Sam Presti says OKC will ship off JaMychal Green this offseason

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a very interesting NBA Offseason ahead. As a shock to most NBA fans, the OKC Thunder are actually over the cap once the new league year turns over later this week. That is due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s max contract extension (30.5-million), Derrick Favors (10 million), JaMychal Green (8.2-million), Kemba Walker’s dead money (27.4-million), and Kyle Singler’s dead money (999,200-million). OKC Thunder General Manager Sam Presti traded for JaMychal Green almost exactly two weeks ago (During a Russell Westbrook community event in OKC). The deal was simple, OKC eats Green’s 8.2-million dollar salary (which was too bloated for the “contending” Nugget’s taste) and give up the 30th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft in exchange for a 2027 top-five protected selection from Denver.

The Oklahoma City Thunder just brought in four new prospects to their roster, selecting Chet Holmgren with the 2nd overall pick, trading for the 11th pick in Ousmane Dieng, using the 12th overall pick on Santa Clara’s Jalen Williams, and wrapping up their 2022 NBA Draft class by selecting Jaylin Williams with the 34th pick.

With Sam Presti adding four players to this already log-jammed roster, he will have to get to work this week as the NBA league year turns and free agency begins. Presti will have to decide on the team options for Lu Dort (which he already said he will be picking up), Mike Muscala, and Isaiah Roby before Thursday. On top of that, the Thunder already have over 20 players on their roster which needs to be trimmed down to 17 before the start of the NBA season (including the two-way slots).

The Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti is set to find JaMychal Green a new home before the start of the 2022-23 NBA season

The OKC Thunder held their introductory press conference for their 2022 NBA Draft class on Saturday and those of us in the media were able to attend and also have media scrums with each player, Sam Presti, and head coach Mark Daigneault afterward.

Sam Presti was asked by Thunder Wire’s Clemente Almanza about JaMychal Green’s future in Bricktown, and the OKC General Manager made it clear the team will find the veteran forward a new home this offseason.

“We will probably find a situation with him that is not with us,” Sam Presti said, mentioning that the team is working with JaMychal Green’s agent to find him a new home this offseason.

This is a bold statement from the always calculated OKC Thunder General Manager, he never lets things “slip” so you can bank on Green not being in OKC come October. However, will that be via trade or a buyout?

If the Thunder are unsuccessful in finding a trade partner for JaMychal Green, the team can easily buy out the 8.2 million dollars without stretching it into 2023 which would keep a clear cap sheet for the next offseason while opening up a roster spot for this season.