OKC Thunder: 3 Contracts that the Thunder need to offload this summer

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the 2018/19 season with the belief that they could compete for a first NBA title. After all, OKC had secured the long-term future of Paul George, and Sam Presti also managed to vastly improve the team's reserve unit.

Following a regular season filled with ups and downs, the Thunder finished 6th, and OKC had the fortune to avoid early postseason matchups against both Houston and Golden State. Instead, OKC faced Portland in the first-round -- a team that they had swept during the regular season.

Nevertheless, despite everything seemingly falling into place, the Thunder once again suffered a first-round exit for the third year in a row. A 4-1 series defeat to Portland demonstrated that the current roster is not good enough to compete, and Sam Presti is likely to make changes this summer.

As with recent offseasons, cap space remains an obstacle, and here we will look at three high earners that should make way.

#3 Patrick Patterson

Patrick Patterson has struggled to make any sort of impact during his two seasons in Oklahoma City

Patrick Patterson's arrival back in 2017 was heralded as an excellent piece of business by Sam Presti. The 30-year-old had impressed during his four-year spell with the Toronto Raptors, and before the addition of Carmelo Anthony, Patterson was tipped to be a starter.

However, due to the newly formed 'OK3' Patterson dropped to the reserve unit, and during his debut season, he averaged 3.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game. This was not a disastrous return, but Patterson's minutes and production plummeted during the 18/19 season.

The power forward shot just 37% from the field, and Patterson failed to get onto the court during the Thunder's first-round exit to the Trail Blazers.

Patterson has a $5,711,200 player option for the 2019/20 campaign, and due to the unlikelihood that he will get a similar deal elsewhere, he looks certain to opt in. With little cap space available, the Thunder need to do everything in their power to offload Patterson's costly deal.

#2 Steven Adams

Steven Adams struggled as the Oklahoma City Thunder were eliminated to the Portland Trail Blazers

There is no doubting that Steven Adams is still among the Thunder's most effective players, however, the 25-year-old has struggled to take his game to the next level over the past 12 months.

Despite nearly averaging a double-double for the 18/19 season, the Kiwi continues to underwhelm in crunch games. During the playoffs, Adams was expected to dominate the defensively weak Enes Kanter, although he could only average 11.8 points and 7.5 assists, as Kanter got the better of the matchup.

Adams is also yet to develop any sort of range from beyond the arc, and it appears that the Thunder overpaid when they handed Adams a four-year $100 million contract. With it still possible that the Thunder will be able to convince Nerlens Noel to stay for another year, Sam Presti should seriously consider moving his starting center on.

#1 Dennis Schroder

Schroder was traded to the Thunder during the 2018 offseason

Dennis Schroder joined the Thunder last summer as part of the deal that saw Carmelo Anthony leave after less than 12 months with the team. Upon his arrival in OKC, Schroder had spent the majority of his career as a starter, although the German has been happy to lead the reserve unit.

During the 18/19 season, Schroder averaged 15.5 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, and he was widely proclaimed by analysts as the NBA's best back-up point guard.

However, the 25-year-old is only halfway through the four-year, $70 million contract extension that he signed with the Hawks back in 2016, and this is not the kind of money that the Thunder can afford to pay to a back-up.

OKC will find it difficult to get a rival team to take on the final two years of Schroder's deal, although if Sam Presti can pull it off, the Thunder could re-invest the money on much-needed shooters.