos** · 07-07-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

NBA teams can begin signing free agents Wednesday, but don't expect much activity from Oklahoma City's new NBA team this summer.

The old Sonics already have 14 players under contract for next season. They'll have the league maximum of 15 once they sign second-round pick DeVon Hardin, who could finalize his deal today before the team tips off its five-game summer league schedule in Orlando this afternoon.

If restricted free-agent center Robert Swift receives a more lucrative offer sheet than the $3.5 million he's due next season and the old Sonics decline to match, his departure would reduce the number back to 14. Veteran journeyman Adrian Griffin could also be bought out of his partially guaranteed $1.7 million contract for next season, which could reduce the roster to 13 players.

Those two scenarios could save the old Sonics more than $5 million and put them in a better position to sign a free agent.

Team general manager Sam Presti has been diligent in his desire to maintain salary cap flexibility for both the short term and the long term. A major free-agent signing would only jeopardize the team's currently sound, long-term salary structure.

Add to that, few players in this year's crop of free agents align with the team's goals. The best available players are either too expensive (Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Emeka Okafor, Luol Deng, Monta Ellis, Tony Allen, Ben Gordon, Corey Maggette and Andris Biedrins) or too old (Kurt Thomas, James Posey, Sam Cassell, Brent Barry, Michael Finley and Eduardo Najera.)

Oklahoma City could take a flyer on wing players like Mickael Pietrus, Matt Barnes and Kelenna Azubuike of Golden State or Dorell Wright of Miami. Azubuike and Wright are restricted free agents, meaning their teams can match any offer to retain them.

Wright is only 22, Azubuike is 24, Pietrus is 26 and Barnes is 28. All four provide a nice blend of athleticism and versatility and none figure to cost much more than $5 million a year.

But unless Presti thinks one of them — or a similar cheap young player — can join Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook as the building blocks of the team, it's likely Presti will avoid doling out any cash for the sake of a quick fix.

A few trades seem to be a more likely approach. Forwards Chris Wilcox and Donyell Marshall, both of whom have attractive expiring contracts, could be dealt to free more minutes for Green, and guard Luke Ridnour could be packaged to create more minutes for Westbrook. Presti also has a glut of centers in Swift, Johan Petro and Mouhamed Sene, any one of whom could be traded this summer.

G-Force · 07-07-2008, 10:25 PM

"A few trades seem to be a more likely approach. Forwards Chris Wilcox and Donyell Marshall, both of whom have attractive expiring contracts, could be dealt to free more minutes for Green, and guard Luke Ridnour could be packaged to create more minutes for Westbrook. Presti also has a glut of centers in Swift, Johan Petro and Mouhamed Sene, any one of whom could be traded this summer."

Chris Wilcox is more than just an "expiring contract". He is a quality player with more than a few productive years left in his career.

**Damian Necronamous** · 07-07-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Force

"A few trades seem to be a more likely approach. Forwards Chris Wilcox and Donyell Marshall, both of whom have attractive expiring contracts, could be dealt to free more minutes for Green, and guard Luke Ridnour could be packaged to create more minutes for Westbrook. Presti also has a glut of centers in Swift, Johan Petro and Mouhamed Sene, any one of whom could be traded this summer."

Chris Wilcox is more than just an "expiring contract". He is a quality player with more than a few productive years left in his career.

I would bet that Ridnour and Wilcox get traded in deals for expirings and future first round picks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ridnour go to Houston in exchange for Bobby Jackson and their pick next year. Wilcox could easily go to Utah for something like Hart, Collins, Price and a first rounder, or to Atlanta for Pachulia, change and a future first.

OKC's opening day depth chart...

PG: Russell Westbrook...Earl Watson
SG: Kevin Durant...Damien Wilkins
SF: Jeff Green...Donyell Marshall...Adrian Griffin
PF: Nick Collison...D.J. White
C: Johan Petro...Saer Sene

G-Force · 07-08-2008, 10:22 AM

Here is a link with the team's current contracts. Note that it has not been updated to include any of the rookie contracts:

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/seattle.htm

tha supes · 07-15-2008, 01:41 AM

I still don't understand how Ridnour wasn't the starter the past 2 seasons. That guy should be traded, he could start somewhere.

number1pick · 07-24-2008, 09:55 PM

Injuries have really hampered Ridnour, IMO. He's shown at times that he can be a pretty good PG in this league but injuries have really held him back. I'd trade Watson if I were the Thunder(that sounds weird)but I think Ridnour probably has more value, he's more of a true PG. I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up at Miami for a #1 and Haslem(who I believe has an expiring contract or maybe a player option for next year)

I wouldn't expect the Thunder to sign anyone the next couple of years. They are looking to build as the Blazers did. Acquire a lot of young talent, let them grow for a couple of years together then add that one missing piece.

Zuca · 09-23-2008, 05:44 PM

Actual roster:

PG: Westbrook/Watson
SG: Durant/Wilkins/Weaver
SF: Green/Mason
PF: Wilcox/Collison/Smith/White
C: Sene/Petro/Swift

The best part of this team is that some players can play multiple positions...

Both Durant, Mason and Wilkins can play both at SF and SG positions. Collison can play C; even Wilcox and Joe Smith can play C in spurts.

Actually I would suggest two trades for this team:

Chris Wilcox to Cleveland for Anderson Varejão; Damien Wilkins to Toronto for Joey Graham;

Varejão would be perfect for this team. He can bring some good vibe to this "new" franchise and is better suited to play C (in my opinion) than Wilcox, who could also benefit by playing with Lebron James.

As for Graham, he is an expiring contract, not a bad defender and played college basketball in Oklahoma State. Wilkins would fill a need for Toronto.