OKC Thunder Offseason 2015

[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?

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.

Why are you not getting the issue with KD?
Go look up the players who have had those foot injuries and see how many came back without missing extended periods of time.... yah, a back up 3 is our number 1 concern. Understand, there is a strong possibility, that our big 3, is not westbrook kd and ibaka. But westbrook ibaka and kanter......KD might not be playing. It really sucks, but it is what it is and given the rest of the team is fully capable, its something we need to prepare for. The only position we are lacking any kind of 24mpg depth in, is the 3.

http://hoopshype.com/2015/06/11/nba-free-agency-2015-the-top-small-forwards-available-this-offseason/

Again, Barnes would be acceptable. I would be perfectly fine with Barnes. Given his age and production, we could probably sign him for whatever we can.
I also might be willing to take a shot at Granger. If healthy he is at least a solid depth peace, but maybe we could get him back to form. Maybe its all a mental thing for him, players just dont lose their abilities.

Suns, Denver, TWolves maybe, Nets, Orlando,.........Celtics, 6ers.......Horncats...... these are all teams either rebuilding or making drastic changes.
If we open up that 14, Lamb and PJ3, we should definitely be able to land someone.

[spearsy23]

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.

Why are you not getting the issue with KD?
Go look up the players who have had those foot injuries and see how many came back without missing extended periods of time.... yah, a back up 3 is our number 1 concern. Understand, there is a strong possibility, that our big 3, is not westbrook kd and ibaka. But westbrook ibaka and kanter......KD might not be playing. It really sucks, but it is what it is and given the rest of the team is fully capable, its something we need to prepare for. The only position we are lacking any kind of 24mpg depth in, is the 3.

http://hoopshype.com/2015/06/11/nba-free-agency-2015-the-top-small-forwards-available-this-offseason/

Again, Barnes would be acceptable. I would be perfectly fine with Barnes. Given his age and production, we could probably sign him for whatever we can.
I also might be willing to take a shot at Granger. If healthy he is at least a solid depth peace, but maybe we could get him back to form. Maybe its all a mental thing for him, players just dont lose their abilities.

Suns, Denver, TWolves maybe, Nets, Orlando,.........Celtics, 6ers.......Horncats...... these are all teams either rebuilding or making drastic changes.
If we open up that 14, Lamb and PJ3, we should definitely be able to land someone.

Would you like to provide a list of career endin jones fractures?

[bondom34]

Also, the Dr. that did the surgery did the same one that finally got Brook Lopez healthy again.

[NaturalThunder]

Also, the Dr. that did the surgery did the same one that finally got Brook Lopez healthy again.

And if I recall correctly, some doctor, maybe the one that did KD's surgery, said this wasn't the same "big man career ending foot injury" that people associate with Walton and Yao and others. Also remembering hearing something about how what Durant has had and what he's gone through and the surgeries he's had...there's a pretty decent chance he'll get back to or at least close to 100% if he takes the proper amount of time to rest and rehab.

I think one of the biggest issues with Durant's continual setbacks this season was that he didn't get the proper amount of rest. I know he was initially given a 6-8 week timeline, and came back within that timeline, but stress fractures can be really tricky. He really may have needed several (or more) months from the get go. At least now he's getting from, what, April to November to rest? Surgery plus 6-7 months of rest and rehab may have been what he needed all along.

[Bravenewworld]

Would you like to provide a list of career endin jones fractures?

Jesus Christ man. Why do you always have to change what someone said?

Why is it half the time you respond to me you end up changing one or two words of what i said, then replying to how you changed what i said. Which then makes it so what youre responding to, is entirely different from what i said.

Do you not get the difference between me saying that his injury could most likely be a persistent issue, and even if its not, we need to prepare for it and me suggesting that he has a likely career ending injury?
If i thought for one second he had a career ending injury, id be calling Presti telling him to trade KD to the Pacers for PG.

[spearsy23]

Would you like to provide a list of career endin jones fractures?

Jesus Christ man. Why do you always have to change what someone said?

Why is it half the time you respond to me you end up changing one or two words of what i said, then replying to how you changed what i said. Which then makes it so what youre responding to, is entirely different from what i said.

Do you not get the difference between me saying that his injury could most likely be a persistent issue, and even if its not, we need to prepare for it and me suggesting that he has a likely career ending injury?
If i thought for one second he had a career ending injury, id be calling Presti telling him to trade KD to the Pacers for PG.

Would you like to provide a list of persistent Jones fractures?

