2017 OKC Thunder Trade Discussion

[Pillendreher]

To me, of everything this season, this is the only real disappointment. And I know he's not going anywhere.

What? Donovan not being able to coach?

Yep. He looked competent in the playoffs. Gave me hope.

I still don't know what to think about that run. Was it really Donovan? Or was it us only playing 7.5 guys and them being smart enough on their own to play the right way? It's weird.

He can't be stupid enough to think that Regular Season games don't matter, can he? His coaching style must have a negative effect on team chemistry as well, with all the terrible rotations and whatnot. Is this common for College coaches maybe? You know with having so many one and done guys?

[bondom34]

What? Donovan not being able to coach?

Yep. He looked competent in the playoffs. Gave me hope.

I still don't know what to think about that run. Was it really Donovan? Or was it us only playing 7.5 guys and them being smart enough on their own to play the right way? It's weird.

He can't be stupid enough to think that Regular Season games don't matter, can he? His coaching style must have a negative effect on team chemistry as well, with all the terrible rotations and whatnot. Is this common for College coaches maybe? You know with having so many one and done guys?

Donovan didn't have a ton of one and dones though. All his best years were guys like Horford and Noah staying.

[Pillendreher]

Yep. He looked competent in the playoffs. Gave me hope.

I still don't know what to think about that run. Was it really Donovan? Or was it us only playing 7.5 guys and them being smart enough on their own to play the right way? It's weird.

He can't be stupid enough to think that Regular Season games don't matter, can he? His coaching style must have a negative effect on team chemistry as well, with all the terrible rotations and whatnot. Is this common for College coaches maybe? You know with having so many one and done guys?

Donovan didn't have a ton of one and dones though. All his best years were guys like Horford and Noah staying.

Hmm. It's like he has no regard for chemistry and a certain synergy, ike it doesn't matter to him if his guys are a 'close squad' or just a bunch of dudes he throws out there who have no idea how to play with each other.

[bondom34]

I still don't know what to think about that run. Was it really Donovan? Or was it us only playing 7.5 guys and them being smart enough on their own to play the right way? It's weird.

He can't be stupid enough to think that Regular Season games don't matter, can he? His coaching style must have a negative effect on team chemistry as well, with all the terrible rotations and whatnot. Is this common for College coaches maybe? You know with having so many one and done guys?

Donovan didn't have a ton of one and dones though. All his best years were guys like Horford and Noah staying.

Hmm. It's like he has no regard for chemistry and a certain synergy, ike it doesn't matter to him if his guys are a 'close squad' or just a bunch of dudes he throws out there who have no idea how to play with each other.

He messes around like a kid with too many toys and no idea how they work. You can tell half the lineups he tosses out will fail miserably, but rolls w/ them for 4 minutes at a time and coughs up a lead.

[Pillendreher]

Donovan didn't have a ton of one and dones though. All his best years were guys like Horford and Noah staying.

Hmm. It's like he has no regard for chemistry and a certain synergy, ike it doesn't matter to him if his guys are a 'close squad' or just a bunch of dudes he throws out there who have no idea how to play with each other.

He messes around like a kid with too many toys and no idea how they work. You can tell half the lineups he tosses out will fail miserably, but rolls w/ them for 4 minutes at a time and coughs up a lead.

And I don't buy the 'He's just trying things out' talk. You do that in the first couple of weeks of the season. You don't do that two weeks before the Playoffs start. And like you said: It's pretty clear that a major part of the lineups he's using won't work for different reasons. Finding the right combinations requires at least some sort of understanding how things work. Just throwing random **** out there isn't coaching.

[ThunderBolt]

They do. You just never know when that comes open. You don't just trade top 5 players because you never know when an opportunity arises.

I don't know what it is, but I am less and less sold on this draft than I was a few weeks to months ago. I guess just the benefit of all the evidence from the college season. There is this weird feeling that the best players in this draft will be the ones that aren't the most hyped to be picked early. Somebody who is picking between fultz, ball, and jackson is going to be really pissed after its all said and done. There is no way all three of them turn out to be REALLY good. I was looking at previous drafts and it just doesn't happen. So you are trading a sure thing in Russ for a whatever percentage chance that Presti picks the right one out of those three. Also... they can just leave when their contract is up if they want a bigger market for their brand. If Kevin Durant can leave, anyone can leave.

They have to see how Russ feels when the season is over, but trading him should not be on the table unless he tells you he is leaving, and Russ is honest enough to not beat around the bush. I don't know why its viewed as impossible to improve the roster. We know the people that suck. Get rid of them or bury them in the rotation. Singler is already there..its time to add others. If they don't trade the draft pick they have to hit on it, but first they need to trade Kanter at the first available opportunity.

