Offseason Signing (6th Man)

[sonictecture]

Sefolosha is coming off perhaps his finest season with the Thunder and his value is clear alongside Durant and Westbrook. The organization has always appreciated Sefolosha. Hopefully Presti will be able to retain him rather than looking for a replacement, but if a replacement is necessary, then Liggins seems the more natural candidate.

Presti wants to give Brooks the ability to match up or create mismatches against any team, but starting Jackson makes the Thunder backcourt small. History shows Presti wants to create physical advantages not disadvantages. Perhaps Jackson could finish games if the match ups were in the Thunder favor.

Jackson's development could reduce the pressure if Martin is not retained or should allow the team to improve from within if Martin remains.

In typical Presti fashion he isn't going to rely on just one potential solution for the sixth man role next season and beyond.

[Thunderhead]

Thabo's price tag is gonna get expensive, Zach Lowe, The New Age Battiers


http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9225802/players-shane-battier-harder-find-conventional-wisdom-suggests

[RunOKC]

2013 Salary
$66,119,439

Amnesty Perk and we're at 58M

Nice amount to get a nice player. Then we can sign Daniel Orton/Liggins to the minimum to fill our roster out (And Toronto Pick)

[sonictecture]

It doesn't seem a very Presti move to ask ownership to pay nearly $16M to get rid of Perkins so Presti can try and find a better solution with the MLE in free agency. (Presti would only have the MLE because OKC is still over the salary cap even if Perkins is amnestied.)

Perkins is an expensive and limited role player, but the role he plays is an important one to team success. While it's hard to believe that Presti wouldn't like to upgrade the position, history says he'll show patience in finding the best solution. I'd rather overpay Perkins next year than roll with Thabeet and Orton in the playoffs.

I believe Presti signed Orton and Liggins to contracts with team options for 2013-14 at basically the minimum. The team should only have to pick up those options by June 30, 2013.

[sonictecture]

Thabo's price tag is gonna get expensive, Zach Lowe, The New Age Battiers


http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9225802/players-shane-battier-harder-find-conventional-wisdom-suggests

A good article from Lowe, but I think his point about the decision makers who realized the trend of the "Battier" type player early is more accurate than the rarity of the type. Lowe fails to mention that Battier is playing for veteran's minimum or near that.

Presti identified and acquired Sefolosha early on and for relatively little. Presti extended Sefolosha on a very reasonable deal and Presti has identified another similar player in Liggins in the event that he cannot agree with Sefolosha on the next contract. If Presti is able I imagine he will try and extend Sefolosha this summer to avoid a bidding war the following year. If that is not possible, look for Liggins to continue to get minutes next season.

Presti values the position and will find players that fit without having to break the bank. I found it interesting that Lowe didn't mention Landry Fields in the article. Didn't Fields get a large contract from Toronto because of how he was projecting to fit into the Battier mold? To ignore what happens when you overpay a role player seems like an oversight.

[RickInCali]

I posted it here before, but the thing OKC needs to do is to acquire a premier paint defender like Sanders from Milwaukee. Lamb and the high 1st would do that and make you immediately better than anyone available to you in the draft. MKE has only 2 starters returning for sure in Ersan and Sanders, with no young 2's or 3's on the roster at all. They need to turn Sanders into 2 starters.

I think when you're as close to being able to win it all as you guys are...you have to do something bold like that. I obviously love Lamb, but that price isn't too much because Sanders is still on that first deal and there are 2's you can get reasonably like resigning Martin, Reddick, Jack and others. Presti is smart enough to do this, but I wonder about MKE...

[sonictecture]

I posted it here before, but the thing OKC needs to do is to acquire a premier paint defender like Sanders from Milwaukee. Lamb and the high 1st would do that and make you immediately better than anyone available to you in the draft. MKE has only 2 starters returning for sure in Ersan and Sanders, with no young 2's or 3's on the roster at all. They need to turn Sanders into 2 starters.

