What have the Oklahoma City Thunder done this offseason? Not much, other than retaining Kyle Singler and Enes Kanter to a worthwhile deal while drafting well during the 2015 NBA draft.
It’s been a quiet and dry summer for the Thunder, as they haven’t made many moves to enhance their roster. But their biggest hope is that Kevin Durant comes back fully healthy and ready to play in the upcoming season.
However, the draft went admirably for OKC, as they selected Cameron Payne with the 14th overall pick. The 21-year old out of Murray State is an intelligent point guard who has high basketball IQ. He also has a strong passing ability and is a good shooter, a lefty at that.
Payne did not participate in the Summer League because of a finger fracture he sustained during a pre-draft workout. Though, the injury is minor and considered a ‘short-term situation’. In a backcourt consisting of Russell Westbrook and D.J. Augustin, it will be difficult for Payne to find time, but the young man can give quality bench minutes if needed in case of injuries.
To start free agency, the Thunder secured Kyle Singler to a five-year, $25 million deal. Singler was a mid-season acquisition for the Thunder who came as part of the Reggie Jackson deal with the Detroit Pistons. Oklahoma City admired Singler’s three-point shooting and floor spacing which led to their decision to keep him long term.
The other free agent OKC had to worry about securing was Enes Kanter. Being a restricted free agent, Kanter accepted a four-year, $70 million offer sheet from the Portland Trail Blazers. But the Thunder had full intentions of matching the offer to retain the Turkish big man, and that’s exactly what they did.
Although Kanter is a great fit for the Thunder at the center position, he is still a huge gamble. Why? Because there are a lot of cons that come along with his pros.
Kanter is certainly a marvelous offensive player, one that the Thunder has never had at the five position before. He could space the floor, play in the pick and roll, and at times score in the paint. With his offensive skillset, he will take plenty of pressure off Westbrook and Durant.
The problem with Kanter is that his defense is suspect. He is one of the worst interior defenders in the league, and for his size, a career average of 0.4 blocks is unacceptable. Kanter’s rebounding, which has also been subpar throughout most of his career, was surprisingly topnotch last season with the Thunder, but it still remains an area of concern.
Perhaps Serge Ibaka can make up for Kanter’s defensive deficiencies, but the Thunder hopes that the 6-foot-11 big man out of Kentucky could ultimately become more than just a one-way player.
Thus, in the end, Kanter’s new contract is a little dubious. He’s without question an enormous bonus on the offensive end, but is his one-sided play worthy of a maximum contract? We will find out.
Finally, the Thunder most recently signed their 2014 29th overall pick, Josh Huestis. Averaging 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game for the Thunder’s D-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, Huestis impressed enough to receive a four-year, rookie scale deal from the Thunder. It looks like Huestis will become the replacement for Perry Jones III, who the Thunder traded to the Boston Celtics for cap relief.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are fully aware that Durant’s return to the lineup will help them climb back into the playoffs and possibly contend for a title once again. They did not need to make many off-season moves since they already have a deep, championship caliber roster. However, they are taking a huge chance on Enes Kanter, giving him that monstrous deal.
If he works out, the Thunder could win big. If he does not, Oklahoma City will have to cope with his large contract for the next four years.
Off-Season Grade: C