Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 1

[BobbieL]

Wow, big time trade that puts OKC on the Western Conference Finals IMO.

Westbrook
Robertson
George
Carmelo
Adams

With solid role players coming from the bench like Patterson, Felton and Grant.

How do you automatically assume a team with talent will be in the finals, especially out west.. WCF?


That team has no bench, bad defense, bad fitting stars etc.


Westbrook has shown he is a superstar when he dominates the ball.... Melo is an ISO player... George also likes the ball in his hands...


A miracle or some sort of magic would have to happen for all 3 stars to just brush their game styles aside and play well together.

Thunder's system has always been about dominant 1 or 2 players who can dribble and be dynamic offensively... Melo is not Durant, but he could mimic his outside shooting... but Melo would have to accept this. George too likes to make plays and command the ball in his hands, as shown in the playoffs, he wants to be a closer....



I think Rockets and Spurs are still better purely due to fit... and also Clippers and Wolves may surprise people.

I am not sure about it, obviosly, but IMO that roster is the second best in the West.

I think they have great defenders everywhere...on that starting five only Melo is not one.

We will see, but with Parker, Ginobili, Aldridge and Gasol being a year older I think OKC are gonna be better than the Spurs.

The Rockets are close, is gonna be a fun season to watch.

Adams is pretty good defensive center
Roberson is a good defender on the wings
Pat Patt is a good defender in the low box

Westbrook to me is a tad overrated defensively
I think Paul George is probably an above average defender

Rockets do not play defense
Spurs did get Gay for Simmons - so that's not too bad

But I do think the Thunder - after today, again, if Melo buys into that he might need to be more role player/sixth man - meaning to me, a guy who may start the game but his big minutes will be when George &/or Westbrook are OFF the court - scoring the ball at those times - they can be pretty darn good and push the Rockets for the 2nd spot.

[BobbieL]

I thought Adams was their center.

He is, but now they have no bench depth. Especially at the Center position.

Shouldnt be that hard to find a FA backup C.

Yes agreed. They don't have any players to trade and are so far over the cap but Chandler would be a nice back up for them. Granted, again it would take something like ABrines and Singler for Chandler - not sure that does anything for the Suns except save money and help the tank

Bogut probably wishes he had waited a few days

[MrMiyagi]

I think the biggest loser out of all of this is......the Lakers.

OKC threw together a super team on the low-low. Is PG going to leave a playoff team (A contender) to go to LA and play with a bunch of youngins and most likely not sniff the playoffs for years? OKC is showing them that they are willing to make the big moves to put the best team they can together.

I think LA is also going to lose this whole "Lebron is headed to the Lakers" talk as well. With the east being the weakest it has ever been, the Cavs have a cakewalk to the ECF. Only team i see that can compete with them is Boston, and thats still a crapshoot to see how all their new pieces will click. As the same reasoning as PG, Is Lebron really going to walk away from his hometown team, a stacked team, a guaranteed conference title team, a championship contending team, to go play in LA with......Ball? Maybe.....just MAYBE if George did decide to leave OKC for LA Lebron might think about it, but i think there is just a very very very small cahnce of that.

Lakers were rumored to be the next home of a few of the top players in the game, and i think now the chance have become really really really low.

You mean, you don't believe in LaVar Ball's prophecy? He spoke Lakers in the playoffs this season into existence, just like he spoke Lonzo getting drafted by the Lakers.

[Kerrsed]

I think the biggest loser out of all of this is......the Lakers.

OKC threw together a super team on the low-low. Is PG going to leave a playoff team (A contender) to go to LA and play with a bunch of youngins and most likely not sniff the playoffs for years? OKC is showing them that they are willing to make the big moves to put the best team they can together.

I think LA is also going to lose this whole "Lebron is headed to the Lakers" talk as well. With the east being the weakest it has ever been, the Cavs have a cakewalk to the ECF. Only team i see that can compete with them is Boston, and thats still a crapshoot to see how all their new pieces will click. As the same reasoning as PG, Is Lebron really going to walk away from his hometown team, a stacked team, a guaranteed conference title team, a championship contending team, to go play in LA with......Ball? Maybe.....just MAYBE if George did decide to leave OKC for LA Lebron might think about it, but i think there is just a very very very small cahnce of that.

Lakers were rumored to be the next home of a few of the top players in the game, and i think now the chance have become really really really low.

You mean, you don't believe in LaVar Ball's prophecy? He spoke Lakers in the playoffs this season into existence, just like he spoke Lonzo getting drafted by the Lakers.

