Until they negotiate No. 11 overall pick Domantas Sabonis’ rookie deal, the Oklahoma City Thunder have only two players firmly on their books for the 2017-18 NBA season: Enes Kanter and Kyle Singler.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti is one of the best in the business, but if he thought negotiating a deal with Kevin Durant this summer was tough, 2017 NBA free agency could be an absolute frenzy in the Sooner State.
Star point guard Russell Westbrook will hit 2017 NBA free agency next summer, as he will wisely choose not to re-sign mid-season. The Thunder will have to consider player options on Victor Oladipo, Steven Adams and Andre Roberson. They’ll even have to consider picking up player options on guys like Cameron Payne and Mitch McGary.
Oklahoma City will have a ton of flexibility next summer, but with that flexibility comes a great deal of pressure. Will Presti and his staff be able to get more hits than misses in 2017 NBA free agency? Even if Westbrook does leave Oklahoma City for a more glamorous market, the Thunder are approaching a make-or-break free agency next summer.
Westbrook is going to get a maximum offer sheet wherever he chooses to sign, but the lower salary cap will hurt the Thunder in their negotiations with players like Oladipo, Adams, Ersan Ilyasova and Anthony Morrow, who could all walk.
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