[Pillendreher]

I think the main problem is that we don't know if the team is planning with Robes, Morrow and Waiters at the two. If that's the case, I don't see us going after shooting guards. The only way that'd happen is if we had the chance to get a huge upgrade, maybe a Wesley Matthews or something like that. Other than that it depends on Singler staying.

[spearsy23]

I think the main problem is that we don't know if the team is planning with Robes, Morrow and Waiters at the two. If that's the case, I don't see us going after shooting guards. The only way that'd happen is if we had the chance to get a huge upgrade, maybe a Wesley Matthews or something like that. Other than that it depends on Singler staying.

That's why I think we need a 2/3 hybrid. Johnson/Oubre/Winslow can all play both positions and, if they develop correctly, split time with Robes guarding Lebron. Johnson is literally perfect for this, I'd even consider trading Mitch* for him. If a team will take any combination of the 'assets' we're trying to sell and we can get him I'll be willing to buy a Presti jersey.

*Consider, probably not actually pull the trigger unless we can rid ourselves of Dion and Novak's contract too while getting back a solid backup 4.

[Pillendreher]

So you think that we could depend on a rookie in a critical moment? I'm not so sure about that if I'm perfectly honest. I'd be more comfortable with a proven player.

[spearsy23]

So you think that we could depend on a rookie in a critical moment? I'm not so sure about that if I'm perfectly honest. I'd be more comfortable with a proven player.

In a critical moment meaning what? If we need a critical stop then we have Russ/Robes/KD/Serge/Steven, if we need a bucket Russ/A-Mo/KD/Serge/Kanter. If you mean relying on a rookie to play 15 minutes in a game down the stretch then yeah, I have no problems with that. We can't afford a good vet in FA, so unless the trade for Batum is on the table I'd do whatever possible to get Johnson. Hopefully we roll with A-Mo, Robes, KD at the 2/3 and Russ playing some minutes at the 2, plus the rookie or Lamb getting 5-10 per night.

[Pillendreher]

Let's say it's game 5 of the Finals, WCF or whatever and the series is tied at 2-2. 4 minutes to play and you're down 6. Do you play the rookie? As far as I understand your post, you don't. So do you really need to sacrifice a proven rotational player in McGary for a guy to play around 10 minutes a night to get KD a breather?

[spearsy23]

Let's say it's game 5 of the Finals, WCF or whatever and the series is tied at 2-2. 4 minutes to play and you're down 6. Do you play the rookie? As far as I understand your post, you don't. So do you really need to sacrifice a proven rotational player in McGary for a guy to play around 10 minutes a night to get KD a breather?

That's a short term outlook, but you wouldn't play McGary in that situation either. Re-read my original post, I'd only give up McGary if we got a rotational big back too. Two years from now Johnson could be the final piece of an absolutely dominant lineup. A hyper athletic 3 and D player that can guard any wing? I'd trade Mitch and 14 for that with no qualms if I could guarantee that's what I'm getting. Hell, if KD leaves Johnson becomes the starting SF and we still have a deep playoff team. There are only so many minutes to go around at the 4/5, Mitch was phenomenal but if you ask me if I'd prefer to keep a 5th big (and make no mistake, he's still behind Collison on the depth chart at this point) or take a swing at a starting wing, I'd think on it really hard.

[Bravenewworld]

Would you like to provide a list of career endin jones fractures?

Jesus Christ man. Why do you always have to change what someone said?

Why is it half the time you respond to me you end up changing one or two words of what i said, then replying to how you changed what i said. Which then makes it so what youre responding to, is entirely different from what i said.

Do you not get the difference between me saying that his injury could most likely be a persistent issue, and even if its not, we need to prepare for it and me suggesting that he has a likely career ending injury?
If i thought for one second he had a career ending injury, id be calling Presti telling him to trade KD to the Pacers for PG.

Would you like to provide a list of persistent Jones fractures?

Why would i do that? You can go to the thread here, when it first happened and check the conversation you were already a part of, but i guess didnt pay attention to.
Or you can go to the thread in the general discussion forums.
Or you can do a quick google search yourself.
Stop acting like its other peoples job to spoon feed you information, if you don't know these things already or are unwilling to take the ten seconds to find them out, you probably should be discussing them.

[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.

