Why Ersan Ilyasova could come in and potentially start for the Thunder

As the Kevin Durant decision was looming, the prospect of the Thunder clogging up its roster with another salary was as well.

The salary in question belonged to Ersan Ilyasova. Widely viewed as the third piece in the Thunder's draft day deal with Orlando which sent Serge Ibaka to the Magic, Ilyasova came with an $8.4 million price tag.

That is if the Thunder elected to keep him on the roster past July 1. All OKC had to do was waive Ilyasova and pay $400,000 and he was off the books.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti insisted that wouldn't happen. It didn't.