2017 OKC Thunder Trade Discussion

Ontario · Post #1261 » by **Ontario** » Sun Mar 5, 2017 3:47 am

Abrines is making a sound case for keeping the starting gig, not that he is better then Victor but he might be a better fit. Alongside that Victor might actually thrive and prove a adhesive element if given the second unit as his to do with what he can.

Convincing Norris Cole that we need a more traditional PG role from him would help too.

Post #1262 » by **ThunderBolt** » Sun Mar 5, 2017 4:54 am

It will be interesting to see if Abrines will actually improve his defense or become the shooting guard version of Kanter. I think Domas can actually become a very good defender. Abrines is more concrerning. I've been critical of Sabonis lately but he was one of the few bright spots of last nights game.

spearsy23 · Post #1263 » by **spearsy23** » Sun Mar 5, 2017 5:27 am

Knrstz wrote:It will be interesting to see if Abrines will actually improve his defense or become the shooting guard version of Kanter. I think Domas can actually become a very good defender. Abrines is more concrerning. I've been critical of Sabonis lately but he was one of the few bright spots of last nights game.

I know the numbers look horrible with him starting, but I attribute that more to Adams turning into a statue the last few games. In general you can hide a bad perimeter defender, so he shouldn't ever have as large of a negative effect as Kanter, but I also doubt he's ever even average until he puts on a significant amount of muscle. Seeing as he's 24 and been a pro for years I don't think it's a given that he fills out though.

Post #1264 » by **Andre Roberstan** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 7:01 pm

Working on a hypothesis that the most effective framework around Russ has a good frontcourt distributor or two, kind of like the Kobe/Pau/Odom teams.

Looking at stats.nba.com and checking guys who rank high in AST/TO, secondary assists, AST% and potential assists, there are two possibly available names that immediately jump out: Julius Randle and Frank Kaminsky.

Anybody got ideas on how you could get those 2 to OKC?

Post #1265 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 8:20 pm

Andre Roberstan wrote:Working on a hypothesis that the most effective framework around Russ has a good frontcourt distributor or two, kind of like the Kobe/Pau/Odom teams.

Looking at stats.nba.com and checking guys who rank high in AST/TO, secondary assists, AST% and potential assists, there are two possibly available names that immediately jump out: Julius Randle and Frank Kaminsky.

Anybody got ideas on how you could get those 2 to OKC?

Very doable. It just depends on who we want to give up. It's hard to say how the new FO values players. The lakers have a lot of nice young pieces but the previous FO wasn't necessarily sold on any of them, except Ingram. They gave a horrible deal to Mozgov. I wonder if they would be interested in Kanter.

Pillendreher · Post #1266 » by **Pillendreher** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 8:50 pm

If they are gettable for cheap. They don't exactly have me jumping out of my seat.

Post #1267 » by **Andre Roberstan** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 8:52 pm

Pillendreher wrote:If they are gettable for cheap. They don't exactly have me jumping out of my seat.

No one we're likely to get is probably going to make anyone jump out of their seats.

Pillendreher · Post #1268 » by **Pillendreher** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 8:57 pm

Andre Roberstan wrote:
Pillendreher wrote:If they are gettable for cheap. They don't exactly have me jumping out of my seat.

No one we're likely to get is probably going to make anyone jump out of their seats.

We could get Dion back! 8-)

Post #1269 » by **bondom34** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 8:58 pm

Pillendreher wrote:
Andre Roberstan wrote:
Pillendreher wrote:If they are gettable for cheap. They don't exactly have me jumping out of my seat.

No one we're likely to get is probably going to make anyone jump out of their seats.

We could get Dion back!

Just said in the other thread, but Barton is a guy. I think Bazemore might fit too.

Post #1270 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 10:06 pm

What about Gary Harris instead of Barton?

Post #1271 » by **bondom34** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 10:12 pm

Knrstz wrote:What about Gary Harris instead of Barton?