BTW Justin Jackson already looks way better than McDermott and he's not even in the league yet. That's funny to me

Also the draft is always a game of craps. Sometimes you crap out. Look at Orlando and Minnesota. They have 3 lottery picks each and both teams suck. Hezonja is REAL bad. They also have Gordon and Payton. Payton is the best among them, but can't shoot so..thats a problem. Minnesota has three guys that can score, but can't defend for crap. They are both in the lottery again this year. They will remain there for the foreseeable future. Is that what you want the Thunder to become ?

I agree. Russ has proven this season that he really is one of a very, very special kind. You trade him if he tells you to, but otherwise you keep him and try to improve.
We'll have to get lucky to become a contender again, but I'd argue our main core with a capable coach isn't that far off actually.

I hope Donovan is the only problem but it's hard to blame Donovan for dipo blowing a dunk and catching the ball out of bounds. Vic's struggles are the same things he struggled with in Orlando. I can definitely see coaching being a huge part of it, but not all of it. Plus if Donovan and Presti are bff's, it won't matter because he's staying. The only people that are frustrated with Donovan are some of the fans. It's not like Hoiberg where all of the media are ripping him. Most people think he's a contender for coach of the year.

[Pillendreher]

I don't know what it is, but I am less and less sold on this draft than I was a few weeks to months ago. I guess just the benefit of all the evidence from the college season. There is this weird feeling that the best players in this draft will be the ones that aren't the most hyped to be picked early. Somebody who is picking between fultz, ball, and jackson is going to be really pissed after its all said and done. There is no way all three of them turn out to be REALLY good. I was looking at previous drafts and it just doesn't happen. So you are trading a sure thing in Russ for a whatever percentage chance that Presti picks the right one out of those three. Also... they can just leave when their contract is up if they want a bigger market for their brand. If Kevin Durant can leave, anyone can leave.

They have to see how Russ feels when the season is over, but trading him should not be on the table unless he tells you he is leaving, and Russ is honest enough to not beat around the bush. I don't know why its viewed as impossible to improve the roster. We know the people that suck. Get rid of them or bury them in the rotation. Singler is already there..its time to add others. If they don't trade the draft pick they have to hit on it, but first they need to trade Kanter at the first available opportunity.

BTW Justin Jackson already looks way better than McDermott and he's not even in the league yet. That's funny to me
Also the draft is always a game of craps. Sometimes you crap out. Look at Orlando and Minnesota. They have 3 lottery picks each and both teams suck. Hezonja is REAL bad. They also have Gordon and Payton. Payton is the best among them, but can't shoot so..thats a problem. Minnesota has three guys that can score, but can't defend for crap. They are both in the lottery again this year. They will remain there for the foreseeable future. Is that what you want the Thunder to become ?

I agree. Russ has proven this season that he really is one of a very, very special kind. You trade him if he tells you to, but otherwise you keep him and try to improve.
We'll have to get lucky to become a contender again, but I'd argue our main core with a capable coach isn't that far off actually.

I hope Donovan is the only problem but it's hard to blame Donovan for dipo blowing a dunk and catching the ball out of bounds. Vic's struggles are the same things he struggled with in Orlando. I can definitely see coaching being a huge part of it, but not all of it. Plus if Donovan and Presti are bff's, it won't matter because he's staying. The only people that are frustrated with Donovan are some of the fans. It's not like Hoiberg where all of the media are ripping him. Most people think he's a contender for coach of the year.

Of course it's not just coaching. But I'm positive that Donovan's coaching has a massive impact on this team. Russ is hiding a lot of Donovan with his heroic play. Just like Butler to some extent with Hoiberg.

[ThunderBolt]

Boston needs a big man. If we hosed them into taking Adams, what could we get back?

[retrobro90]

Wonder if we could work an Adams for K Love trade or what the tertiary pieces would look like to get that deal done. CLE could use a legitimate rim protector/defensive anchor and Love is looking more and more unnecessary considering their lack of D and surplus of capable 3pt shooters. In general they tend to be hot and cold on his future with that franchise and Kevin seemed pretty down on that locker room on a recent Vertical pod w Mannix. Get the UCLA boys back together. Finally have a legitimate stretch big to draw dudes out of the paint. Idk i'm just spitballing.

[ThunderBolt]

Wonder if we could work an Adams for K Love trade or what the tertiary pieces would look like to get that deal done. CLE could use a legitimate rim protector/defensive anchor and Love is looking more and more unnecessary considering their lack of D and surplus of capable 3pt shooters. In general they tend to be hot and cold on his future with that franchise and Kevin seemed pretty down on that locker room on a recent Vertical pod w Mannix. Get the UCLA boys back together. Finally have a legitimate stretch big to draw dudes out of the paint. Idk i'm just spitballing.

