Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City front office are in for their most important offseason in organization history this summer. In TI’s first installation of the offseason series, we delve deep into the predicament with Steven Adams and Andre Roberson. Should the Thunder wait and try to resign the pair when they become restricted free agents next year, or work out contract extensions with them over the summer? Well, let’s take a look.
Steven Adams
2015-2016 salary: $2,279,040
2016-2017 salary: $3,140,517
Restricted qualifying offer for 2017-2018 season: $4,321,352
Adams is getting a WHOLE lot more money than $4,321,352 a year when he becomes a free agent. This postseason was the Kiwi Warrior’s breakout performance, and he primed himself for a large payday a la Bismack Biyombo. But before we discuss how much OKC can afford to pay him, let’s take a look at the organization’s cap as a whole.
Thunder payroll 2015-2016 season: $95,708,387
NBA salary cap 2015-2016 season: $70,000,000
Thunder payroll 2017-2018 season (as of now): $22,550,676
NBA projected salary cap 2017-2018 season: $107,000,000
OKC only has two players under contract after next season. Cam Payne, Mitch McGary and Josh Huestis all have team options, but those figures are nothing compared to potential new contracts for Russ, Serge and maybe even KD. Still, Clay Bennett and the rest of the Thunder owners have shown they are not too concerned about paying luxury tax.
If Presti believes in Adams’ potential as much as Steve Kerr, he HAS to sign him to an extension over this summer. The longer Presti waits, the more expensive Adams is going to be. As the salary cap continues to increase so does the size of max contracts; the 22-year old has earned himself that max.
Max extension Adams could sign this summer: 4 years, 85 million
Max contract Adams could sign next summer: 5 years, 149 million
Locking him up now would be eerily similar to the Kanter move just last year. Being in a small market Presti has to maximize players’ value; 64 million dollars is two extra role players. That’s even more crucial if they plan on keeping both KD and Russ at these crazy costs. I imagine that OKC is planning on offering Adams an extension this summer. It’s most likely going to be up to Adams’ himself whether or not he wants to leave 85 million on the table.
Andre Roberson
2015-2016 salary: $1,210,800
2016-2017 salary: $2,183,072
Restricted qualifying offer for 2017-2018 season: $3,222,214
As much as Roberson grew in the last two months, he is not nearly set to make anything close to Adams. Roberson’s ceiling is essentially his seven game stretch between Game Six against the Spurs through Game Six against Golden State. His spot in this league will be as an athletic 3-and-D guard, IF he can consistently hit threes.
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Presti’s goal is to keep this young core together, but it doesn’t make sense to give Roberson an extension just yet. Obviously it sounds nice to keep Dre in OKC for years to come. But Roberson does not have all-star potential like Adams, and the chance of KD and Russ leaving make it extremely difficult to give a long-term extension to a career role player.
We also have to keep in mind that both Adams and Roberson are restricted free agents; OKC will have the chance to match any offer from either. Roberson will make his money on the defensive end, and it is simply too hard to get a big pay raise with his limited offensive play. My guess is Roberson would make the same amount if he was a free agent this year. If that truly is the case, an extension this summer could only hurt the Thunder in the long run.
Signing Adams to an extension now and waiting to see what Roberson is offered on the open market is Sam Presti’s smartest option. With or without the Thunder’s dynamic duo, Adams is a piece OKC can build around; Roberson is the quintessential around player.