Ranking the Top 5 Free Agents for OKC Thunder to Pursue During 2015 Offseason

As disappointing as this year has been for the Oklahoma City Thunder, they will still enter next season as title favorites. They have a roster capable of winning it all (when healthy), and general manager Sam Presti only needs to make minor moves to subtly improve the cohesiveness of the team.

Between the constrained cap room and limited roster space, Presti will only be able to pursue one or two free agents. Enes Kanter is the No. 1 priority for reasons explained later in the slideshow. After that, Presti will need to choose between a shooting guard and a backup small forward. Ideally, he'll be able to sign a player than can cover both of those areas, and a few of those options are presented here.

On the surface, it looks like Presti should be trying to sign a shooting guard above all else. The position has been a weakness for OKC since Kevin Martin’s departure, and a backup SF will only play limited minutes. When you consider the money Presti has at his disposal, however, it’s unlikely the Thunder can bring in a 2-guard who’s a clear upgrade over the motley crew at the position.

For this reason, three of the names on the list are options to back up Kevin Durant. It’s imperative OKC improves this spot on its depth chart to keep Durant fresh. Whichever route Presti takes, here are five of the names he’s sure to explore.

5. Kyle Singler, SF

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

If the Thunder re-sign Singler, they’re betting on a return to form. Based on what we’ve seen from Singler over his career, he should be a solid backup and a good fit for this roster. He brings intelligence, good passing, adequate defense and knockdown shooting to the table. Strangely, the last part of the equation has been nonexistent since his relocation to OKC.

His three-point stroke is slowly improving, but he’s shooting a woeful 31.4 percent from the field and has yet to score more than eight points in a game despite averaging 18 minutes over 19 games in a Thunder jersey (as of publication).

OKC will need to be confident his current performance is just a slump, but Singler knows his teammates and the system, so he’s not a bad option if he regains his shot.

4. Alan Anderson, SG

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Of all the realistic options at shooting guard, Alan Anderson is the safest bet to give OKC what it needs: a 2-guard who isn’t a liability on one end of the floor. Unfortunately, Anderson is a perfect example of why Presti should be focused on getting the best bang for his buck at small forward instead of addressing the team’s biggest need (shooting guard). Anderson is capable of switching between both the 2 and the 3, potentially fixing both of needs with one signing, but his ceiling is limited.

Anderson could just as easily give the Thunder mediocrity on both ends of the floor and not move the needle for them. He has a reputation as a solid wing defender, but he will be 33 by the start of next season. Being on the wrong side of 30 isn’t usually a good sign for players tasked to check the best opposing perimeter threat.

On offense, he’s a 34 percent three-point shooter for his career. While that figure is better than other OKC shooting guards (Dion Waiters: 32 percent; Andre Roberson: 24 percent), it’s still not the clip of an elite perimeter shooter.

With their limited cap space, the Thunder won’t be able to get a legit three-and-D player, so they’re better off addressing the shooting guard position by trade or waiting for next year.

3. Mike Dunleavy Jr., SF

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Think of Mike Dunleavy Jr. as a slightly richer man’s Kyle Singler. Singler has the edge on defense, but Dunleavy holds the advantage in the other facets of the game. He’s a good passer and is a killer from beyond the arc. Dunleavy has connected on 38 percent of his threes over his career and a blistering 40 percent over the last five seasons.

Dunleavy has been solid in the Chicago Bulls’ conservative defensive scheme, but that probably won’t translate to the Thunder’s aggressive and athletic approach. Head coach Scott Brooks could find a way to cover for Dunleavy with his rotations (e.g. playing him alongside Roberson and Serge Ibaka), but he could become another one-way perimeter player.

As with Alan Anderson, age is a concern for Dunleavy. He’ll be 35 by the start of next season, so OKC would need to sign him to a short-term deal of no more than two seasons. If they can reach an agreement, Dunleavy instantly becomes a major upgrade over the other options (Perry Jones and Steve Novak) and a needed floor-spacer for the postseason.

2. Jared Dudley, G/F

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

The biggest obstacle in any Jared Dudley negotiations will be money. He’s currently making $4.25 million, which is more than OKC will be able to afford (approximately $3.3 million according to Larry Coon of the CBA FAQ). The host of better three-and-D options on the market (like Wesley Matthews, Danny Green and Khris Middleton) may depress Dudley's next contract, but with the cap about to jump in 2016, Dudley will probably have offers for at least $5 million per year. Furthermore, it’s possible he’s not even on the market at all this offseason since he needs to opt out of his current contract.

If he does enter free agency, Dudley should be high on Presti’s list. He’s a quality two-way player, but his versatility is another appealing trait. He has spent time at the 2, 3 and 4 in recent seasons, so he can address both of the Thunder’s biggest needs. They can go with a big starting lineup and Dudley at the 2, or they can bring Dudley off the bench as Durant’s backup. He can also be used as a stretch 4 in small-ball lineups.

As a 40 percent three-point shooter for his career, Dudley is the best two-way option OKC has a chance of signing, but it may take a financial sacrifice on his part to join the Thunder.

1. Enes Kanter, C

Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images

Kanter is No. 1 on this list for two reasons. First, he’s been a revelation in OKC. He flashed this kind of talent for the Utah Jazz, but he’s been a consistent offensive force for the Thunder. He has fit in extremely well with his new teammates, and he gives the offense a low-post threat for the first time in franchise history averaging 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds on 56 percent shooting. The Thunder only have six 20-10 games from their center in franchise history, and all have been recorded by Kanter. The defensive shortcomings are a valid concern, but his offensive skill set is too good to pass up. 

The second reason is the result of the NBA's salary-cap rules. Because the Thunder hold Kanter’s Bird rights, they can exceed the cap to re-sign him. Since Kanter is a restricted free agent, OKC also has the right to match any offer sheet he signs. This basically means that the Thunder’s limited cap space doesn’t apply to the Kanter negotiations.

OKC has a minuscule amount of cap space to sign other teams’ free agents, but it can splurge on Kanter’s contract. In essence, Kanter is the only “big fish” the Thunder can physically sign. If they let him walk, they won’t be able to bring in a comparative talent, so it would be a huge loss for the team.

While salary cap rules allow for Kanter to remain in OKC, ownership would need to sign off on paying the luxury tax. Though this has been an issue in the past, their recent moves (like acquiring Dion Waiters and Kanter) suggest they may have changed their stance. As long as the Thunder are willing to pay the tax, they should push hard to keep Kanter in town.

All statistics are accurate as of March 31 and are courtesy of Basketball-Reference unless otherwise noted.