Thunder Offseason Thread

[ThunderBolt]

That is beautiful news! Now, when it actually gets time to make the deal I expect Presti to let Riley keep Winslow. I also think that Russ being involved in the negotiations helps because his ego will be telling Riley that he is worth all of that and then some and that getting him will be like when he got LeBron.

I’ve you really believe everything you’ve said about russ over the last year I think you need to lower your expectations for the trade return.

[Woerzboerg]

Imagine those two with plethora of picks, additioned by healthy Dre, Gallo and Adams.
Competitive basketball next year, with I hope Donovan finally showing his magic touch.

This would probably still be one of the worst teams in the west and I think this would be a good thing. We need to get very high draft Picks 2020 and 2021 to get the chance for a new Superstar.

[jaydubery]

I feel like even though we won the Croatia game, it reminded me so much of the season. Being out executed by a team that has a strong systems approach that compliments their athletes. Points are scored based on how well you read the D and run that system, not just if they guy with the ball makes a good move. Things like, back cuts on all weak side traps, or flair any ball screens with primary handlers, big man flash, wing corner drop on uneven fast breaks. Which is ironic that OKC is bad at that because OK HS basketball (from when I was there) is built solely on that. I hope that will all these changes, and players coming leaving, etc. That we can start building a system. Obviously it would be more complicated than I wrote but you can see it bee successful with so many teams. The long term goal is that it becomes a plug and play ala, the Spurs but that’s very rare, a mid term goal would be somewhere like Denver, GS or Toronto, then short term goal is like Utah.

[CROklahoma]

Imagine those two with plethora of picks, additioned by healthy Dre, Gallo and Adams.
Competitive basketball next year, with I hope Donovan finally showing his magic touch.

This would probably still be one of the worst teams in the west and I think this would be a good thing. We need to get very high draft Picks 2020 and 2021 to get the chance for a new Superstar.

Take a look at the Clippers last season, with a worse roster they managed to squeze GSW in the first round, right were we were with our stars.

[jaydubery]

I feel like “tanking” isn’t the way, outside of a few cases, the “tanked” teams in the last 5 years still suck. Look at Denver, Toronto, Clippers, Utah, Milwaukee, and others as mentioned above. I’m sure there’s tons more. They found some good picks mid-late and built them in. I’m not saying the extreme the opposite way, I just don’t know if that bottom out system has really worked. We saw Philly pan out there lotteries and now we feel like that’s the way. But look at all the tanked top 5 picks who suck, and didn’t turn the team around. A lot of the success is moving average picks for expiring or young talented guys plus some decent drafting. Heck that’s how GS got good outside of Steph.

[ThunderBolt]

Imagine those two with plethora of picks, additioned by healthy Dre, Gallo and Adams.
Competitive basketball next year, with I hope Donovan finally showing his magic touch.

This would probably still be one of the worst teams in the west and I think this would be a good thing. We need to get very high draft Picks 2020 and 2021 to get the chance for a new Superstar.

Take a look at the Clippers last season, with a worse roster they managed to squeze GSW in the first round, right were we were with our stars.

They didn't have a superstar in Paul George but their roster was much more complete. For your example you are using a best case scenario of a competitive first round exit. No thanks. I don't want 3-4 seasons of extending losing but we don't need to make the playoffs next year.

[Dadouv47]

My eagerness to get Herro is heightened by years of average to below average shooters. SGA and Herro backcourt feels and looks like one built for the modern NBA.

I agree although lately people have been talking about herro like he’s Zion. Nice prospect but he was the 13th pick in a weak draft.

Fair enough. Would be excited to get one more young prospect. SGA/Herro would be a great combo to start a rebuild. Not expecting so much from Ferguson/Diallo/Bazley (even if I like Diallo)

[Dadouv47]

That is beautiful news! Now, when it actually gets time to make the deal I expect Presti to let Riley keep Winslow. I also think that Russ being involved in the negotiations helps because his ego will be telling Riley that he is worth all of that and then some and that getting him will be like when he got LeBron.

I’ve you really believe everything you’ve said about russ over the last year I think you need to lower your expectations for the trade return.

