In the annual exit interviews, OKC Thunder big man offered his typical humorous takeaways but also dug in a bit to what this offseason might hold for him.
Much like the rest of his squad, OKC Thunder center Steven Adams is coming off an underwhelming season. He showed glimpses of greatness, but just as the entire Thunder season as a whole, the potential never fully materialized.
Adams is Oklahoma City’s third highest paid player on the team, earning roughly $25-million for the 2018-19 campaign. Hence, heading into June and July, the Thunder will be forced to make a difficult decision regarding their future with Adams.
Based on the current cap projection, and Oklahoma City’s current guaranteed salaries; if they happened to trade Adams and convey minimal salary OKC would be below the tax threshold.
I am not suggesting the Thunder should deal Adams, especially because of what he brings to the defensive end. However, if they do trade Adams, short of Oklahoma City pulling off a blockbuster deal for Anthony Davis, the Thunder will likely struggle to maintain a .500 record.
With that said, the NBA is a business, Oklahoma City is probably not content possessing the third highest payroll and suffering first-round exits.
Hopefully, Adams will not be the scapegoat of Oklahoma City’s shortcomings, but if he is, don’t let the deal catch you off guard.
Not even 10 seconds into his exit interview & Steven Adams has the media throng laughing. #ThunderUp
— Thunderous Intentions (@thunderousint) April 25, 2019
Lack of confidence versus wanting to make the correct play
"I like to just have a successful play. Sometimes it is me scoring, or a kick out, or guards cutting. I ask myself what is the right play, other than oh I need to score this ball. I don’t it’s a confidence thing, it’s just my obsession to make the correct play."
Coachable Kiwi, Adams on his tendency to listen to his coaches.
"I’ve think I’ve always been like that, just because I’m always trying to get their advice, and see what they are saying. I can think that wow this is what I look like and this is what I’m feeling, but what is actually happening is I might not be doing that."
Adams is a player who wants to be coached and needs to be given direction. Yet, due to coach Donovan’s freedom philosophy of let the players run the show. Adams suffers because of the schemes, or lack thereof; hence, in my opinion, it is time to move on from coach Donovan effective immediately.
Steven Adams says his role is to do what's he's doing & while he could develop his mid range & 3-point shooting - he'll continue to work to his specific role unless told otherwise. #Thunder Up
— Thunderous Intentions (@thunderousint) April 25, 2019
Burning desire for a title
"The whole objective, right from the beginning is to win a championship, anything short of that, it’s kinda hard to be like oh we did okay. But, that’s just for me personally. Like you know we set out, this is our objective, but we didn’t get our objective done. But, that’s just how I see it, I’m not speaking for anyone else."
This is one example on a list many long reasons why the OKC Thunder absolutely, cannot trade Steven Adams. If the team’s ultimate goal is to win a title, Adams maintains the mentality to do so. He is well-liked by his teammates, the fan base, and the media.
Above all else, he plays the game correctly, that is a rare combination in today’s NBA. Because of those reasons, the OKC Thunder should retain Adams for the remainder of his career.
Adams entire exit interview deserves a listen, once it is uploaded online. He is so insightful, and forthcoming when he conducts a press conference it is refreshing to see in Oklahoma City. Here’s hoping that this was not the final Kiwi conference, we have the pleasure to partake in because his alluring and appealing personality would be sorely missed.