Official NBA General Discussion 2024-25 V2.0

[Tripod]

And let's be honest, they could trade JWill if they want if another young guy comes along. Or go with 2 big contracts and funnel thru the young underpaid guys until they need big deal...like Wallace.

[MiamiSPX]

Being a small market team will not stop them from spending money in the luxary tax if and when they win a championship. They are about to go on a Golden State Warriors run. In 2010, the Golden State Warriors were placed 15th on Forbes's annual valuations and this year they are the most valuable NBA franchise at about $10 Billion and thats because of winning and was built around Steph Curry the same way OKC is built around SGA. They just spent a quarter billion dollars on an old Jimmy Butler just to sell the fans some hope.

GS is also in a very wealthy area, in a State whose economy is bigger than that of Canada. There is a waiting list for their mid level private suites, which run 1M annually. That is no problem there with all that VC money, being so close to Silicon Valley. They are also one of very few teams (along with the Raptors) that sell PSLs. That market can literally invent new ways to siphon more money from their fans and it will likely be successful.

OK is one of the poorest States in the entre country. We know Clay Bennett has cheaped out before, are we really going to bet on him going into the luxury tax multiple times? I highly doubt it, I just don't think that market can support it.

This new CBA was designed to prevent extended dynasties. The Celtics were going to make changes even if they won again.

[tsherkin]

If and when they cheap out on the core like they did with Harden back in the day, that's when the door opens. But speaking at how incredible the Presti run has been, they have another year before their 2nd and 3rd best players are off their rookie contracts. Assuming they'd pay the tax for at least 2 years like most teams have, that's at minimum 4 years away for us. They may not even have to hit the tax in that 2nd year with SGAs deal re-up not hitting until 2027.

After watching what they've done over the past decade and a half, I can't imagine Shai not trusting them to do it again, even if the owners don't keep everyone they have now together.

[Raptors_Dynasty]

Mobley 2nd team??????????????

HUHH??

[Scizzup]

Mobley 2nd team??????????????

HUHH??

He had a great season, probably should have been 3rd team instead of 2nd but players like KD/Sabonis/Wemby/AD etc all were ineligible.

Team record also don't hurt. but yea, Mobley was all nba level this year.

[mdenny]

Its not happening. OKC has a potential Dynasty on their hands. They have the 2nd youngest team in the NBA and the most future draft capital in the league. Being a small market team will not stop them from spending money in the luxary tax if and when they win a championship. They are about to go on a Golden State Warriors run. In 2010, the Golden State Warriors were placed 15th on Forbes's annual valuations and this year they are the most valuable NBA franchise at about $10 Billion and thats because of winning and was built around Steph Curry the same way OKC is built around SGA. They just spent a quarter billion dollars on an old Jimmy Butler just to sell the fans some hope.

Shai is not gonna leave that situation, leave $100 million dollars on the table, increase his income taxes, lose his sponsorship deals that would prefer him playing in USA which is why Kawhi played in LA (New Balance) and ruin his potential to be listed as one of the games all time goats just to play at home. Maybe after the dynasty we could see him entertain the idea but not while he is in his prime.

Yeah, as much as I'd love to have Shai here, he has exactly no reason at all to come here instead of remaining on an amazing team in OKC which is presently contending very seriously, and can pay him more. Doesn't make any sense at all, hometown or not.

If and when they cheap out on the core like they did with Harden back in the day, that's when the door opens. But speaking at how incredible the Presti run has been, they have another year before their 2nd and 3rd best players are off their rookie contracts. Assuming they'd pay the tax for at least 2 years like most teams have, that's at minimum 4 years away for us. They may not even have to hit the tax in that 2nd year with SGAs deal re-up not hitting until 2027.

Only the Warriors with the bargain Curry contract and the exploding cap at the right time had a bigger runway. Unless your counting the old voluntary Duncan Spurs pay cuts, which I don't think is happening again in this era.

I'm not as high on okc future. They can run back the same team next season but after that it gets dicey. They'll have 3 max contracts equalling approx 130 million. So even after losing Dort, IH and caruso (half of their current 6 man rotation) they are still gonna be in the lux tax. Then the supermax kicks in for SGA the season after that.

