OKC Thunder 30 for 30 Part 3: Detailing forward Jared Dudley
Contract and Trade Scenario
2018-19 – $9,530,000
2019-20 – UFA
Dudley is on an expiring deal and enters Unrestricted Free Agency next season. His $9.5 million contract is a bit steep considering what he brings to the table but a trade is certainly possible. Depending on how much Brooklyn treasures his locker room voice, the OKC Thunder could send Alex Abrines and Kyle Singler to the Nets for Dudley.
More from Thunder News
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 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
Abrines is a 25 year-old shooting guard and is a legitimate sniper from deep. Singler is nothing more than a veteran presence who offers little on-court. However, he could take-over Dudley’s role as a mentor. Both deals are expiring and doesn’t inhibit Brooklyn’s desire to chase free agents in 2019.
For Oklahoma City, Dudley fills a back-up power forward role behind Patrick Patterson and provides another stretch-four option. The Thunder also save close to $7 million dollars in salary and luxury tax payments.
Final Thought
Dudley would be an excellent addition should Oklahoma City trade for him. Not only does he add a veteran voice to a group full of young players, he offers a legitimate spot-up 3-PT threat and fills the back-up power forward role.
Sending Abrines to Brooklyn hurts Oklahoma City’s shooting at shooting guard but offloading his defensive deficiencies is a win since the Spaniard struggles against elite offenses. Moving Singler after three years of disappointment is another victory Thunder fans have been clamoring for years to happen.