2017 OKC Thunder Trade Discussion

[Dadouv47]

I've looked at our situatuon every way possible. If Russ isn't traded upon his request, I expect us to have the same roster next year minus Kanter, Taj or Roberson. Presti might play with the end of the roster and try and make a slight upgrade at point guard, but that's it.

I disagree completely. I think Presti and the ownership owe it to Russ to go as all in as they can during his prime. Assuming that's the case, they are a multitude of different directions they can go. Here are a couple directions

1. Move Kanter to a team and take back a worse contract(s) along with a prospect. Kanter is basically an expiring deal next year as he has a player option. I would guess Portland wouldn't hate to offload some of their bad contracts (Allen Crabbe)

2. Move Dipo or Adams.

3.Other teams are looking to dump salary/players (Joseph, etc...

I think a bunch of Thunder fans are frustrated and as a result can't see anything better on the horizon and therefore it clouds our judgment.

Also if anything, Presti has proven that he is willing to make huge moves if the opportunity presents itself

And that's false supposition. When a player is REALLY overpaid, he will 90+% of the time stick to his contract. So a team would trade for 2 years of Kanter.

[Kizz Fastfists]

OKC is not going to resign Taj and Roberson to go into the tax. If the option is commit to the repeater tax or trade Russ they will trade Russ.

Why are you so sure of this? I keep seeing where everyone says they won't go into tax, but if this team brings everyone back, adds a bench scorer and backup PG (could be the same person), and the young roster continues to grow up, there is no reason they can't move towards 2nd seed in West.

Again I think the frustration with this playoff series has led many Thunder fans to a super pessimistic outlook.

They can't sign anyone because they are over the tax line with just their cap holds. They can only offer the taxpayers MLE and they aren't getting anyone that improves the team for that money. If the Thunder were to resign Taj and Roberson along with keeping Russ and resigning McDermott and Grant next off-season and Kanter opts in OKC would get either the biggest or 2nd biggest tax bill in NBA history in '18-'19 challenging the record of $90M held by Brooklyn. Do you really think there is a chance that OKC is going to get a $90M tax bill?

If they avoid the tax in the '17-'18 season they avoid the repeater tax and go back into the tax in '18-'19 for a few years to keep their fringe playoff team together. Not that OKC should keep their fringe playoff team together. They should blow it up for assets and if they can't turn those assets into a player to put next to Russ to be the foundation for a contender they should then trade Russ and rebuild. GS isn't going anywhere for 4 years and even then their core will still be 32/33 or the same age as Russ. You think Russ is ever going to be able to carry a team to anywhere near GS without at least one big time running mate, i.e Jimmy Butler?

[Kizz Fastfists]

If OKC can somehow find some GREAT trades, or make a great signing like Blake Griffin, of course they would go into the tax. Otherwise, no way!

If they sign Blake they won't be in the tax. They would have to clear enough cap space to sign Blake which means giving away two of Dipo, Kanter and Adams for no salary in return. Then they would resign Roberson and Taj after using the MLE. It would mean the team would look something like this:

Russ/Semaj/rookie or vet minimum player or rookie scale player from Dipo/Adams trade
Abrines/rookie or vet minimum player or rookie scale player from Dipo/Adams trade
Roberson/McDermott/Singler/Huestis
Blake/Taj/Sabonis
Bogut (MLE)/Dakari Johnson

That team isn't any better than what they have now. Blake is not a player that could fill the #2 void to make OKC a contender even if you assume he stays healthy. It might bump them up to 4th in West because of the demise of LAC, but they could just as easily stay at 5th if NOLA get the PG they need to go with Cousins and Davis and CP3 returning to NOLA to play with them could happen if Blake leaves LAC.

[Dn4sty]

I've looked at our situatuon every way possible. If Russ isn't traded upon his request, I expect us to have the same roster next year minus Kanter, Taj or Roberson. Presti might play with the end of the roster and try and make a slight upgrade at point guard, but that's it.

I disagree completely. I think Presti and the ownership owe it to Russ to go as all in as they can during his prime. Assuming that's the case, they are a multitude of different directions they can go. Here are a couple directions

1. Move Kanter to a team and take back a worse contract(s) along with a prospect. Kanter is basically an expiring deal next year as he has a player option. I would guess Portland wouldn't hate to offload some of their bad contracts (Allen Crabbe)

2. Move Dipo or Adams.

3.Other teams are looking to dump salary/players (Joseph, etc...

I think a bunch of Thunder fans are frustrated and as a result can't see anything better on the horizon and therefore it clouds our judgment.

Also if anything, Presti has proven that he is willing to make huge moves if the opportunity presents itself

And that's false supposition. When a player is REALLY overpaid, he will 90+% of the time stick to his contract. So a team would trade for 2 years of Kanter.

I know Kanter is everyines easy target right now, but the opt out makes sense as he will make up that money in years on his next deal.

Kanter is still like a 14 million per year player in this league.

