According to The Athletic, the Suns have signed a five-year, $50 million contract with former Bucks head coach Budenholzer, and Suns owner Ishbia has announced that they will continue to keep the existing Big Three next season and continue to chase the championship. In this way, the Thunder's plan to sign Durant back in the offseason may fall through!
Durant
However, although Durant cannot be signed back in the offseason, there are many big fish in the free market this offseason, including Paul George, Harden and other superstars. There are also big centers such as Wallan who the Thunder need very much, but among these people, the most suitable player for the Thunder's current lineup is none other than James Harden, compared to the overlap between Durant and Alexander, Harden seems to be more perfect for the Thunder point guard.
Harden
The current starting point guard of the Thunder is Josh Giddey, the No. 6 pick in 20, although Giddey is very potential, and his vision as a point guard is also very good, but Giddey's poor projection weakness has been infinitely magnified in the playoffs, and it has hurt the team very much, and Giddey has averaged only 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game so far in the playoffs. And Giddey rejected the Thunder's offer of $60 million for four years during the regular season, and he insisted on asking the Thunder management for a four-year, $160 million contract with a maximum salary, which was unacceptable to the Thunder.
Gideon
And Harden is almost 35 years old! But his rich playoff experience is very much needed by the young Thunder, and he still averaged 22 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists per game in the playoffs this season, which also proves that he still has good scoring ability, not to mention organizational ability, the top in the league! And signing Harden does not need 160 million for 4 years, the Thunder can free up about $30 million in salary space to sign a 3-year $100 million contract with Harden after the expiration of Hyva's $31.5 million contract next season! In this way, will the lineup of Harden + Alexander + Jay + Dort + Holmgren be very competitive next season?
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