Don't think he's available, or if so would cost way more.

oken · Post #1272 » by **oken** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 10:32 pm

We could offer Dion 10 times his current salary to tempt him. Just like in movies.

oken · Post #1273 » by **oken** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 10:36 pm

Guys I was so optimistic all throughout the last week as you may have realized. I could not see the end results of this intentional optimism with OKC but it definitely worked with Barcelona and they overcame a 0-4 deficit with 6-1 in the second leg. If I must translate, this is the soccer equivalent of the Patriots comeback so I am very happy and I will try to continue to channel my totally unfounded optimism to OKC until it finally works.

Post #1274 » by **Andre Roberstan** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 10:39 pm

oken wrote:Guys I was so optimistic all throughout the last week as you may have realized. I could not see the end results of this intentional optimism with OKC but it definitely worked with Barcelona and they overcame a 0-4 deficit with 6-1 in the second leg. If I must translate, this is the soccer equivalent of the Patriots comeback so I am very happy and I will try to continue to channel my totally unfounded optimism to OKC until it finally works.

I still can't believe Barça pulled that off.

Post #1275 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Mar 9, 2017 10:48 pm

I'm most interested in how to get a true number two option around Russ. Figuring out who to trade for more pieces just doesn't excite me.

spearsy23 · Post #1276 » by **spearsy23** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 3:13 am

Knrstz wrote:I'm most interested in how to get a true number two option around Russ. Figuring out who to trade for more pieces just doesn't excite me.

We don't have cap space or trade chips for a legit number two. You can survive without one if you put together a deep roster of role players around a true star, that's what we should be aiming for. Kinda like the Rose MVP Bulls, no true second option but good to great defenders and 9 guys averaging over 7.5 ppg. We need to get better defensively and let that fuel our offense. We have the right starters for it but we need some grit on the bench, that starts with trading enes for a backup combo guard that can create offense, then finding a defensive center and wing.
Do any of these work for the other teams
Kanter for
Jordan Clarkson
Tyler Johnson
3rd team involved for Alec Burks?

That should clear enough room to keep Taj. Especially if you can get Johnson.

Take kurucs or Ferguson in the draft if either is available, if not maybe swing for a Noel type win and get Giles (draft express has him falling all the way to mid 20's)? He could be the rim protector we are currently lacking. If that's too optimistic then maybe adebayo. Those aren't exciting but nobody really is if kurucs is off the board.

Then in free agency add a big defensive wing that fits into the MLE. Say PJ Tucker?

Realistically (and hopefully) it would look like
Russ/Johnson
Oladipo/Abrines/Hamilton
Robes/Tucker/McDermott
Taj/Domas/Grant/Nick
Steven/Adebayo/Dakari

It isn't a team that jumps off the page at you, but I think it could be a very successful one with the right coach and commitment to defense.

Pillendreher · Post #1277 » by **Pillendreher** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:54 am

That's an interesting proposition. Why would Miami give up Johnson though?

Also: I doubt Donovan is capable of having that bench perform without Russ. In two seasons, this team has looked completely lost every time it didn't play with a guy creating shots off of isolations.

Post #1278 » by **bondom34** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 9:16 am

Hmmm...back to passing bigs, never noticed but Kyle O'Quinn has really good assist numbers. And I'd think available.

Post #1279 » by **bondom34** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 9:35 am

Also, we went over the DVPE thing already but here are salary numbers for Gordon Hayward, Russ would have the same.

https://bballbreakdown.com/2017/03/08/cost-keep-star-cost-jazz-extra-millions/

spearsy23 · Post #1280 » by **spearsy23** » Tue Mar 14, 2017 9:45 am

Pillendreher wrote:That's an interesting proposition. Why would Miami give up Johnson though?

Also: I doubt Donovan is capable of having that bench perform without Russ. In two seasons, this team has looked completely lost every time it didn't play with a guy creating shots off of isolations.

They might not, would probably have to involve a third team or see if they dump whiteside. Burks might be available in a salary dump move though, his injury history scares me but I really like him as a player. If any teams need a center more than a combo guard maybe we could swing a deal.

I don't think Donovan is capable of getting a commitment to defense or scheming defensively either, but my hope was that the bench could defend well enough that at least they wouldn't be as abysmal as this year. Honestly, if we got Burks we could run him at point and have a pretty similar mix as the first unit.