OKC Thunder in the news: Paul George trade, moratorium begins with bang
Welcome to OKC Thunder – In the news for Saturday, July 1 featuring topical daily news on your favorite team and the NBA.
With the 2017 NBA free agency moratorium on everyone’s minds OKC Thunder fans received quite possibly the biggest and most exciting news in well over a year. Although it’s often joked Sam Presti possesses magician like skills some are suggesting he might also be moonlighting as a bandit.
At least that was the common thought following what was deemed as down right robbery. Presti orchestrated a trade which sent Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to Indiana and in return the Thunder landed super star Paul George.
https://twitter.com/theScore/status/880994369557241856
Presti Wins Trade:
Unequivocally, Sam Presti and the OKC Thunder won the trade. Sure, Paul George may only be a one year rental, but it’s hard not to get excited about the prospect of Westbrook and George occupying the hardwood together. After a season spent with no reliable scoring alternative Westbrook must think the MVP Award he garnered earlier this week pales in comparison to this reward. Granted, pretty much all Thunder fans were in awe of the news.
Ramona Shelburne was the first to break the trade on social media :
Paul George has been traded to OKC, per sources
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 1, 2017
TI’s initial response:
My cohort Tony Heim provided TI’s initial response to the trade:
"Right now this team is not ready to beat the Warriors. But they are getting awfully close. Oklahoma City essentially gave up a starter and a rookie project in return for an All Star forward. George isn’t Kevin Durant – but if a couple things break the Thunder way (aka another trade or an injury) – OKC is right there ready to contend for a championship."
Presti rediscovers original path:
ESPN writer Royce Young offers an article which reminds of the path which was abruptly altered last summer. Further, Young explains how the path was always clear, just simply postponed.
"The most prescient move of all, though, was the acquisition of Oladipo and Sabonis on draft night a year ago. The Thunder moved Serge Ibaka, a loyal soldier to the organization who was about to enter the final year of his contract, for youth, upside and added talent in the backcourt. The Thunder added Oladipo with a plan to install him as their sixth man, trying to recreate some of the magic they had with James Harden in that spot. Durant left a couple of weeks later for the Bay Area, and suddenly Oladipo was Westbrook’s Robin. The partnership never completely took off, the “Flash Brothers” moniker failing to come to fruition. Oladipo was solid as a spot-up 3-and-D option, but not the secondary handler and scorer the Thunder and Westbrook craved."
NBA Free Agency Moratorium begins:
More from Thunderous Intentions
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- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
A few hours after the big trade was announced the 2017 NBA free agency moratorium officially began. Leading headlines focused on huge contracts of returnees. Specifically, Stephen Curry became the highest paid NBA player in history. This when he signed his 5-year $201 million deal via his designated player extension. Although he did not accept the maximum, presumably to leave some funds toward Andre Iguodala’s contract negotiation. Consequently, Iguodala is a highly sought after free agent.
Two other big deals followed with Blake Griffin returning to the Clippers for $173 million over 5-years. Early this morning Jrue Holiday also returns to his team (the Pelicans) signing a 5-year $126 million deal.
Curry inks richest deal in NBA history:
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN provided the details on the Curry signing:
"Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry has agreed to a five-year, $201 million extension — the richest contract in league history — with the Golden State Warriors, his agent Jeff Austin of Octagon told ESPN.Curry is the first NBA star who will sign a supermax contract, the crossing of a $200 million threshold that eventually will become the norm for the NBA’s biggest superstars."
But, while money is flowing for the top stars the crazy early (arguably over paid) contracts doled out to mid level, role players like Timofey Mozgove didn’t happen this year. Rather, players like Shaun Livingston took significantly less (3-years, $24 million) than he could have demanded on the open market.
Check back with TI tomorrow and we’ll have your most up to date news on the transactions which occurred overnight.