UNDER CONTRACT: F Kevin Durant, G Russell Westbrook, C Kendrick Perkins, G James Harden, G Thabo Sefolosha, G Daequan Cook, F Nick Collison, C Cole Aldrich, G Eric Maynor, F-C Serge Ibaka, G Reggie Jackson, F Lazar Hayward, C Hasheem Thabeet, C Daniel Orton
DRAFT PICKS: F Perry Jones
FREE AGENTS: G Derek Fisher
MOVES: The Thunder were very quiet during the moratorium period. They did sign free agent center Hasheem Thabeet to a two-year deal at less than $2 million. The erstwhile No. 2 pick is considered a bust but is 7-3 and just 25 years old; Oklahoma City is the ideal place for him to get another chance. OKC signed Hollis Thompson, an undrafted guard from Georgetown with a 3-point stroke who will get a look in training camp. Later in the summer, OKC took a flyer on another underperforming big man in Daniel Orton, who never got on the floor in Orlando. A significant off-court move was the re-signing of coach Scott Brooks – whose contract actually expired despite three straight outstanding seasons – to a four-year deal at more than $4 million per season. Well into the offseason, GM Sam Presti also got one of his pressing matters out of the way by signing NBA blocks leader Serge Ibaka to a four-year, $48 million extension, which begins in the 2013-14 season.
TO-DO LIST: Ibaka’s extension means Presti has $54 million committed to four players in the first year of the supertax. None of those players is Sixth Man Award winner James Harden, who also is eligible for an extension. If he does not get one, Harden becomes a restricted free agent next summer and almost certainly will receive a max offer. While there already has been a fair share of hand-wringing over Harden’s future in OKC, Presti has until Oct. 31 to extend him and can always match any offer next summer. There also is a potential smaller extension looming for Eric Maynor, who suffered a torn ACL last season. Reggie Jackson’s development will determine Maynor’s long-term future with the Thunder. Thabeet’s signing meant the end for Nazr Mohammed, but the Thunder surprisingly also had no plans to re-sign point guards Royal Ivey and Derek Fisher. There has been some talk that the Thunder are interested in Jimmer Fredette, which would require a trade.
PROJECTION: With this core, the Thunder were one foul call away from holding a 2-0 lead in the Finals. They have a “Big Three,” the NBA’s winning formula du jour. Nick Collison is their only player older than 28. No matter what they did this offseason, they are going to be contending for championships for some time.
(RELATED: What grade did the Thunder get?)
For offseason analysis of every team, click here.