One of the few contracts the Oklahoma City Thunder front office members knew they needed to address entering the 2019 offseason was Abdel Nader’s. Of course, a few other players of greater importance to the franchise’s future unexpectedly changed the course of the team’s direction, leaving Sam Presti and company a few other things to address before looking to Nader.
Monday is the deadline for the Thunder to pick up the wing’s contract for 2019-20. If he stays on the roster, Nader is guaranteed a little over $1.6 million. However, cutting Nader would assist the Thunder in their continued pursuit of getting below the luxury tax bill. Waiving him would put them $2.6 million over the line.
But with Nader’s deal being so cost-effective, it makes more sense for Oklahoma City to retain the forward while Sam Presti works to move some of the team’s larger contracts and possibly accrue even more future draft picks.
According to Royce Young of ESPN, it looks like the Thunder will, in fact, hold on to Nader:
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