2017 OKC Thunder Trade Discussion

[Funcrusher]

I'm really hoping Nick Young decides to stay with L.A. for another year, because I think we could pull of a Kanter-McDermott trade for him. The lakers could use a good offensive center, even if he's only coming of the bench for 20mpg. Young could be asking for a fair amount of money next year even if he only maintains the same production from last year. I know his defense is HORRENDOUS (like, Kanter level bad, by certain metrics even worse), but depending on if we decided to keep Oladipo or even if we managed to trade him for a wing player on the relative cheap, we could either: make him Oladipo's backup, or move Roberson back to SG and still have Young come off the bench 25mpg for some solid offensive production. Either way, I don't want to see THIS bench again next year (though it will be pretty hard to get the image of Christon looking lost on the court out of my nightmares anyway).

Edit: By seemingly every metric Young's defense is worse. On the bright side, there'd be no question we'd be getting equal returns here

[Pillendreher]

I'm really hoping Nick Young decides to stay with L.A. for another year, because I think we could pull of a Kanter-McDermott trade for him. The lakers could use a good offensive center, even if he's only coming of the bench for 20mpg. Young could be asking for a fair amount of money next year even if he only maintains the same production from last year. I know his defense is HORRENDOUS (like, Kanter level bad, by certain metrics even worse), but depending on if we decided to keep Oladipo or even if we managed to trade him for a wing player on the relative cheap, we could either: make him Oladipo's backup, or move Roberson back to SG and still have Young come off the bench 25mpg for some solid offensive production. Either way, I don't want to see THIS bench again next year (though it will be pretty hard to get the image of Christon looking lost on the court out of my nightmares anyway).

Edit: By seemingly every metric Young's defense is worse. On the bright side, there'd be no question we'd be getting equal returns here

But we already have that with DMD.

[Funcrusher]

Eh... I'd take Young's offensive production over McDermott, especially at the 2 where we're a little thin. Veteran player like Young knows how to create offense for himself, McDermott's looked lost ever since he came to OKC (though Billy's never ending game of rotation soduko hasn't helped). Like I said, in a vacuum the improvement might not be drastic, though I wouldn't say we're losing anything, but if we're trying to address all our needs next year (Wing that can space the floor and give you reliable D, playmaker off the bench, backup pg) then I think it's a place to start.

[Dn4sty]

The amount of Kanter hate is silly on here at times. Let trade away a big who is a legit 6th man candidate and McDermott for a guy who has had one good shooting season (on a contract year nonetheless) in Swaggy. Swaggy is also a major head case.

I'm not crazy and think that Kanter is untouchable and should be starting or something (yes his defense is bad), but if you can turn Cam Payne, Lauvergne, and Morrow into McDermott (who they now can control for multiple years) and Taj, then Kanter and McDermott would net much more than just Swaggy.

Now if the Lakers draft Ball, I could see Clarkson being available. I think a deal that involved Clarkson and pieces coming to OKC for Kanter and pieces would make sense, as Clarkson will surely be expendable.

[Funcrusher]

I don't know what you're seeing, but how exactly has Swaggy P only had "one good shooting year?" I wouldn't argue if you said this has been his best shooting year, but one good shooting year?

And where did I say I hated Kanter? Obviously, he can produce offensively off the bench at the center position. I just don't think, as this team is currently constituted, Kanter is the best fit for this club. If we're a team that's not designed to shoot you out of the building, and we have someone off the bench that's supposed to be an offensive sparkplug, he better have a perimeter game so our offense doesn't remain one-dimensional.

Again McDermott is basically a more offensively challenged version of Young, on every level. You don't lose anything from a trade like this, and would you rather have Young for, at worst, 1 year for 5 mil, or keep Kanter for potentially two more years for 35. You're getting a player that fills a similar type of role but gives you another 3pt option. How is suggesting this ridiculous?

[Dn4sty]

A year ago everyone was saying Swaggy was done. The Lakers were willing to move him at the trade deadline for a second round pick. And now you are suggesting McDermott and Kanter for him.

The trade would be almost impossible to work out as well, just from a salary perspective, even with a bit of cap space LA will have this summer.

I'm fully on board with trading Kanter, but if all you can get is Swaggy, then that is an awful deal. Not to mention it's nearly impossible within the parameters of the NBA salary cap/CBA.

[Pillendreher]

Now if the Lakers draft Ball, I could see Clarkson being available. I think a deal that involved Clarkson and pieces coming to OKC for Kanter and pieces would make sense, as Clarkson will surely be expendable.

I don't know. I haven't really seen him all that often, but his stats don't look that impressive. I guess you could put him into that slasher/scorer role, but what kind of impact would he need to have to justify that contract? He's been in the bottom 3rd in RPM for PGs each of the last two seasons. He's not known for his defense either...



I guess you could use him as a dynamic bench scorer, but that's not a lot of performance you're getting out a 12 million contract. Maybe if he could stabilize his jumpshot. His shot chart looks like he needs somebody to show him how to play efficiently and pick his spots.