When your son is the #2 ranked player in the draft, its not a prophecy to assert that he will go to the team with the 2nd worst record in the league and coincidentally the #2 pick in the draft, specially after you have had multiple conversations with that teams GM. I wouldnt call that prophecy, i call that Magic Johnson.

[kennydorglas]

Pretty impressive move by Presti. Unloading two bad contracts for George and Melo.
Whew.

[MrMiyagi]

I think the biggest loser out of all of this is......the Lakers.

OKC threw together a super team on the low-low. Is PG going to leave a playoff team (A contender) to go to LA and play with a bunch of youngins and most likely not sniff the playoffs for years? OKC is showing them that they are willing to make the big moves to put the best team they can together.

I think LA is also going to lose this whole "Lebron is headed to the Lakers" talk as well. With the east being the weakest it has ever been, the Cavs have a cakewalk to the ECF. Only team i see that can compete with them is Boston, and thats still a crapshoot to see how all their new pieces will click. As the same reasoning as PG, Is Lebron really going to walk away from his hometown team, a stacked team, a guaranteed conference title team, a championship contending team, to go play in LA with......Ball? Maybe.....just MAYBE if George did decide to leave OKC for LA Lebron might think about it, but i think there is just a very very very small cahnce of that.

Lakers were rumored to be the next home of a few of the top players in the game, and i think now the chance have become really really really low.

You mean, you don't believe in LaVar Ball's prophecy? He spoke Lakers in the playoffs this season into existence, just like he spoke Lonzo getting drafted by the Lakers.

When your son is the #2 ranked player in the draft, its not a prophecy to assert that he will go to the team with the 2nd worst record in the league and coincidentally the #2 pick in the draft, specially after you have had multiple conversations with that teams GM. I wouldnt call that prophecy, i call that Magic Johnson.

You doubting my ability to prophecize, Kerrsed? I prophecize no championships for you in Fantasy this year. See if you doubt me again.

[King4Day]

Credit to Presti for softening the loss of KD. OKC will still feel it but adding George and Melo while not losing anyone significant makes them a serious threat.
They prob won't win and maybe some/all guys leave soon, but at least the fans have something to root for.
Imagine a KD/OKC WCF? And imagine the Thunder somehow upset them and won it all without him? god that would be f'n amazing. If that happend, and I was OKC's brass, I would make it absolutely known that Westbrook is the best player in OKC history. Even if it's not true, he stayed and he would have led them to a title.

Also, If they have a solid year, and I'm George, how do you not consider returning to OKC next year?

[suns91fan]

Credit to Presti for softening the loss of KD. OKC will still feel it but adding George and Melo while not losing anyone significant makes them a serious threat.
They prob won't win and maybe some/all guys leave soon, but at least the fans have something to root for.
Imagine a KD/OKC WCF? And imagine the Thunder somehow upset them and won it all without him? god that would be f'n amazing. If that happend, and I was OKC's brass, I would make it absolutely known that Westbrook is the best player in OKC history. Even if it's not true, he stayed and he would have led them to a title.

Also, If they have a solid year, and I'm George, how do you not consider returning to OKC next year?

He wants to be in LA too much. He even said he won't resign with anyone but Lakers. I mean, he waited for so long to become an UFA, he isn't going to let this opportunity slip by. Next time he gets the opportunity like this, he probably won't be as wanted as he is now and Lakers might not be an option at that time. This is a one time opportunity for him to choose his team, he won't miss it. With him leaving the Thunder, a believe Melo will trigger his ETA (this trade was never what he preferred, he only allowed it so he won't have to be on the Knicks yet another season), leaving Westbrook alone on the team. And then it's Westbrook choosing between loyalty and winning. I believe it will be a really tough decision for him, but he'll choose to leave as well.

[Mulhollanddrive]

Any update on how long Williams is expected to miss? Read he's having surgery tomorrow.

As long as Booker and Jackson stay healthy our overall plan stays in tact even with 5 lengthy injuries.

[Bogyo]

Kick in the nuts for KD. That's actually a pretty solid team, even in the West. They go 8 (9?) deep with Felton at point, Patterson at PF, Singler and Abrines at 2/3, Grant at 3/4, plus Dakari Johnson who I really liked as a sleeper (he was all rookie team and all star in the G league last year, he could have some nice moments behing Adams). I'm pretty sure they can pick up 1-2 vet min contracts to round out the roster (although I m not sure who is unsigned that they could use).

