OKC Thunder Offseason 2015

[Balkman32]

Thoughts on Lawson for Augustin, Lamb, Jones, Novak, and the 14th. The Nuggets cant get the 6th pick. why not settle for this group.

[bondom34]

Thoughts on Lawson for Augustin, Lamb, Jones, Novak, and the 14th. The Nuggets cant get the 6th pick. why not settle for this group.

Why? Lawson would be a backup, so instead of paying DJ 3 million, you pay him 11 and lose the draft pick.

[Balkman32]

Thoughts on Lawson for Augustin, Lamb, Jones, Novak, and the 14th. The Nuggets cant get the 6th pick. why not settle for this group.

Why? Lawson would be a backup, so instead of paying DJ 3 million, you pay him 11 and lose the draft pick.

Because you are only as good as your worst player. Because you could have Westbrook and Lawson share the floor and create matchup nightmares. Because he only makes 11 million. Because he is a playmaker. Because he is only 27. I mean I am not saying it is the best deal but if the Nuggets are interested in getting a lottery pick for Lawson how does that not make our team better.

Its not every day top tier players are on the market with a decent contract.

[Bravenewworld]

Augustin works too well for us to give him up or try to replace him.
Lawson would not do anything for us that we dont already have.
If we move that 14th pick and Lamb, Jones, Novak, it needs to be for a role playing 3.

[bondom34]

Thoughts on Lawson for Augustin, Lamb, Jones, Novak, and the 14th. The Nuggets cant get the 6th pick. why not settle for this group.

Why? Lawson would be a backup, so instead of paying DJ 3 million, you pay him 11 and lose the draft pick.

Because you are only as good as your worst player. Because you could have Westbrook and Lawson share the floor and create matchup nightmares. Because he only makes 11 million. Because he is a playmaker. Because he is only 27. I mean I am not saying it is the best deal but if the Nuggets are interested in getting a lottery pick for Lawson how does that not make our team better.

Its not every day top tier players are on the market with a decent contract.

Because the worst player is still at the backup SG/SF. The weakest link isn't DJ, its one of Waiters/Singler. A backup PG isn't a huge need, but a backup for KD is, and this uses every asset the team has for a non-need. If I have a fridge full of milk and no cereal, I don't go to the grocery store and get milk for breakfast, I get cereal.

[Balkman32]

Augustin works too well for us to give him up or try to replace him.
Lawson would not do anything for us that we dont already have.
If we move that 14th pick and Lamb, Jones, Novak, it needs to be for a role playing 3.

Or a 2 guard.

[Balkman32]

Why? Lawson would be a backup, so instead of paying DJ 3 million, you pay him 11 and lose the draft pick.

Because you are only as good as your worst player. Because you could have Westbrook and Lawson share the floor and create matchup nightmares. Because he only makes 11 million. Because he is a playmaker. Because he is only 27. I mean I am not saying it is the best deal but if the Nuggets are interested in getting a lottery pick for Lawson how does that not make our team better.

Its not every day top tier players are on the market with a decent contract.

Because the worst player is still at the backup SG/SF. The weakest link isn't DJ, its one of Waiters/Singler. A backup PG isn't a huge need, but a backup for KD is, and this uses every asset the team has for a non-need. If I have a fridge full of milk and no cereal, I don't go to the grocery store and get milk for breakfast, I get cereal.

But, what you could do there is do what the Thunder did w/ Reggie. You just play Westbrook and Lawson together. Lawson and Westbrook could guard all back courts in the NBA.

[bondom34]

Because you are only as good as your worst player. Because you could have Westbrook and Lawson share the floor and create matchup nightmares. Because he only makes 11 million. Because he is a playmaker. Because he is only 27. I mean I am not saying it is the best deal but if the Nuggets are interested in getting a lottery pick for Lawson how does that not make our team better.

Its not every day top tier players are on the market with a decent contract.

