Thursday Bolts – 7.2.15
If you missed it, Kyle Singler signed. Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider on the deal: “It’s tough to overpay with the cap escalating so quickly, but the Thunder might have managed to do so. I project Singler’s value at less than $9 million total over the next three seasons. He hasn’t been far above replacement level over the course of his career, and the rising cap doesn’t change the value of a replacement-level player. If Singler plays more like 2013-14, when he posted an impressive .574 true shooting percentage, he’ll be worth this deal. Last year’s below-average .512 true shooting (.461 in Oklahoma City) won’t cut it.”
Zach Lowe of Grantland: “Hell, even Kyle Singler strapped himself into a five-year deal that comes in below the midlevel exception — and keeps him out of free agency for the entirety of both his prime and the cap spike. A lot of fans mocked that deal, but Singler can be a helpful 3-and-D-ish wing, and that contract is going to be a drop in the bucket in the very near future.”
Russell Westbrook tweeted weird things yesterday.
Berry Tramel looks back at what Enes Kanter said at exit interviews: “Well, I think the happiness or wanting to play, wanting to play for the fans, wanting to play for your teammates, cheering and dancing on the sideline, is definitely more important than how much your contract is or how many minutes you play. I think the most important thing is to be happy and just be a good locker room guy and just connect with the fans. That’s definitely more important than how much money you’re going to get.”
Serge Ibaka was passed over for Spain’s national team.
Kelly Diven of CSN Washington: “Say the former MVP wanted to come home, but was hesitant about the demands and expectations of old acquaintances. He’d have a full season in Washington to consider making a long term commitment. Even if he’s set on staying put, taking a five-year max with the Thunder in 2016 doesn’t make as much financial sense as re-upping for one year before inking a multi-year max extension in 2017. This is the same logic behind LeBron James not signing long-term contracts with the Cavaliers. Perhaps serious health reservations could induce Durant to choose job security over an extra $40 million. If not, the Wizards could get two chances to lure the former MVP.”
Darnell Mayberry on the Singler deal: “Additionally, Singler’s average salary is not as costly on the books as it appears. With the salary cap projected to rise to $69 million next season and shoot to more than $90 million in 2016-17, Singler’s nearly $5 million average salary come 2016 will be the equivalent to about $3.75 million per year today. It explains, and perhaps even justifies, why the Thunder ponied up so much for a player who struggled in OKC following his mid-season trade from Detroit and one who might find it difficult to average more than 15 minutes next season. Because the Thunder already was over the salary cap, OKC also wasn’t in a position of strength. It was either re-sign Singler at a slightly higher rate, or let him walk and gamble on finding a suitable replacement with only the $3.3 million taxpayer exception available.”
A league executive in this Baxter Holmes piece on the Lakers: “They just need one big guy to go there, and the rest will follow. I expect [Russell] Westbrook and [James] Harden to join forces there when they become free. It definitely still has allure. It’s still L.A., and they are still the Lakers. No free agent can question whether or not they will spend the money to win titles.”
