Kyle Singler's Contract Leaves Oklahoma City Thunder Without Wiggle Room

With a deep roster and limited cap space, the Oklahoma City Thunder weren't going to be major players in free agency to begin with. Now, with the re-signing of Kyle Singler and the potential return of Enes Kanter, the team has virtually no wiggle room to make any other moves. 

The Thunder wasted little time extending Singler, as the two sides agreed upon a five-year pact worth nearly $25 million on the first day of negotiations, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. In 26 games with OKC, the 27-year-old averaged 3.7 points and shot 33.3 percent from the field, including 37 percent from downtown. 

Despite the paltry numbers, Thunder general manager Sam Presti explained in May why he would like to have Singler back, per Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman: "With regards to Singler, finding a player in free agency that can shoot close to 40 percent from the three-point line over the course of a season, embrace various roles and stand as one of your more fundamental players at 6'9" is unlikely when over the cap and tax."

While re-signing Singler addresses the need for depth at small forward, it also removes any roster flexibility the team might have had. Once his deal becomes official, the Thunder will have 13 players under contract. When you throw in Kanter, a restricted free agent the club considers a top priority, and first-round pick Cameron Payne, OKC will be at full capacity. 

According to Daily Thunder's Royce Young, Singler's 2015-16 salary will push OKC's payroll to roughly $82 million. Assuming Kanter gets the max deal he reportedly seeks or something close to it, the club will likely exceed the estimated $85.6 million luxury-tax apron. So while the offseason is ongoing for some teams, the Thunder's summer is essentially over. 

Did the Thunder Jump on Singler Too Soon?

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The downside to getting Singler under contract is it took OKC off the market before free agency officially started. Even with limited financial resources, wouldn't it have been worthwhile for the team to take a look at what's out there before committing to Singler? Why the rush to lock up a player who didn't make much of an impact last season?

According to Young, the number of potential suitors played a role in Presti acting quickly: "Singler drew quite a bit of interest from other teams, which added incentive for the Thunder to get a deal done directly with him so as to remove the danger of a high-level offer sheet tempting him."

Still, the push to add Singler is a bit peculiar, especially when you consider this quote from Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman on the forward's potential role next season: "Singler is Durant’s backup, but in truth, [Anthony] Morrow, [Dion] Waiters and [DJ] Augustin figure to get more playing time. Unless Donovan banishes Andre Roberson, there's no reason to think Singler will rise above 11th in Thunder minutes played.

While most of the marquee free agents are off the board, there were plenty of players available who could have filled Singler's spot for cheap.

Like Singler, Luke Babbitt is a 6'9" forward who also embraced various roles—in this case with the New Orleans Pelicans—and shot a decent percentage from behind the arc. In fact, Babbitt converted a league-leading 51.3 percent from deep, and he has a connection with new Thunder assistant Monty Williams from their time together in the Big Easy. 

What about Caron Butler, who shot 37.9 percent from behind the arc with the Detroit Pistons last year? He has a prior history in OKC and is the kind of experienced veteran who could come in handy during an extended playoff run. 

By forgoing those alternatives to tab Singler, the pressure is on the Duke forward to make up for last season's underwhelming campaign. If he can thrive as a three-and-D guy, his $25 million deal will look like a steal, especially with the cap expected to spike in future years and other role players such as Al-Farouq Aminu (four years, $30 million) nabbing more lucrative deals.

If he falters, you'll have to wonder what could have been if the Thunder had waited a little while longer for something else to open up. 

Remaining Options

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In order for the Thunder to remain active this summer, they will have to make a deal or two to open up some roster space.

Prior to the draft, Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reported the team was looking to move Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones and Steve Novak in an attempt to trim some payroll. Of the trio, Lamb is the only one who has found a new home, as he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets on draft night for Luke Ridnour (later dealt to the Toronto Raptors) and a second-round pick. 

Unfortunately, Jones and Novak may be a bit harder to relocate. Like Lamb, Jones (owed $2 million next season) is just 23 years old and struggled to find a role under former Thunder coach Scott Brooks. The 6'11" forward has logged just 11.7 minutes per game during his three-year career. Injuries, inconsistency and the lack of a concrete position have all been factors in PJ3's lack of playing time. 

Meanwhile, Novak is a 32-year-old floor-spacing forward who doesn't do much except shoot threes. Even with a career 43 percent mark from behind the arc, which ranks ninth all-time, it's hard to justify paying $3.75 million for a big man who has never averaged more than two rebounds per game in a single season and struggles to defend his position. 

If the Thunder can somehow find a deal for Jones and/or Novak, the team could go in a couple of different directions.

It could sign 2014 first-round pick Josh Huestis, who signed a D-League contract last summer as basketball's first domestic draft-and-stash prospect, to an NBA deal. However, the Stanford product may need more time to develop. In 44 games with the Oklahoma City Blue, he averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 boards in 33.1 minutes while shooting 37.2 percent from the field and just 31.6 percent from three, per RealGM.

Presti could also go shopping in the free-agency bargain bin via the taxpayer mid-level exception. That would allow the franchise to spend up to $3.3 million on a capable veteran. It could add some size with someone such as Jason Smith or bring in more competition on the wing with a shooter such as Dorell Wright. 

The problem with that is the club's crowded roster will make playing time hard to come by. Even on a potential championship contender, how many veterans are lining up to spend the 2015-16 season at the end of the bench?

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The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the offseason with few needs and even fewer available roster spots. With the core of the team already established, all Presti had to do was put the finishing touches on a potential championship contender. 

However, even though Singler's deal won't cost the club much in the long run, the decision to lock him up early precludes the franchise from making other moves. That puts pressure on Singler to deliver a worthwhile return on the team's investment.