The Thunder retain Enes Kanter, as the ghost of James Harden looms over the team (Ball Don’t Lie)

You're still allowed to mock the Oklahoma City Thunder's ownership group. Just because you're aware that the team's 2012 decision to trade James Harden wasn't strictly a money-saving maneuver, that there were actual basketball merits to the move, you can still lay into them if you want. [ Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball ] The laffs started up again when Oklahoma City was basically "forced," depending on who you listen to, to match the four-year, $70 million restricted free agent offer sheet for Enes Kanter. Kanter, an offensive-minded center whom the Thunder dealt for in February, made an agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, and the Thunder used all three days to let the man dangle before matching. As such, the Thunder will now have four players making eight figures a year. Depending on how Kanter's contract is structured, they could have the highest payroll in the NBA, and they will be paying the luxury tax for the second consecutive season in 2015-16. Yes, the same tax that the team dealt Harden in a successful attempt to avoid prior to 2012-13. Here's where the ha-has come in. James Harden turned down a reported...