Why OKC Thunder Do This Trade
With the OKC Thunder not looking to contend during the upcoming season, there is room to shuffle around the supporting cast around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to gain additional assets.
In this NBA trade scenario, both Derrick Favors and DeAndre Jordan each have nearly identical contracts. There is two-years remaining on each players’ current deal and just $100K separates Jordan’s earnings in 2020-21 compared to Favors.
The main difference between Favors’ deal is that he has a $10.2 player option for 2022-23 while Jordan has just a regular salary worth $9.8 million. There is little reason for Favors not to pick up that option, so it’s a similar end result from a financial standpoint.
The benefit for the Thunder would be the addition of another asset in the 2022 NBA Draft in the form of a second round selection from the Brooklyn Nets.
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Perhaps Jordan would be more willing to take a buyout than Favors given the difference in impact at this stage of their careers. Reducing the 2022-23 salary in a potential agreement could be a real benefit in addition to using the 2021-22 total to reach the salary cap floor.