I think most would agree that OKC would already be eliminated without dort/IH/caruso. And it's not like they'll be in a position to replace those guys with quality starters.

The idea of "filling out your roster with rookie contracts" has never been a formula for success. The role players on a chip team need to be high IQ vets (like they have now).

Their team is defined by their depth....and they only have one more season as a depth team. But hey....they could win two chips before the party is over so it's all worth it.

We've kinda talked about this over and over again....but I truly believe they need to consolidate. They should look to pair SGA with another top 10 player (ie giannis). If they do that....they might be able to keep guys like dort/ih/caruso and continue to be a depth team having two max contracts instead of 3.

Their current roster is gonna be like 260 million after next season. I'm not even sure LA or NY would run a roster that expensivr.. okc? I'd be shocked if they did. The suns are the current highest roster at 220 million.

So without a consolidation trade that redistributes the roster costs....they are basically just gonna lose 3 or 4 guys from their rotation for nothing.

I'm regards to the "fill out the roster with rookie contracts" I can't think of a single example where a team won a chip with 5 or 6 rookie contracts in their rotation.

[mtcan]

Yeah, as much as I'd love to have Shai here, he has exactly no reason at all to come here instead of remaining on an amazing team in OKC which is presently contending very seriously, and can pay him more. Doesn't make any sense at all, hometown or not.

If and when they cheap out on the core like they did with Harden back in the day, that's when the door opens. But speaking at how incredible the Presti run has been, they have another year before their 2nd and 3rd best players are off their rookie contracts. Assuming they'd pay the tax for at least 2 years like most teams have, that's at minimum 4 years away for us. They may not even have to hit the tax in that 2nd year with SGAs deal re-up not hitting until 2027.

Only the Warriors with the bargain Curry contract and the exploding cap at the right time had a bigger runway. Unless your counting the old voluntary Duncan Spurs pay cuts, which I don't think is happening again in this era.

I'm not as high on okc future. They can run back the same team next season but after that it gets dicey. They'll have 3 max contracts equalling approx 130 million. So even after losing Dort, IH and caruso (half of their current 6 man rotation) they are still gonna be in the lux tax. Then the supermax kicks in for SGA the season after that.

I think most would agree that OKC would already be eliminated without dort/IH/caruso. And it's not like they'll be in a position to replace those guys with quality starters.

The idea of "filling out your roster with rookie contracts" has never been a formula for success. The role players on a chip team need to be high IQ vets (like they have now).

Their team is defined by their depth....and they only have one more season as a depth team. But hey....they could win two chips before the party is over so it's all worth it.

We've kinda talked about this over and over again....but I truly believe they need to consolidate. They should look to pair SGA with another top 10 player (ie giannis). If they do that....they might be able to keep guys like dort/ih/caruso and continue to be a depth team having two max contracts instead of 3.

Their current roster is gonna be like 230 million after next season. If it was LA or NY I could see them just paying all those penalties. But OKC? I'd be shocked if they did.

It's a seemingly never ending pipeline of young talent coming through which will allow the Thunder to keep rolling over the roster especially if the max salaries become too expensive. Any draft picks they choose not to use in a given year they can just trade for picks later on and keep rolling those over. They can move off of Lu Dort this summer since they have Cason Wallace ready to take on a bigger role and will have Nikola Topic as a rookie next season.

Ultimate roster flexibility.

Presti ultimately should give honourable mention to Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank for SGA, the pick that got them Jalen Williams. What's left from that trade is the 15th pick in this draft (from Miami), the 24th pick in this draft (swap with the Clippers) and a 2026 unprotected first round pick. Dillon Jones was taken in 2024 draft with a Clippers pick...and I have no idea who he is. Tre Mann was also taken with a Clippers pick but traded in a package for Gordon Hayward.

[Boogie!]