Because the worst player is still at the backup SG/SF. The weakest link isn't DJ, its one of Waiters/Singler. A backup PG isn't a huge need, but a backup for KD is, and this uses every asset the team has for a non-need. If I have a fridge full of milk and no cereal, I don't go to the grocery store and get milk for breakfast, I get cereal.

But, what you could do there is do what the Thunder did w/ Reggie. You just play Westbrook and Lawson together. Lawson and Westbrook could guard all back courts in the NBA.

And you still don't have a good backup SG/SF. Roberson doesn't work w/ the bench, and there isn't a good bench wing on the roster.

[Bravenewworld]

Augustin works too well for us to give him up or try to replace him.
Lawson would not do anything for us that we dont already have.
If we move that 14th pick and Lamb, Jones, Novak, it needs to be for a role playing 3.

Or a 2 guard.

Absolutely not.
We are fine at the 2 spot for now.
We have Roberson if we need defense. Marrow if we need offense/shooting. And Waiters developing.

We need to prepare for KD's foot issue to be persistent.

[Balkman32]

Because the worst player is still at the backup SG/SF. The weakest link isn't DJ, its one of Waiters/Singler. A backup PG isn't a huge need, but a backup for KD is, and this uses every asset the team has for a non-need. If I have a fridge full of milk and no cereal, I don't go to the grocery store and get milk for breakfast, I get cereal.

But, what you could do there is do what the Thunder did w/ Reggie. You just play Westbrook and Lawson together. Lawson and Westbrook could guard all back courts in the NBA.

And you still don't have a good backup SG/SF. Roberson doesn't work w/ the bench, and there isn't a good bench wing on the roster.

Some combo of Singler/ Morrow/ Waiters. But, @ #14 we are not brining anyone in who can be that guy this season. Its not like Lamb is that guy. I totally agree Wing players are needed because if you can play Ibaka @ the 5, Durant @ the 4, and Westbrook @ the 1, they will need wing payers than can sit in corners and hit shots. Can it be Singler and Morrow. Sure. But, we want something more. Something better. But, find a guy at the skill level of Lawson at that position it is probably going to cost more.

[bondom34]

But, what you could do there is do what the Thunder did w/ Reggie. You just play Westbrook and Lawson together. Lawson and Westbrook could guard all back courts in the NBA.

And you still don't have a good backup SG/SF. Roberson doesn't work w/ the bench, and there isn't a good bench wing on the roster.

Some combo of Singler/ Morrow/ Waiters. But, @ #14 we are not brining anyone in who can be that guy this season. Its not like Lamb is that guy. I totally agree Wing players are needed because if you can play Ibaka @ the 5, Durant @ the 4, and Westbrook @ the 1, they will need wing payers than can sit in corners and hit shots. Can it be Singler and Morrow. Sure. But, we want something more. Something better. But, find a guy at the skill level of Lawson at that position it is probably going to cost more.

There's a better chance of someone at 14 being that guy than Lawson. Heck, if they do that why not just trade for another center and roll out more of them? Trade that package for Pau Gasol and save some money.

[Balkman32]

Augustin works too well for us to give him up or try to replace him.
Lawson would not do anything for us that we dont already have.
If we move that 14th pick and Lamb, Jones, Novak, it needs to be for a role playing 3.

Or a 2 guard.

Absolutely not.
We are fine at the 2 spot for now.
We have Roberson if we need defense. Marrow if we need offense/shooting. And Waiters developing.

We need to prepare for KD's foot issue to be persistent.

The Thunder will only go as far as Durant foot goes. I think the wing (both 2/3) is the only spot on this team where minutes are up in the air, other than Durant.

[Bravenewworld]

Or a 2 guard.

Absolutely not.
We are fine at the 2 spot for now.
We have Roberson if we need defense. Marrow if we need offense/shooting. And Waiters developing.

We need to prepare for KD's foot issue to be persistent.

