Namely, the Thunder are looking to offload veterans Chris Paul and Steven Adams. Paul’s remaining contract (three years, $124 million) makes him a tough sell, but the team is also running into issues in trade talks for Adams. According to Heavy.com, the Thunder are reportedly seeking a draft pick, a young player and salary relief for the veteran center, which is apparently too much.
“They set the price too high,” a league executive said. “That’s what you’d expect and maybe it will drop as the year goes on. It’s tough to take on his contract (two years, $53 million remaining) and give up picks and players.
“Most teams are pretty well set at the center spot now, you have a big guy and you have your small lineup. You can’t just take on a contract like that. There isn’t a big number of teams who could take him.”
That “big guy … small lineup” remark is spot-on regarding the 7-foot Adams, an old-school center who is a good inside scorer and rebounder (13.9 points, 9.5 rebounds per game) but can’t stretch the floor like the modern NBA demands. Adams has never hit a 3-point shot in his six-season career.