I'd take kaminsky after what I saw today.

[Osirus89]

Wonder if we could work an Adams for K Love trade or what the tertiary pieces would look like to get that deal done. CLE could use a legitimate rim protector/defensive anchor and Love is looking more and more unnecessary considering their lack of D and surplus of capable 3pt shooters. In general they tend to be hot and cold on his future with that franchise and Kevin seemed pretty down on that locker room on a recent Vertical pod w Mannix. Get the UCLA boys back together. Finally have a legitimate stretch big to draw dudes out of the paint. Idk i'm just spitballing.

I think Kevin love would like to play with Russ, but I don't think Cleveland would want adams when they have tristan thompson who is a similar and probably a much better player. Would be worth a call I guess, but Idk....

Lineup of Russ/Victor/Andre/KLove/Taj wouldn't be too bad.

See if a team would want Victor or Adams and our draft pick for someone decent and a pick swap? That's the only non drafting player and hoping for the best move to be made I think. Ah screw it.... lets go get Carmelo if all else fails and give him the green light

Oh and keeping Taj Gibson should not be a question this off-season. Keep him and get rid of some of the others if you have to.

[Balkman32]

Boston needs a big man. If we hosed them into taking Adams, what could we get back?

They wont deal him. He is Mr. Thunder. But, you would think the deal would have to start w/ Smart plus picks.

[Balkman32]

If the Thunder had Love they would struggle to compete to win a championship because of his poor defense.

[ThunderBolt]

Boston needs a big man. If we hosed them into taking Adams, what could we get back?

They wont deal him. He is Mr. Thunder. But, you would think the deal would have to start w/ Smart plus picks.

You're probably right but that dooms us. I do think guys are partially not engaged because this team is the Russell Westbrook show.

[bondom34]

Boston needs a big man. If we hosed them into taking Adams, what could we get back?

They wont deal him. He is Mr. Thunder. But, you would think the deal would have to start w/ Smart plus picks.

You're probably right but that dooms us. I do think guys are partially not engaged because this team is the Russell Westbrook show.

Sorry but don't buy it. They were engaged last year with less touches and cupcake. Other guys are engaged with less. I don't know what it is but the defense just sucks from the bench.

[Pillendreher]

Boston needs a big man. If we hosed them into taking Adams, what could we get back?

They wont deal him. He is Mr. Thunder. But, you would think the deal would have to start w/ Smart plus picks.

You're probably right but that dooms us. I do think guys are partially not engaged because this team is the Russell Westbrook show.

But what's the difference between us and the Rockets? Over 76 games, Russ has had 7594 touches, Harden 7558. Russ has the ball for 5.34 seconds per touch, Harden for 5.40.

I think the difference is that Houston's offense doesn't stop with Harden. Our does with Russ. And that's on the coach.

[Pillendreher]

They wont deal him. He is Mr. Thunder. But, you would think the deal would have to start w/ Smart plus picks.

You're probably right but that dooms us. I do think guys are partially not engaged because this team is the Russell Westbrook show.

Sorry but don't buy it. They were engaged last year with less touches and cupcake. Other guys are engaged with less. I don't know what it is but the defense just sucks from the bench.

We had the same problems last year as well tho. So many games were lost because of non-existent effort.

[bondom34]

You're probably right but that dooms us. I do think guys are partially not engaged because this team is the Russell Westbrook show.

Sorry but don't buy it. They were engaged last year with less touches and cupcake. Other guys are engaged with less. I don't know what it is but the defense just sucks from the bench.

We had the same problems last year as well tho. So many games were lost because of non-existent effort.

Not from Adam's or Robes. It was cupcake and Russ who looked less interested. Adam's never did.

[Pillendreher]

Sorry but don't buy it. They were engaged last year with less touches and cupcake. Other guys are engaged with less. I don't know what it is but the defense just sucks from the bench.

We had the same problems last year as well tho. So many games were lost because of non-existent effort.

Not from Adam's or Robes. It was cupcake and Russ who looked less interested. Adam's never did.

Yeah, that's true. I still remember Durant getting lit up by Middleton for 30 something points and he was just flat out refusing to play defense.

[ThunderBolt]

They wont deal him. He is Mr. Thunder. But, you would think the deal would have to start w/ Smart plus picks.

You're probably right but that dooms us. I do think guys are partially not engaged because this team is the Russell Westbrook show.

But what's the difference between us and the Rockets? Over 76 games, Russ has had 7594 touches, Harden 7558. Russ has the ball for 5.34 seconds per touch, Harden for 5.40.

I think the difference is that Houston's offense doesn't stop with Harden. Our does with Russ. And that's on the coach.

That's a good stat but that means we're screwed though. Our only hope is if Donovan is unhappy and leaves on his own.