We could be able to get rid of Wallace's contract for another overpaid player, I don't see us getting by with just dangling that 28th pick, unless a team REALLY wants a player that's available at that point.
The Sixers took on a year and a half of Javale McGee's salary, who makes $2 million more than Wallace next year, only to release him days later, for a 1st that was top 18 protected this year and top 15 protected the next two years OKC. I think 28 is much closer to the cost of dumping Wallace than is 16.
Two things
1) it's the Sixers they love picks more than actually winning...
2) that is a first round pick ranging from outside the lottery but not limited to late first round
Idc if it's the 16th of the 28th... we should look to improve our talent level, even over missing out on a stud and at THAT draft range only two come to mind (Justin Anderson and Robert Upshaw) and maybe even Pat Cannaughton in the second round... obviously first priority should be moving up, but if not possible... move those picks around for at least a starter quality guy.
Not quite sure what you're saying. The argument is the Sixers would probably be willing to take Wallace for 28, maybe plus a second round pick. This argument comes from the fact the Sixers took a heavily protected pick for paying Javale McGee more money than they would have to pay Wallace, and considered McGee worthless enough to just release. #16 guaranteed is clearly more valuable than top 15 protected, since the best it can be is 16. So the next pick down is 28. That's less than a top 15 protected pick, but not by much, since the Thunder could very easily finish with a pick in the 25-30 range next year. On the other hand, if the Thunder miss the playoffs the next two years (possible if injuries occur again), that pick becomes two second rounders in the distant future, which is far less valuable than a late first today. And again, considering McGee's contract cost more than Wallace's, it should cost less to get rid of Wallace.
Nothing else you're saying sounds relevant towards the discussion of clearing salary to sign a second max player, but again, maybe I'm misunderstanding.