They would need a coach to make it work, and some deflaiton of egos, which will be hard to achieve I think, especially with Paul already thinking about LA next summer. Depending on these I can see them anywhere between 2 and 5 in the West, although 5 would be a dissapointment and a surefire implosion come summertime.

[Hesh]

who knows, dragic might have a chance to make the all star team

[carey]

Kick in the nuts for KD. That's actually a pretty solid team, even in the West. They go 8 (9?) deep with Felton at point, Patterson at PF, Singler and Abrines at 2/3, Grant at 3/4, plus Dakari Johnson who I really liked as a sleeper (he was all rookie team and all star in the G league last year, he could have some nice moments behing Adams). I'm pretty sure they can pick up 1-2 vet min contracts to round out the roster (although I m not sure who is unsigned that they could use).

They would need a coach to make it work, and some deflaiton of egos, which will be hard to achieve I think, especially with Paul already thinking about LA next summer. Depending on these I can see them anywhere between 2 and 5 in the West, although 5 would be a dissapointment and a surefire implosion come summertime.

I think it's hilarious they traded Harden because they refused to pay the luxury tax and now they are paying it for PG and an old-ass Melo. You can't tell me Russ, KD and Harden isn't the better team.

[carey]

I think the biggest loser out of all of this is......the Lakers.

I think LA is also going to lose this whole "Lebron is headed to the Lakers" talk as well. With the east being the weakest it has ever been, the Cavs have a cakewalk to the ECF. Only team i see that can compete with them is Boston, and thats still a crapshoot to see how all their new pieces will click. As the same reasoning as PG, Is Lebron really going to walk away from his hometown team, a stacked team, a guaranteed conference title team, a championship contending team, to go play in LA with......Ball? Maybe.....just MAYBE if George did decide to leave OKC for LA Lebron might think about it, but i think there is just a very very very small cahnce of that.

Interesting. So you don't put anything into the fact that James was out in Los Angeles looking at high schools for his kids recently and already owns property there?

[Qwigglez]

I think the biggest loser out of all of this is......the Lakers.

I think LA is also going to lose this whole "Lebron is headed to the Lakers" talk as well. With the east being the weakest it has ever been, the Cavs have a cakewalk to the ECF. Only team i see that can compete with them is Boston, and thats still a crapshoot to see how all their new pieces will click. As the same reasoning as PG, Is Lebron really going to walk away from his hometown team, a stacked team, a guaranteed conference title team, a championship contending team, to go play in LA with......Ball? Maybe.....just MAYBE if George did decide to leave OKC for LA Lebron might think about it, but i think there is just a very very very small cahnce of that.

Interesting. So you don't put anything into the fact that James was out in Los Angeles looking at high schools for his kids recently and already owns property there?

Owning property in LA isn't that huge. I imagine a lot of celebs and athletes own something there. Clippers should have enough money to go for Lebron too.

[BobbieL]

Kick in the nuts for KD. That's actually a pretty solid team, even in the West. They go 8 (9?) deep with Felton at point, Patterson at PF, Singler and Abrines at 2/3, Grant at 3/4, plus Dakari Johnson who I really liked as a sleeper (he was all rookie team and all star in the G league last year, he could have some nice moments behing Adams). I'm pretty sure they can pick up 1-2 vet min contracts to round out the roster (although I m not sure who is unsigned that they could use).

They would need a coach to make it work, and some deflaiton of egos, which will be hard to achieve I think, especially with Paul already thinking about LA next summer. Depending on these I can see them anywhere between 2 and 5 in the West, although 5 would be a dissapointment and a surefire implosion come summertime.

I think it's hilarious they traded Harden because they refused to pay the luxury tax and now they are paying it for PG and an old-ass Melo. You can't tell me Russ, KD and Harden isn't the better team.

its all timing and what not. but the owner is probably thinking the same thing

if sarver had been willing to pay a bit of luxury tax - would have kept kurt Thomas and had one helluva team

if sarver weren't concerned with saving money from the ben Wallace /shaq deal - rumor was the Suns could have got Tyson chandler that year. and Tyson chandler on that team - whatever year it was - would have meant a finals appearance - I am convinced, was it 2010 - WCF against the Lakers

but I am sure there are more than a few OKC fans who thought the same thing

[Saberestar]

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[King4Day]

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didn't think he'd get that much. Wonder if the 2nd year is guaranteed.

[King4Day]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20809443/dwyane-wade-chicago-bulls-agree-contract-buyout

Wade gives back 8 mil for the buyout.
I'm sure he'll end up in Cleveland but would be cool to see him go to OKC.