[bondom34]

Yea Clarkson's sort of a Brandon Knight lite, no defense combo guard who doesn't really do a ton.

[Dn4sty]

Clarkson would fit the 6th man/backup PG/bench scorer role really well IMO.

He never really fit well with Russell and Lou Williams.

[Funcrusher]

I understand if from a salary perspective it doesn't work out, but I still don't think it's a terrible idea.

Yeah Swaggy has had his peaks and valley's in his career, but to a certain extent you have to have short term memory. At the end of the day, he was reasonably productive this year, even if it was just for a bad Lakers team, and it's not like this season was unprecedented.

Also, I agree with philanderer, Clarkson isn't a better option in my eyes.

[Dn4sty]

I understand if from a salary perspective it doesn't work out, but I still don't think it's a terrible idea.

Yeah Swaggy has had his peaks and valley's in his career, but to a certain extent you have to have short term memory. At the end of the day, he was reasonably productive this year, even if it was just for a bad Lakers team, and it's not like this season was unprecedented.

Also, I agree with philanderer, Clarkson isn't a better option in my eyes.

I think Swaggy over-achieved/worked harder this season because it is essentially a contract year for him. I don't necessarily think you will see seasons like he had this year in the future.

[Funcrusher]

Also, how exactly is that type of trade impossible under the current CBA? I'm not being facetious, I'm just asking.

[Dn4sty]

Yea Clarkson's sort of a Brandon Knight lite, no defense combo guard who doesn't really do a ton.

A combo guard who can score would be huge on this Thunder bench

[Funcrusher]

BobThunder wrote:
I understand if from a salary perspective it doesn't work out, but I still don't think it's a terrible idea.

Yeah Swaggy has had his peaks and valley's in his career, but to a certain extent you have to have short term memory. At the end of the day, he was reasonably productive this year, even if it was just for a bad Lakers team, and it's not like this season was unprecedented.

Also, I agree with philanderer, Clarkson isn't a better option in my eyes.


I think Swaggy over-achieved/worked harder this season because it is essentially a contract year for him. I don't necessarily think you will see seasons like he had this year in the future.

That's fair. I don't know, Kanter definitely has more value then he gets credit for, but it's difficult to shop him when teams are either, really good or really bad, which is the current trend in the NBA. I don't see rebuilding teams willing to give up rising star-type players for a Kanter, and contending teams just wouldn't need him on the same level, especially with the price he comes with.

[bondom34]

Yea Clarkson's sort of a Brandon Knight lite, no defense combo guard who doesn't really do a ton.

A combo guard who can score would be huge on this Thunder bench

He can't score that well. And he's a sieve defensively. He's basically the Lakers tank commander.

[Dn4sty]

Also, how exactly is that type of trade impossible under the current CBA? I'm not being facetious, I'm just asking.

Kanter will make 17.8 million next year. Swaggy will make 5.6 if he opts in.

So the Lakers would have to send about 9 million in additional salaries out (to either OKC or a 3rd team) just make the trade number work. If you add McDermott it just makes the number even higher.

[Dn4sty]

Yea Clarkson's sort of a Brandon Knight lite, no defense combo guard who doesn't really do a ton.

A combo guard who can score would be huge on this Thunder bench

He can't score that well. And he's a sieve defensively. He's basically the Lakers tank commander.

It's really hard to take ANYTHING the Lakers did as normative this season. It was obvious they were basically doing everything they could to lose (minus last couple games) to ensure best possible chance at draft picks.

I think as a 6th man (where defense really doesn't matter near as much) Clarkson could really succeed.

[bondom34]

A combo guard who can score would be huge on this Thunder bench

He can't score that well. And he's a sieve defensively. He's basically the Lakers tank commander.

It's really hard to take ANYTHING the Lakers did as normative this season. It was obvious they were basically doing everything they could to lose (minus last couple games) to ensure best possible chance at draft picks.

I think as a 6th man (where defense really doesn't matter near as much) Clarkson could really succeed.

That's mostly his role now. And it's 15 ppg on bad efficiency with no defense. He ranks a few spots over Cam Payne in RPM, for an extra 10 mil a year, if that were the case I'd just keep Semaj.

[Funcrusher]

Yeah, just don't see the interest in a Clarkson. If you want a combo guard/6th man that doesn't play D, I'd rather go after a Brandon Knight or a Gary Harris/Will Barton. When I think of Clarkson I just see Emmanuel Mudiay but with an average jump shot.

[Dn4sty]

He can't score that well. And he's a sieve defensively. He's basically the Lakers tank commander.

It's really hard to take ANYTHING the Lakers did as normative this season. It was obvious they were basically doing everything they could to lose (minus last couple games) to ensure best possible chance at draft picks.

I think as a 6th man (where defense really doesn't matter near as much) Clarkson could really succeed.

That's mostly his role now. And it's 15 ppg on bad efficiency with no defense. He ranks a few spots over Cam Payne in RPM, for an extra 10 mil a year, if that were the case I'd just keep Semaj.

With the emergence of Delon Wright and the impending FA of Ibaka and Lowry, I think Joseph would be available