[Dadouv47]

If OKC can somehow find some GREAT trades, or make a great signing like Blake Griffin, of course they would go into the tax. Otherwise, no way!

If they sign Blake they won't be in the tax. They would have to clear enough cap space to sign Blake which means giving away two of Dipo, Kanter and Adams for no salary in return. Then they would resign Roberson and Taj after using the MLE. It would mean the team would look something like this:

Russ/Semaj/rookie or vet minimum player or rookie scale player from Dipo/Adams trade
Abrines/rookie or vet minimum player or rookie scale player from Dipo/Adams trade
Roberson/McDermott/Singler/Huestis
Blake/Taj/Sabonis
Bogut (MLE)/Dakari Johnson

That team isn't any better than what they have now. Blake is not a player that could fill the #2 void to make OKC a contender even if you assume he stays healthy. It might bump them up to 4th in West because of the demise of LAC, but they could just as easily stay at 5th if NOLA get the PG they need to go with Cousins and Davis and CP3 returning to NOLA to play with them could happen if Blake leaves LAC.

Mostly agree. But I think IF we move Adams (which I don't see happening), we can have great value in return. For the rest it would be terrible (Oladipo & Kanter).

[Dadouv47]

And if u can add JJ reddick instead of Roberson it would be AMAZING (yeah I'm dreaming)

[Dn4sty]

OKC is not going to resign Taj and Roberson to go into the tax. If the option is commit to the repeater tax or trade Russ they will trade Russ.

Why are you so sure of this? I keep seeing where everyone says they won't go into tax, but if this team brings everyone back, adds a bench scorer and backup PG (could be the same person), and the young roster continues to grow up, there is no reason they can't move towards 2nd seed in West.

Again I think the frustration with this playoff series has led many Thunder fans to a super pessimistic outlook.

They can't sign anyone because they are over the tax line with just their cap holds. They can only offer the taxpayers MLE and they aren't getting anyone that improves the team for that money. If the Thunder were to resign Taj and Roberson along with keeping Russ and resigning McDermott and Grant next off-season and Kanter opts in OKC would get either the biggest or 2nd biggest tax bill in NBA history in '18-'19 challenging the record of $90M held by Brooklyn. Do you really think there is a chance that OKC is going to get a $90M tax bill?

If they avoid the tax in the '17-'18 season they avoid the repeater tax and go back into the tax in '18-'19 for a few years to keep their fringe playoff team together. Not that OKC should keep their fringe playoff team together. They should blow it up for assets and if they can't turn those assets into a player to put next to Russ to be the foundation for a contender they should then trade Russ and rebuild. GS isn't going anywhere for 4 years and even then their core will still be 32/33 or the same age as Russ. You think Russ is ever going to be able to carry a team to anywhere near GS without at least one big time running mate, i.e Jimmy Butler?

What they do this summer doesn't necessarily carry over to two summers from now (when the tax for Grant/McDermott deals would kick in). Even deals this summer don't necessarily lock them into being tax payers next summer.

I would also argue they need another sizeable contract on the books just for future trades so they can match salary, as getting far enough below the cap to sign an impact FA is nearly impossible.

[Dadouv47]

Abrines has some great trade value as well it's not impossible to keep Roberson if u want his defense.
Russ/vet
JJ reddick/Abrines
Roberson/Mcdermott/singler
Blake/Sabonis
Bogut
It looks great to me. Not enough to compete against Golden state, but still pretty solid (still more than difficult to happen).

[Dadouv47]

We are screwed anyway. But if a superstar (just star at this point) like Blake decides to join Westbrook, even with all the late struggles he had over the last 2 years, it could attract some free agents here (good wings that are not going to get 20 millions).

Otherwise, I don't see what we can do
GL presti. U made some bad moves/signings and now only magical ones will pull us back

[Osirus89]

If Presti trades Russ this offseason without Russ asking to be traded. He needs to take the following steps immediately afterwards.



Hell, every fan will be doing that for the next 6+ years having to watch absolute trash night in and night out.
The Oklahoma City Nets


If he wants to leave, fine. However, what indication has he given that he wants out. He's not Paul George

[InTheSabonus]

I'd like Redick...If we had a different coach. Redick's biggest strength is that he'll tire out opponents through his constant offball movement and running around offball screens. We're dead last in the league for spot up shooting and offball actions under Donovan. This is with Abrines and McBuckets on the team, two catch and shoot guys that would excel at getting looks off of offball movement. Donovan would just chuck Redick in the corner, get confused when he can't get open by standing still, then bench him for Semaj Christon.

[Kizz Fastfists]

What they do this summer doesn't necessarily carry over to two summers from now (when the tax for Grant/McDermott deals would kick in). Even deals this summer don't necessarily lock them into being tax payers next summer.

I would also argue they need another sizeable contract on the books just for future trades so they can match salary, as getting far enough below the cap to sign an impact FA is nearly impossible.

