The NBA’s 2020 offseason is unlike any the league has ever experienced. There’s plenty of uncertainty and no certain idea as to when the league will return. For this year’s class of pending free agents — the Thunder’s Danilo Gallinari among them — these are some especially anxious times.
Aside from the potential trading of Chris Paul and the team’s next head coach, Gallinari’s free agency has become one of the most talked-about subjects involving the team. The 32-year-old sharpshooter is coming off of a productive season in which he was a vital cog in Billy Donovan’s rotation. The team overachieved and, as a result, the perception with Gallinari is that he can continue to be a difference-maker.
He made some news when he tweeted out a photo of himself in the jerseys of a few of his prior teams, as well as his being quoted as saying that he wanted to join a contender because he’s no longer a spring chicken. But for those who took those comments as Gallinari tipping his hand and punching his ticket out of town, guess again. The Italian sharpshooter joined HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto on a recent episode of The HoopsHype podcast and addresses a number of topics with Scotto, perhaps most notable was the fact that Gallo says that he would love to return to the club.
On whether he would consider returning next year, Gallinari told Scotto the following:
I would consider it for sure. I think as a player when you have such a great time with the team, and you go through what we’ve been through this season living this amazing miracle season, of course, I’d love to run it back and spend some more time in OKC. When you have this winning season, you always want to be on a winning team, and so, of course, I’d consider it… I thought Sam [Presti] did a great job of building that team and also being on the same page as the players. He’s a guy that you can talk to him every day, and he was a guy that was very honest with me since the beginning of the season. I have a great relationship with him too.
Obviously, Gallinari might just be being diplomatic here, as at 32 years old, he is probably looking at his final opportunity to sign a long-term contract to add to his $115 million career earnings.
As we’ve seen with players in similar situations, the decision as to where to sign is usually a two-way consideration in which finances and the opportunity to win are both weighed. The Miami Heat were all in on trying to acquire Gallinari at the trade deadline, so it stands to reason that Pat Riley’s team might be after Gallo again this offseason.
Similarly, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers each could have used some additional firepower this past postseason, so it stands to reason that Gallinari will have a big decision on his hands.
During the interview, he also told Scotto that he’s planning on weighing everything in his free agency, and also suggested that he’s going to enjoy the process of being able to choose where he’ll play.
Apparently, though, Oklahoma City — perhaps thanks mostly due to Sam Presti and Chris Paul — isn’t out of the race.