Is Danilo Gallinari set on departing the Oklahoma City Thunder?
The power forward posted a graphic to Twitter with edited images of him in four NBA jerseys: the Thunder, the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets.
Sure, Oklahoma City was included on the graphic, but it’s an unusual move to tweet such an image if a player intends to stay with a team.
To be fair, the Thunder may not even plan to bring him back. Gallinari is expected to receive a hefty payday as one of the top free agents in the 2020 class, and Oklahoma City, a team that has signaled rebuild, may not be willing to pay $20 million for him.
Whether or not the organization does plan to make him a competitive offer, Gallinari can theoretically join a team contending for a 2021 NBA championship.
📍 Where to next? pic.twitter.com/oWxB7npu3S
— DANILO GALLINARI (@gallinari8888) October 20, 2020
The Clippers would become even more formidable with the stretch-4. He would be an upgrade of Marcus Morris, who was acquired by Los Angeles at the trade deadline.
If the Nuggets were to obtain Gallinari’s services, they would have to create more cap room that may come from letting go of Jerami Grant, a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer worth $9.3 million and whose new contract may amount to the $15-$20 million range annually.
The Knicks are the lone team in the graphic that did not make the playoffs last season, but they were Gallinari’s first team when he was drafted into the league. Perhaps he feels he can help them become a more alluring free agent destination with the loaded 2021 class coming up.
There is one team missing that is frequently among Gallinari rumors: the Miami Heat.
It was widely reported that the Heat were interested in acquiring Gallinari at the trade deadline, but they were unable to make a deal with the Thunder. After making a run to the NBA Finals, they have a pitch that none of the four on his graphic do.
Does this mean he’s not considering them? Or maybe he wants to keep that interest more secretive?
As much as this graphic reveals, there’s a lot about it that’s cryptic.
