Although they haven’t openly said it, the moves the Oklahoma City Thunder have made since they traded Paul George to the Clippers indicate the franchise is trying to get under the luxury tax. Having huge contracts like Goerge’s, Russell Westbrook’s and Steven Adams’ have not made such a thing doable in the past.
With George, Westbrook, Jerami Grant and Patrick Patterson gone — and Patterson actually giving money back to the Thunder — Oklahoma City was very close to getting under the tax. But the team made the move to sign Justin Patton on Tuesday, which puts them a bit further over the threshold, according to ESPN’s Royce Young.
Young is reporting Patton’s deal is worth $5.3 million over three years, though only 2019-20 ($700 thousand) is guaranteed. Furthermore, this deal would put the Thunder over the luxury tax by $921 thousand.
The Thunder still have plenty of time to get under the luxury tax, and, given the numbers, it won’t take a large move to do so.