They could go all-in this season then dump everyone, including Russ, next year after a first round exit.That just makes no sense and doesn't seem like something Presti would do. If you sign Taj and Roberson this off-season without dumping significant salary you are in the tax next season. Assuming Russ doesn't walk his contract keeps you in the tax in '18-'19 which means you are paying the repeater tax.

I guess a person could con themselves into believing that OKC could keep Taj and Roberson just for next year. Then after next season they could dump Taj, Roberson and the other needed salaries to avoid the tax and Russ would still resign. I just have yet to find that person. Are you them? Do you think Russ will sign an extension on a team that just made a run deep in the tax and got eliminated in the first round, like that team would, and then dumped salary making the team unlikely to make the playoffs? Do you think Russ will sign as a FA with a team that is unlikely to make the playoffs?

[bondom34]

If Presti trades Russ this offseason without Russ asking to be traded. He needs to take the following steps immediately afterwards.



Hell, every fan will be doing that for the next 6+ years having to watch absolute trash night in and night out.
The Oklahoma City Nets


If he wants to leave, fine. However, what indication has he given that he wants out. He's not Paul George

This

[ThunderBolt]

The current discussion isn't really that Russ will be traded. It's that we shouldn't expect big changes. If this organization is keeping Russ and committed to Adams, then we should just expect minor tweaks. I really don't think Presti will trade Oladipo. I expect moves that improve the latter part of the rotations.

[ThunderBolt]

What do you guys think about Lavine for Oladipo? I saw someone say that we might also be able to swap draft picks with them too. If not that, could we also dump singlers contract?

Lavine could provide a legitimate second scoring option. I don't think he has necessarily peaked and could develop further. It would also save us money and help towards retaining Taj or Dre.

Thibs would likely want to sacrifice some offense for someone who would help defensively.

[Dn4sty]

What do you guys think about Lavine for Oladipo? I saw someone say that we might also be able to swap draft picks with them too. If not that, could we also dump singlers contract?

Lavine could provide a legitimate second scoring option. I don't think he has necessarily peaked and could develop further. It would also save us money and help towards retaining Taj or Dre.

Thibs would likely want to sacrifice some offense for someone who would help defensively.

I really like it but have no idea when Lavine will be back and playing again (after the ACL).

It might be a situation where you don't have him till after Christmas or something like that.

I think if you did that trade and acquired Sean Kilpatrick (lots of nets people are saying he could be available for as much as a good 2nd round pick (bulls 2018 2nd) then you could have the ability to have a really good stop gap until Lavine came back. Then move Kilpatrick to the bench as 6th man of sorts.

I don't know how Minnesota would agree to a pick swap though

[Pillendreher]

What do you guys think about Lavine for Oladipo? I saw someone say that we might also be able to swap draft picks with them too. If not that, could we also dump singlers contract?

Lavine could provide a legitimate second scoring option. I don't think he has necessarily peaked and could develop further. It would also save us money and help towards retaining Taj or Dre.

Thibs would likely want to sacrifice some offense for someone who would help defensively.

That was me. I don't know if Minnesota might do that, but I guess he might be looking for more experienced players that can actually defend.

The way Donovan has developed players, Lavine's defense will stay just as terrible and his scoring will go away as well.

[ThunderBolt]

What do you guys think about Lavine for Oladipo? I saw someone say that we might also be able to swap draft picks with them too. If not that, could we also dump singlers contract?

Lavine could provide a legitimate second scoring option. I don't think he has necessarily peaked and could develop further. It would also save us money and help towards retaining Taj or Dre.

Thibs would likely want to sacrifice some offense for someone who would help defensively.

I really like it but have no idea when Lavine will be back and playing again (after the ACL).

It might be a situation where you don't have him till after Christmas or something like that.

I think if you did that trade and acquired Sean Kilpatrick (lots of nets people are saying he could be available for as much as a good 2nd round pick (bulls 2018 2nd) then you could have the ability to have a really good stop gap until Lavine came back. Then move Kilpatrick to the bench as 6th man of sorts.

I don't know how Minnesota would agree to a pick swap though

It's not an ideal situation due to the acl injury. I think that's why some were suggesting we could swap picks or possibly get them to take singler. It's not my dream trade but based on how Oladipo has played this year, i dont know if we can do better. Assuming he makes a full recovery, he has the ability to generate his own scroreing more than Oladipo.

[Pillendreher]

He may be better than Dipo offensively, but his defense kills his impact. Those two are not even close tbh.

Lavine needs somebody to fix him or he'll never more than a flashy scorer and a trash defender.

[ThunderBolt]

He may be better than Dipo offensively, but his defense kills his impact. Those two are not even close tbh.

Lavine needs somebody to fix him or he'll never more than a flashy scorer and a trash defender.

That's what I hear about a lot of guys. Lou Williams is an example of another one. At some point we've got to get someone who can score besides Russ. Plus, everyone says it's easier to hide a defensive liability as a guard than a big man.