If we value Russ like Kizz and Slick we should give SGA/the 5 picks we acquired in the PG13 trade/our 3 next first picks (unprotected) in order to get rid of Westbrook.

[jaydubery]

My eagerness to get Herro is heightened by years of average to below average shooters. SGA and Herro backcourt feels and looks like one built for the modern NBA.

I agree although lately people have been talking about herro like he’s Zion. Nice prospect but he was the 13th pick in a weak draft.

Fair enough. Would be excited to get one more young prospect. SGA/Herro would be a great combo to start a rebuild. Not expecting so much from Ferguson/Diallo/Bazley (even if I like Diallo)

I think those three would do fine if we had a systems coach. It’s why I’ve never loved Callipari but was a huge Brad Stevens guy. A good coach has 3 routes. Great at individual player development, good at team system development or good at talent acquisition. The third one is pretty much out the window at the NBA level at this point. I think Billy banked on a lot of 3 at Florida. I always looked at this in college is how well did your team perform in the tournament on a down recruiting year. Great system development guys were Bob Ryan, Boehiem, (duh) Izzo, etc. they took “good” teams and they overperformed. Some of the other coaches who were heavy on #3, had great teams that often underperformed.

[jaydubery]

I agree although lately people have been talking about herro like he’s Zion. Nice prospect but he was the 13th pick in a weak draft.

Fair enough. Would be excited to get one more young prospect. SGA/Herro would be a great combo to start a rebuild. Not expecting so much from Ferguson/Diallo/Bazley (even if I like Diallo)

I think those three would do fine if we had a systems coach. It’s why I’ve never loved Callipari but was a huge Brad Stevens guy. A good coach has 3 routes. Great at individual player development, good at team system development or good at talent acquisition. The third one is pretty much out the window at the NBA level at this point. I think Billy banked on a lot of 3 at Florida. I always looked at this in college is how well did your team perform in the tournament on a down recruiting year. Great system development guys were Bob Ryan, Boehiem, (duh) Izzo, etc. they took “good” teams and they overperformed. Some of the other coaches who were heavy on #3, had great teams that often underperformed.

Sorry didn’t finish my thought to tie it together. So I think it comes back to getting a player development coach and/shooting coach, and adding some assistants with some systems backgrounds to put these young guys in positions to grow why capitalizing on their strengths

[Dadouv47]

Fair enough. Would be excited to get one more young prospect. SGA/Herro would be a great combo to start a rebuild. Not expecting so much from Ferguson/Diallo/Bazley (even if I like Diallo)

I think those three would do fine if we had a systems coach. It’s why I’ve never loved Callipari but was a huge Brad Stevens guy. A good coach has 3 routes. Great at individual player development, good at team system development or good at talent acquisition. The third one is pretty much out the window at the NBA level at this point. I think Billy banked on a lot of 3 at Florida. I always looked at this in college is how well did your team perform in the tournament on a down recruiting year. Great system development guys were Bob Ryan, Boehiem, (duh) Izzo, etc. they took “good” teams and they overperformed. Some of the other coaches who were heavy on #3, had great teams that often underperformed.

Sorry didn’t finish my thought to tie it together. So I think it comes back to getting a player development coach and/shooting coach, and adding some assistants with some systems backgrounds to put these young guys in positions to grow why capitalizing on their strengths

Can't disagree. But we are going to trade everyone and close the peake before getting rid of Donovan.

Hiring Donovan (even more one year before Durant's free agency) was Presti's biggest mistake. Keeping him is just absurd.

[BallinBug]

With Jerami gone, PG gone and especially Russ soon to be gone this Thunder team will lose the magic that made me a fan of it in the first place. I'll likely end up following whatever team they ultimately end up trading Russel too, because ultimately I became a fan because of him. It's just not much fun watching a team that's tanking or 'rebuilding' for the foreseeable future without a charismatic player like WB leading the charge. Hopefully OKC comes back strong at some point and I'll tune in again when that happens.

[slick_watts]

that tweet is b.s. imo. the thunder are the ones who are time constrained not the heat or any other trade partners. we know sam presti is not going to hold onto westbrook longer than necessary. if this isn't done before summer league ends i'll be surprised. the heat will wait the thunder out not the other way around.

