Oklahoma City Thunder: Grading The Offseason

Mar 22, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) congratulates Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) after a play against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

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January 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jeremy Lamb (11) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Trading Jeremy Lamb

Since the Thunder were pretty much dead set on matching any offer for Enes Kanter, this kind of salary-shedding move was necessary. The Kanter offer that OKC wound up matching put the Thunder so far into the luxury tax they’re basically shelling out $40 million on that move alone, so any salary dump became advantageous for a team that historically has ducked the tax.

It’s unfortunate that the market dried up so fast for Jeremy Lamb, a 23-year-old with a massive wingspan and potential left to be tapped. In a three-team trade with the Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies, all the Thunder netted was a conditional 2016 second round pick and Luke Ridnour (who was waived so the Thunder could save nearly $13 million).

In a perfect world, the Thunder would’ve been able to be patient with Lamb on the bench. But in the middle of this championship pursuit, shaving as much as possible off of a massive luxury tax bill was more important than whatever Lamb might have offered on the court.

Grade: C

Next: Trading Jones

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