Michael Jordan once shot 3/18 in a playoff game scoring 22 points. He shot 16/17 from the line that game. For his career he averages more fts per game in the playoffs than this year’s foul merchant Shai. Is mj the goat considered a foul merchant? You know who else averaged a higher playoff ft/g? Kawhi in the raptors championship season.

That bull title is reserved for players that can’t get their game off otherwise. Shai will score his points efficiently even without fts. The guy is unguardsble and unstoppable just like any other superstar and therefore will get fouled. Give this man his respect. This is the same fan base that gets mad that Barnes doesn’t get enough foul calls for driving erratically to the basket and makes excuses for his inefficient offense.

Game 1 - 14 Free Throws
Game 2 - 15 Free Throws

Look no one is disputing how skilled he is outside of FTs. OKC will probably win the title. The problem is watching SGA hooking defenders arms, falling to the ground on every touch or no touch, not even looking at the basket, and relying on the refs for calls. If that's what you enjoy watching, sure all the power to you. However, as Doris Burke said there's a reason why NBA twitter calls him the free throw merchant. Fans don't enjoy watching the Harden-eques foul baiting. SGA is an Unethical Hooper in the eyes of the public. Like it or not. I don't care if he's Canadian. He's making a mockery of the game.

He's made a number of And1s this series, shot 52% from the field in the regular season, and is shooting 48% now, IN THE PLAYOFFS.

Has it ever occurred to you that if guys played him straight up, without touching (remember, he is on the slimmer side), he might get 4 or 5 more FGs per game, where he is already leading the league?

Yes, he sells calls. Every star does. I find it weird that so many people are hopping on this foul merchant train. I'd like to blame it on the 24/7 social media content and news cycle, but deep down I think people latch onto narratives like zealots because they don't have their own personality.

Seriously I don’t even understand the need to make him look bad… I understand if he was inefficient otherwise… Lou will, demar, harden, Trae young, those types of guys who struggle to score efficiently in the playoffs and therefore have to cheese their way to points… again Shai is not in the same boat. Like I said he’s such an unstoppable and elite scorer and is constantly attacking the basket that by nature he will get fouled. He’s not someone that HAS to draw fouls to be efficient, he just is efficient and that’s why he commands all that attention and puts himself in position to draw fouls.

[Boogie!]

Barnes has more of a bag than siakam guys

[Boogie!]

Pacers are so balanced offensively. Siakam is cooking. I really like this pacers squad. Probably getting swept by okc but they are fun

[Duffman100]

Cade and Mobley make the all nba teams.

Barnes gotta get that chip on his shoulder and have a big year

[mdenny]

Cade and Mobley make the all nba teams.

Barnes gotta get that chip on his shoulder and have a big year

Anyone know if he's continuing with the same trainer that reportedly annoyed the team a couple summers ago?

[Boogie!]

Siakam 3/3 from the line

[tsherkin]

Cade and Mobley make the all nba teams.

Barnes gotta get that chip on his shoulder and have a big year

Will goes only so far with so many pieces missing, but maybe his new role will help foster superior production?

EDIT: And obviously the talent/healthy guys around him who will be enabling said role.

[notagenius]

Man I miss siakam

Sent from my SM-S918W using RealGM mobile app

[mdenny]

Pascal is KILLING it. Nice to see.

[Boogie!]

Pascal is KILLING it. Nice to see.

Coooooking… still no idea how people were watching and saying Barnes was better offensively. Everyone tripping.

[mdenny]

Can't help but wonder what it would've looked like if they gave our old core an iso scorer.

Fred
OG
Ingram
Siakam
Poetl

Man......a lineup like that might have clicked.

You'd have siakam's post Game. You'd have the Fred/poetl pick and roll. You'd have the Ingram clear pne side of the floor and iso game. You'd have the elite 3 and d from OG.

In retrospect....that's really what our core was missing. An extra ball handler and iso scorer. We really needed to add one skill/finesse player to that core.

[Appostis]

Series is a great time to laugh at everyone who underrated Pascal and OG while they were on the Raptors.

[mdenny]

Series is a great time to laugh at everyone who underrated Pascal and OG while they were on the Raptors.

OG had a horrible game 1. Horrible in multiple ways.