Thunderous Intentions
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16 trade options to push the OKC Thunder into title contention

By Lawrence George

OKC Thunder, Paul George (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder, Paul George (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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C.J. Miles
C.J. Miles (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Using OKC’s Trade Exception

The other trade scenario involves a single future second-pick to Toronto with no player movement involved. Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri has publicly stated he wants to lower the teams luxury tax bill and moving on from Miles’ final two years without taking salary saves approximately $23-million-dollars in luxury tax.

This deal hinges on three factors:

  • OKC electing to use its $10.8-million-dollar Trade Exception (T.E)
  • Ownership willingness to pay the additional luxury tax
  • Is a second-round pick enough compensation to pry Miles from Toronto?

How this trade works is OKC use its $10.8-million-dollar Trade Exception (TE) from the Carmelo Anthony deal to absorb Miles’ deal outright. Miles is due $8.3-million this season and while he is owed $8.7-million next year, could be flipped for an additional asset in the offseason. Toronto will likely want an asset in return so a future second-round pick might be needed to make this happen.

Provided Miles can return to what he was last season, this could be a major win for OKC moving forward. While incurring a larger luxury tax bill is an issue, acquiring him without sending a player back allows OKC to further other trade options on the market.

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