The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Kevin Durant to a max rookie contract extension in 2010 that went into effect in the 2011-12 season, but the lockout added the Rose Rule provision that left Durant’s deal in limbo. His agent argued for the additional money, and the NBA gave it to KD. That left the Thunder paying more than expected for Durant and feeling the cap squeeze with Russell Westbrook and James Harden needing new contracts. Sam Presti ultimately traded Harden and got the additional KD money back from the owners.
Brian Windhorst gave many of the details on a recent episode of the Hoop Collective podcast. Durant was worth every penny of a max. He was already a 2x first-team All-NBA selection and finished second in MVP voting in 2010. The Thunder did not expect the additional $15 million expenditure (which was a more significant percentage of the cap in those days) and were left scrambling to balance their books.
Harden ultimately became the casualty. The trade shattered the Thunder’s Big 3, but allowed him to take over as the star in Houston. The Beard became a perennial MVP candidate and was the first domino of the Thunder’s breakup. Without all this drama, the Thunder wouldn’t have their current core, but it is impossible for fans not to wonder what could have been.
The NBA screwed the Thunder in Kevin Durant’s contract
Oklahoma City thought Durant signed a contract for 25 percent of the salary cap before the NBA boosted it to 30 percent after the 2011 lockout. Sam Presti couldn’t negotiate the number down because the deal had been signed over a year earlier. It was a rule that didn’t exist at the time that suddenly bit the Thunder.
With Westbrook on a superstar trajectory, he was also headed for 30 percent of the cap max extension. Oklahoma City suddenly had to give their two stars 60 percent instead of 50, and the savings would have created significantly more dollars for James Harden.
Fans saw the recent invention of the second apron significantly impact team decision-making in a similar way. This time, Presti was prepared for whatever the league threw his way.
The NBA admitted their mistake in the handling of the Durant contract when they paid the Thunder back the $15 million two years later, but the goose was cooked. They had already traded Harden and reconfigured their core.
Would things have been different if Durant had only gotten 25 percent of the cap? It is impossible to know. Harden wanted to be a star and have his own team. KD and Russ may have been able to convince him to stay to get a championship, but it would have been a tough sell. The three future Hall of Famers were a special group that was broken up too soon.
Oklahoma City Thunder fans are not fretting. They got their championship with a new Big 3 and have every one of them under contract for years to come. Sam Presti has a dynasty loading and has proven to be the best executive in the NBA. Kevin Durant will be back for ring night in the league’s latest twist. The Thunder were screwed by the NBA, but Presti didn’t let that stop him from getting a title.