[jaydubery]

I think those three would do fine if we had a systems coach. It’s why I’ve never loved Callipari but was a huge Brad Stevens guy. A good coach has 3 routes. Great at individual player development, good at team system development or good at talent acquisition. The third one is pretty much out the window at the NBA level at this point. I think Billy banked on a lot of 3 at Florida. I always looked at this in college is how well did your team perform in the tournament on a down recruiting year. Great system development guys were Bob Ryan, Boehiem, (duh) Izzo, etc. they took “good” teams and they overperformed. Some of the other coaches who were heavy on #3, had great teams that often underperformed.

Sorry didn’t finish my thought to tie it together. So I think it comes back to getting a player development coach and/shooting coach, and adding some assistants with some systems backgrounds to put these young guys in positions to grow why capitalizing on their strengths

Can't disagree. But we are going to trade everyone and close the peake before getting rid of Donovan.

Hiring Donovan (even more one year before Durant's free agency) was Presti's biggest mistake. Keeping him is just absurd.

Yes I hear you on that. I think the Spurs pipeline has dried up for stealing assistants but I think we need to put some guys in the staff that can help build some of these things. “billy we are committed to you, but we need to see some changes, were gonna add _____ to the staff to work on etc.” not sure if Presti or whoever knows enough about team development to pluck those guys. Most owners teams rely on the coaches to find them but I don’t think that’s smart here.

[ThunderBolt]

Sorry didn’t finish my thought to tie it together. So I think it comes back to getting a player development coach and/shooting coach, and adding some assistants with some systems backgrounds to put these young guys in positions to grow why capitalizing on their strengths

Can't disagree. But we are going to trade everyone and close the peake before getting rid of Donovan.

Hiring Donovan (even more one year before Durant's free agency) was Presti's biggest mistake. Keeping him is just absurd.

Yes I hear you on that. I think the Spurs pipeline has dried up for stealing assistants but I think we need to put some guys in the staff that can help build some of these things. “billy we are committed to you, but we need to see some changes, were gonna add _____ to the staff to work on etc.” not sure if Presti or whoever knows enough about team development to pluck those guys. Most owners teams rely on the coaches to find them but I don’t think that’s smart here.

I've always wondered why Etorre Messina has never been hired for a HC position in the NBA. It loos like he finally gave up and went back to Europe.

[Old Man Game]

If tossing Ferg into a deal would get back Herro (and other assets for salary ballast, obviously) would you do it? I think I would. At year 3 of the rookie deal I'm not sure Ferg even fits our timeline anymore. Lot of that depends on whether they view this as a full tank or a quick rebuild.

[Dadouv47]

If tossing Ferg into a deal would get back Herro (and other assets for salary ballast, obviously) would you do it? I think I would. At year 3 of the rookie deal I'm not sure Ferg even fits our timeline anymore. Lot of that depends on whether they view this as a full tank or a quick rebuild.

I would, but I'm very low on Ferguson since day 1. He really improved last year but still don't think his ceiling is really high.

He still fits our timeline though.

[slick_watts]

If tossing Ferg into a deal would get back Herro (and other assets for salary ballast, obviously) would you do it? I think I would. At year 3 of the rookie deal I'm not sure Ferg even fits our timeline anymore. Lot of that depends on whether they view this as a full tank or a quick rebuild.

i don't think terrance ferguson moves the needle for miami at all.

[ThunderBolt]

It kind of feels like a make or break year for Ferguson.

[BBallFreak]

My eagerness to get Herro is heightened by years of average to below average shooters. SGA and Herro backcourt feels and looks like one built for the modern NBA.

I agree although lately people have been talking about herro like he’s Zion. Nice prospect but he was the 13th pick in a weak draft.

Hi guys. Heat fan. I come in peace.

This is a valid point, but Herro is getting the hype because of the way he's playing. He's handling, shooting, penetrating, and finishing. As a Heat fan I'm excited to see him play for my team. At the same time, if we can keep Bam and Winslow and still get Westbrook, I'd do the trade. Unfortunately that likely means you guys have to take James Johnson's contract to make it work (as well as Dragic), financially as we're hard capped this year. We'd obviously remove the protections on the 2023 pick and probably give a lightly protected 2025 pick. Would you guys be ok with that sort of deal?