Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[michaeltex]

Wouldn't OKC save more by dumping those two players (probably for small assets) and using that pick to draft Yaxel than trading for PJ?  Then they can trade the other pick for future assets.  The fact that we would pull that trigger without thinking makes it unlikely Presti will.

Am I wrong in thinking that the clock is ticking for OKC to do something before July 1st? Their 2026/27 payroll, if you include all the TOs is going to be $250M+ with all 15 slots filled, without a spot for their FRPs, which is another $10M+ if they stay at 12 and 17. Don't they get into A2 restrictions once that happens?

Aren't there moves they need to make while still in this contract year?

IIRC, this whole salary cap structure was developed to make it financially painful for teams to hoard talent for years. GSW was doing it at the time and now it looks like it's going to take a bite out of OKC. SAS isn't that far behind. They have one more year of cheap Wemby, then he'll get Super Maxxed and they will be flirting with $200M and only 7 slots signed.