The slate of Thunder games in Oklahoma City is over and now the city gets to experience its first off-season with long term consequences. Back when I was the "HornetsCentral GM", I wrote about the off season in which the Hornets drafted Hildric Simstrong, signed Peja Stojakovic, and traded for Tyson Chandler. Analyzing those moves was simple because the length of time they mattered turned out to be one season. Now, with the Thunder in town, however, what happens could effect the product we witness in the Ford Center for years go come.
That being said, the first step of the off-season is making decisions about the players who are currently associated with the team. Some guys are entering free agency. Some guys have contract options. Others are entering the final season of their contract and could be bought out to make room for new players. For all of these players, General Manager Sam Presti will have a decision to make. For the rest of this column, I will point out what will likely go into his thought process.
Desmond Mason
Situation: Unrestricted Free Agent
When it comes to NBA basketball in OKC, Desmond Mason is the elder statesman. He has been a member of both the Hornets and the Thunder while offering mediocre play from the swingman position. Mason came into the NBA out of Oklahoma State as an uber athletic and exciting player who provided strong defense and had a developing jump shot. Unfortunately, eight years into his career, the athleticism has dissipated, the defense has become spottier, and the jump shot developed the wrong direction.
That being said, Mason may be the second most popular player on the team. His jersey flies off the shelf, fans love having him around, and the media enjoys covering his art shows. Plus, he is an excellent teammate and a respectable veteran presence among a roster loaded with young'ns. Having him around to teach the players who still have the athleticism he once possessed how to cover opposing players makes him a de facto assistant coach.