OKC Thunder General Manager, Sam Presti enters this season on what he calls a mission to reload and replenish the team. Yet, while the focus will be on Presti’s R and R initiative there is also a clear objective to get the team out from under the luxury tax.
For four of the last five seasons, the Thunder have paid the price of being a perennial playoff team in the West and retaining superstars. As the second smallest market in the Association paying into the luxury tax is only sustainable if your assets are consistently getting the team deep into the playoffs and even then consistently doing so becomes prohibitive as the price increases if in that range for consecutive seasons.