Oklahoma City Thunder Rumors
Joe Mussatto: Aleksej Pokusevski (right arm soreness) is listed as out for tomorrow night at the Jazz. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Roby, Mike Muscala and Josh Hall remain out.
Bobby Marks: Contract breakdown on Gabriel Deck in OKC: 20/21- $3.87M 21/22- $3.67M (no protection) 22/23- $3.48M (late Sept. 22 guaranteed date) 23/24- $3.48M (team option with a late Sept. 23 guaranteed date)
Deck has 19 games to change that impression, but for Oklahoma City, that part scarcely matters. (Ditto for Deck, who gets a huge payday out of this either way.) What does matter is the fact that his contract now has equity to be used in a trade. It’s a bit surprising, actually, that the Thunder set up the deal with declining money (his cap number dips to $3.7 million next year) rather than increasing to maximize its potential trade utility. And if Deck turns out to be useful? His contract has three non-guaranteed years after this one at reasonable money, which is a lot better for the Thunder than just eating $3.9 million because they’re below the salary floor. The deal is basically a no-lose situation for Oklahoma City.
Brandon Rahbar: Mark Daigneault on if he can discuss the Gabriel Deck signing rumors: “Not right now.” I’d expect an official announcement in the coming days.