Why are you not getting the issue with KD?
Go look up the players who have had those foot injuries and see how many came back without missing extended periods of time.... yah, a back up 3 is our number 1 concern. Understand, there is a strong possibility, that our big 3, is not westbrook kd and ibaka. But westbrook ibaka and kanter......KD might not be playing. It really sucks, but it is what it is and given the rest of the team is fully capable, its something we need to prepare for. The only position we are lacking any kind of 24mpg depth in, is the 3.

http://hoopshype.com/2015/06/11/nba-free-agency-2015-the-top-small-forwards-available-this-offseason/

Again, Barnes would be acceptable. I would be perfectly fine with Barnes. Given his age and production, we could probably sign him for whatever we can.
I also might be willing to take a shot at Granger. If healthy he is at least a solid depth peace, but maybe we could get him back to form. Maybe its all a mental thing for him, players just dont lose their abilities.

Suns, Denver, TWolves maybe, Nets, Orlando,.........Celtics, 6ers.......Horncats...... these are all teams either rebuilding or making drastic changes.
If we open up that 14, Lamb and PJ3, we should definitely be able to land someone.

This team is build around Kd. NO Kd no nothing, no championship, no playoffs LOL at Kanter being in the big 3.

I see what you are writing but, the Thunder are not worried about bringing in someone to take Kd's minutes just incase. They are taking the BPA no matter what position. Because when you don't take the BPA you loose.

[Balkman32]

Jesus Christ man. Why do you always have to change what someone said?

Why is it half the time you respond to me you end up changing one or two words of what i said, then replying to how you changed what i said. Which then makes it so what youre responding to, is entirely different from what i said.

Do you not get the difference between me saying that his injury could most likely be a persistent issue, and even if its not, we need to prepare for it and me suggesting that he has a likely career ending injury?
If i thought for one second he had a career ending injury, id be calling Presti telling him to trade KD to the Pacers for PG.

Would you like to provide a list of persistent Jones fractures?

Why would i do that? You can go to the thread here, when it first happened and check the conversation you were already a part of, but i guess didnt pay attention to.
Or you can go to the thread in the general discussion forums.
Or you can do a quick google search yourself.
Stop acting like its other peoples job to spoon feed you information, if you don't know these things already or are unwilling to take the ten seconds to find them out, you probably should be discussing them.

This does not really matter w/o Kd the season is a wash.

[Bravenewworld]

This team is build around Kd. NO Kd no nothing, no championship, no playoffs LOL at Kanter being in the big 3.

I see what you are writing but, the Thunder are not worried about bringing in someone to take Kd's minutes just incase. They are taking the BPA no matter what position. Because when you don't take the BPA you loose.

So you know the year is 2015 right? Its not 2012 anymore.

You do get that we've expanded our options since 2012 right?
You get that in a season with everyone injured including KD for much of the season and Ibaka in the last 20 games or so, you do get we still almost had 50 wins right? With a coach who had no idea how to properly use Kanter and Ibaka.... oh, that Kanter, who showed us he can put up near 20-10 in 27 minutes... ya, i think its safe to say he could easily be a part of a big 3..... w hat exactly do you expect from someone in a big 3?

I will take the assumption that Presti, does not have his head up his ass and is concerned with the KD issue possibly being persistent for a few years. Which means he will draft a 2/3 and in FA go after a 3.

[Bravenewworld]

This does not really matter w/o Kd the season is a wash.

And again. clearly you didnt pay attention to last season.

[spearsy23]

Why would i do that? You can go to the thread here, when it first happened and check the conversation you were already a part of, but i guess didnt pay attention to.
Or you can go to the thread in the general discussion forums.
Or you can do a quick google search yourself.
Stop acting like its other peoples job to spoon feed you information, if you don't know these things already or are unwilling to take the ten seconds to find them out, you probably should be discussing them.

Or... Or... And hear me out here.... You could stop talking out of your a**. We are not a championship contender with Matt Barnes instead of KD, Jones fractures are rarely to never chronic injuries, Scott Brooks apparently did know how to use Kanter (or was that 20/10 Kanter being misused? Maybe he can put up 35/15 this year), 50 wins is not a contender, Kanter was a net negative, and Waiters still sucked.

[spearsy23]

This does not really matter w/o Kd the season is a wash.

And again. clearly you didnt pay attention to last season.

The one where we missed the playoffs? Yeah, we must have missed that. With a healthy Russ all season and no KD we had a winning percentage of .55, that's a 45 win team. Even if you add ten wins to compensate for Serge being out that's a bottom 4 seed.

[Balkman32]

This does not really matter w/o Kd the season is a wash.

And again. clearly you didnt pay attention to last season.

Did I miss something? Did they make the playoffs? Did they get past the first round? I know the others were injured. But, finding a guy to replace Kd is not on Sammy's list to do. Kd is the guy, w/o him this team is not going to win a championship.