I think when you're as close to being able to win it all as you guys are...you have to do something bold like that. I obviously love Lamb, but that price isn't too much because Sanders is still on that first deal and there are 2's you can get reasonably like resigning Martin, Reddick, Jack and others. Presti is smart enough to do this, but I wonder about MKE...

Doesn't Presti already have premier paint defenders in Perkins and Ibaka? Perkins has a history of being able to move low post players off their spots and Ibaka is a very good rim protector. Additional help comes from Collison who is a great positional defender and extremely adept at taking charges, with Thabeet as additional insurance.
The core of the defensive scheme is to protect the paint and was represented in the teams defensive ranking.

Sanders just enjoyed a break out season. It wasn't without some bumps due to a lack of maturity and apparent anger control issues, but a break out season none the less. Why would Hammond trade the guy he drafted now?

[Drehova]

I think Reggie has shown enough in the playoffs and the 2nd half of the season that I feel confident letting him lead the 2nd unit. If we aren't able to move Perkins and we keep Lamb , I think you let Martin go and you let Lamb show what he can do . Then hope Dieng is availble at 12. Let Perkins give him advice and groom him for a year Perkins. Perkins isn't physically capable of helping us but would be a good mentor for a rookie big.

A 2nd unit of

Jackson
Lamb
PJ3
Nic
Thabeet /Dieng

Would be pretty exciting . You can also use Wiggins at the 3 move PJ to the 4 and let Nic play the 5.

[RickInCali]

Perkins = Sanders? Come on.... Perkins isn't a "premier" anything except a premier contract for very average performance.

The Bucks need a "face of the franchise" type player and I think Lamb can be that. They have no starting caliber 1, 2 or 3 on their roster. Turning Sanders into 2 starters is smart imho.

[bondom34]

Perkins = Sanders? Come on.... Perkins isn't a "premier" anything except a premier contract for very average performance.

The Bucks need a "face of the franchise" type player and I think Lamb can be that. They have no starting caliber 1, 2 or 3 on their roster. Turning Sanders into 2 starters is smart imho.

You're being kind to Perk...

[Devilanche]

Doesn't Presti already have premier paint defenders in Perkins and Ibaka? Perkins has a history of being able to move low post players off their spots and Ibaka is a very good rim protector. Additional help comes from Collison who is a great positional defender and extremely adept at taking charges, with Thabeet as additional insurance.
The core of the defensive scheme is to protect the paint and was represented in the teams defensive ranking.

Sanders just enjoyed a break out season. It wasn't without some bumps due to a lack of maturity and apparent anger control issues, but a break out season none the less. Why would Hammond trade the guy he drafted now?

i wouldn't want to acquire Sanders simply because Milwaukee asking price should be pretty high. I'm getting more and more exasperated with Perkins and not getting rebounds. I can ignore the turnovers and the missed basket but could he start pulling in rebounds?

[Devilanche]

I think Reggie has shown enough in the playoffs and the 2nd half of the season that I feel confident letting him lead the 2nd unit. If we aren't able to move Perkins and we keep Lamb , I think you let Martin go and you let Lamb show what he can do . Then hope Dieng is availble at 12. Let Perkins give him advice and groom him for a year Perkins. Perkins isn't physically capable of helping us but would be a good mentor for a rookie big.

A 2nd unit of

Jackson
Lamb
PJ3
Nic
Thabeet /Dieng

Would be pretty exciting . You can also use Wiggins at the 3 move PJ to the 4 and let Nic play the 5.

I think Collison would be good for any second unit ballhandler but i do feel that #12 is still too high for dieng. I would rather use #12 +#29 for Atlanta 2 first rounder this year and grab dieng at #17 or so.

[Drehova]

I think Dieng is gone before then

[Devilanche]

I think Dieng is gone before then

possible. Bigs will always rise come draft time.

[Balkman32]

Dieng has the body of a PF I think Ibaka could really help him turn into a very good player.

[Balkman32]

They have Lamb. He is the new 6th man.