The Thunder will only go as far as Durant foot goes. I think the wing (both 2/3) is the only spot on this team where minutes are up in the air, other than Durant.

Thats bogus.
1. There is one position we need to be concerned with. Its the 3. Its not 2 and the 3. Its the 3. We have our PGs, we have our SGs, we have our PFs and centers.

2. KD is becoming irrelevant to whether or not we contend. Now, dont take that the wrong way. This is what im saying. Westbrook spent last year leading this team, that was his first real full time chance at doing that. He did a great job given what he was working with and the situation we were in. So its safe to assume he will be probably a bit noticeably better with this, this year.
Even without KD, we now have a coach who very effectively runs a PG-PF-C offense. With the SG and SF, being mostly optional. We have the best front court in the game right now. I dont care what anyone says, Ibaka/McGary - Kanter/Adams with Collison as a third string for both, could be ultra productive and mostly two way.

The point is, we have enough firepower on this team to contend even without KD. I partially think Presti did what he did with Brooks because he recognizes this, and Presti is horrible at running big men offenses. While Donovan is very balanced but can be focused on big men.
If we are able to bring in a good 3, especially someone like Batum, i'd have no problems suggesting we could win a title. Obviously it would all depend on match ups at the time. But the team would look as good and as capable as anyone else in the West.

3. Our 2 is fine. Stop worrying about our 2. We dont need superstars at every position. Marrow did fantastic for us last season and hes not bad defensively. He could be a perfectly fine starter. Roberson is continying to develop his offense. I dont see any reason to think we wont see any improvements from him... but... even if we didnt, hes still a defensive beast and specialist.
Not to mention, roughly 10 minutes of every game, Westbrook pops into the 2 while DJ takes the point.

If we were in a situation where KD did not have a foot issue, ya, the only position we are lacking stardom in is the 2. Focus on the 2. But we dont have that luxury anymore. We need to be concerned with it and we need a safeguard.

[Balkman32]

Morrow, and Roberson can both swing up to the 3. Plus if they bring Singler back (which it sounds like they will) he is the backup 3.

[Bravenewworld]

1. I thinik we should keep Singler, but im not going to place any chips in his basket.
2. You're basically saying to take two players, shift them out of position, then say the position they are oop at is good but we now need to address the original position they came from.
Why do this when we can simply focus on a real 3?

[spearsy23]

Robes would not be out of position at the three. He's fine at either.

Why are we preparing for Durant's injury to continue when there's a near 100% chance of recovery? Let's prepare for Waiters and Lamb to both suck instead, or for DJ to be gone after the season.

[bondom34]

Oh, Robes can play 3, and the other SG options still suck, but Lawson is a way too expensive luxury when the others are needs.

[spearsy23]

Oh, and we're nowhere near contenders without KD. We're a 2nd round team at best.

[Balkman32]

1. I thinik we should keep Singler, but im not going to place any chips in his basket.
2. You're basically saying to take two players, shift them out of position, then say the position they are oop at is good but we now need to address the original position they came from.
Why do this when we can simply focus on a real 3?

Where are you finding this 3? All I am saying is that these guys can move positions. 2 years ago everyone would have laughed Draymond Green @ center out of the room.

Singler is a 3. But, finding a backup 3 is not really the issue. Its getting players that can play w/ the Big 3.

[Balkman32]

Robes would not be out of position at the three. He's fine at either.

Why are we preparing for Durant's injury to continue when there's a near 100% chance of recovery? Let's prepare for Waiters and Lamb to both suck instead, or for DJ to be gone after the season.

I think a BIG key this off season is building a roster that has guys signed through 2016. So Durant can look @ OKC's roster and be this team. So far the roster is

Adams/ McGary
Ibaka/ Collison
Durant*/
Roberson/ Morrow
Westbrook/

Add Singler, Kanter, and # 14 that is 10 guys who will be under contract when the cap goes up in 16/17. Find me a roster that loaded that Durant would really go to.