Welcome to OKC Thunder – In the news for Sunday, July 9 featuring topical daily news on your favorite team and the NBA.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend and catching plenty of Summer League action via the Las Vegas tournament. Free Agency continues to roll along. Teams are much more active with the big names off the board. Kentavious Caldwell Pope is theoretically now the top name on the available list. Therefore we are starting to witness more of the next level players brokering deals and filling out rosters.
Harden signs massive $228 million deal:
Speaking of contracts former OKC Thunder player James Harden made news for becoming the highest paid player in history. His $228 million designated player extension deal shatters the ceiling which previously existed. Now the big question is will OKC offer Russell Westbrook more? Although this feels like it deserves it’s own column it seems like the Brodie would be more inclined to go the Steph Curry route. That is to say he’ll take a bit less so the Thunder have more salary flexibility. As per CTV News:
"Harden signed a four-year, “supermax” extension Saturday, a whopper of a deal that guarantees Harden about $228 million over the next six seasons and makes it the richest contract in league history.The extension alone tacks another $170 million or so — depending on how the salary cap escalates — on to a contract that still had two more years and nearly $60 million remaining. It’s a mammoth deal befitting one of the league’s brightest stars, which is exactly what the Beard has become in five seasons with the Rockets.The deal keeps Harden under contract through the 2022-23 season, a lifetime in the modern NBA financial landscape in which so many superstars take short-term deals to maximize their earning potential. While anything can happen, this is about as much security as a player can get."
Interesting tribute to Westbrook:
Since winning the MVP award OKC Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has received plenty of congratulatory love. News OK writer Scott Wright cites a rather unusual but cool addition will be added to the list. Landon Cassill is honoring Westbrook on his NASCAR.
"Love’s Travel Stops, which sponsors Landon Cassill’s No. 34 car of Front Row Motorsports, will pay tribute to Westbrook’s MVP season with multiple #0urMVP decals on the hood, rear quarter panels, decklid and rear bumper of Cassill’s car for the Quaker State 400 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Kentucky Speedway."
Former OKC Thunder Taj Gibson arrested for traffic violation:
All is not good news for former OKC Thunder Taj Gibson. This week Gibson signed a $28 million deal with Minnesota. CNN reports Gibson was pulled over for making an illegal u-turn in Queens. When the officer ran his license they learned his license was suspended. Joe Sutton of CNN details the event:
"NBA star Taj Gibson was arrested this week in Queens for driving with a suspended license, the New York Police Department said."
"Gibson, 32, was pulled over by police after he made an illegal U-turn on Thursday. An officer did a computer check and discovered that Gibson’s Illinois license was suspended, police said.The veteran forward was charged with aggravated unlicensed operator. He has been released from police custody, but is due back in court on September 1."
Raymond Felton deal confirmed to be vet’s minimum:
Chris Haynes of ESPN confirms what most pundits already presumed which is Felton’s deal with OKC will be on a veteran’s minimum deal.
"Free-agent point guard Raymond Felton has reached an agreement with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources told ESPN on Friday.According to sources, Felton’s new pact is a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum.The 33-year-old veteran averaged 6.7 points and 2.4 assists as a member of the LA Clippers during the 2016-17 season."
With free agency continuing there remain gaps to fill on the roster. Sam Presti will be deciding if those are addressed via existing youthful roster assets or more tweaks are required. In the interim here’s a list of lower end free agents the team should consider.
5 X-Factor free agents OKC Thunder should target
5 free agents who address OKC Thunder perimeter scoring
OKC Thunder free agents point guard short list
That wraps up OKC Thunder In the News for July 9. Make sure to check back with TI tomorrow and we’ll have your most up to date news and more free agency updates.