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The Oklahoma City Thunder have no plans to use their $5.7 million mid-level exception, which could cost the team around $24 million by factoring in luxury taxes, according to Erik Horne of The Oklahoman.
The Thunder have 89% of the $109 million 2019-20 salary cap tied into three players — Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Steven Adams. That makes for a dangerous proposition.
General manager Sam Presti has had to make conscientious signings to give this team a good core of players, like trading for Dennis Schroder and signing Jerami Grant to a three-year, $27 million deal — decisions that have ultimately put the organization elbows deep in the luxury tax.
Presti recently said he would look for ways to remain under the tax, but that won't happen unless he can successfully trade players like Adams, Schroder, or the injury-riddled Andre Roberson to give this team a new look and a much-needed money bag off their shoulders.
Adams makes for the most enticing asset, but the hefty $53 million remaining in his deal could make for a daunting transaction. To make matters worse, the big Kiwi has a 7.5% trade kicker (per Spotrac), which would only make it a more difficult deal to pull off if he chooses not to waive that figure.
If Presti can manage to trade Adams, he could opt to re-sign Nerlens Noel, who is expected to decline his bargain player-option, to a deal worth around the $7 million per year range, which would give the Thunder a new look and some much-needed salary relief.
