The Oklahoma City Thunder only have a day or so left to lock up some of the key pieces of their franchise.
The deadline to extend Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams‘ contract is October 31st. If they are able to do so, it will keep them from going into restrictive free agency.
The Thunder do have a history of keeping some of their restrictive free agents. Just a couple of seasons ago the Thunder matched the offer that the Trail Blazers gave to center Enes Kanter. It is also likely that the team would also match offers to Oladipo and Adams. The two players are big pieces of the franchise's future core (along with Russell Westbrook) and are great building blocks. Both of the players are young and have plenty of potential to improve their already good play.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical is reporting that Oklahoma City has been meeting with the representatives of the two players.
Sources: OKC engaged with Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo reps on rookie extension talks. Discussing Adams $100M-range, Oladipo $80M-range.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) October 30, 2016
If these deals are made, then the Thunder would be dishing out some big numbers for the two players. Currently, the highest paid center in the league is Al Horford. Horford has a contract that guarantees him $83 million, so if Adams would be up in the $100 million guaranteed then he would become the highest paid center in the league.
The problem with paying these two players so much money comes in with free agency. How could the Thunder sign them both, re-sign Russell Westbrook, and possibly bring in Blake Griffin or some other big name?
Sam Presti will have his hands full in the next few years, but he has constantly shown the ability to put together playoff caliber teams.
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