OKC Thunder Offseason 2015

[spearsy23]

*snip*

Was just about to post this, almost guarantees Singler and Kanter are back.

[Marcus50]

Pretty clear signal from Presti that this teams future will be built around KD Serge Russ and Kanter moving forward. That's a powerful starting lineup and with role players and rookie contracts making up the balance its not a bad call

[Grolgar]

Do you think Kanter would be okay being our 6th man?

I'd love to see this starting lineup:
PG: Russ
SG: Morrow/Roberson (vary it depending on match ups please)
SF: KD
PF: Serge
C: Adams

I'd then bring out KD and Adams first and let Russ and Kanter work the pick and roll.

What I love about this team is the flexibility now. Why can't we stagger lineups and use guys based on their strengths and opponents? For example, instead of forcing Roberson into a 3 and D role he's clearly not offensively ready for, bring him in as a defensive specialist. Some nights he gets 20 minutes and other nights zero. Thoughts?

[bondom34]

Do you think Kanter would be okay being our 6th man?

I'd love to see this starting lineup:
PG: Russ
SG: Morrow/Roberson (vary it depending on match ups please)
SF: KD
PF: Serge
C: Adams

I'd then bring out KD and Adams first and let Russ and Kanter work the pick and roll.

What I love about this team is the flexibility now. Why can't we stagger lineups and use guys based on their strengths and opponents? For example, instead of forcing Roberson into a 3 and D role he's clearly not offensively ready for, bring him in as a defensive specialist. Some nights he gets 20 minutes and other nights zero. Thoughts?

I'd rather Roberson start because I feel like he's best fit with the starters to let Russ rest on defense and his offense is covered by the others. As for the center, its a coin flip. I really would be up for anything there, I'm thinking they'll split minutes kinda even.

[Grolgar]

I get the reasoning, but I guess I don't think Roberson should start every game. I think he needs to learn to play situationally. If the other team is starting Tony Wroten then why play Roberson? We know Roberson can become unplayable in certain playoff situations so why not use Robes situationally all season?

[bondom34]

I get the reasoning, but I guess I don't think Roberson should start every game. I think he needs to learn to play situationally. If the other team is starting Tony Wroten then why play Roberson? We know Roberson can become unplayable in certain playoff situations so why not use Robes situationally all season?

I don't think he will be for sure, if he gets continual playing time his offense can easily become good enough, he's already a plus statistically speaking, and knows his role well. I'd rather Morrow as a sparkplug guy.

[spearsy23]

I get the reasoning, but I guess I don't think Roberson should start every game. I think he needs to learn to play situationally. If the other team is starting Tony Wroten then why play Roberson? We know Roberson can become unplayable in certain playoff situations so why not use Robes situationally all season?

When will Roberson be unplayable? It's not like he's a horrible offensive player. If Tony Wroten is the best perimeter player on the other team then you put Robes on him and let him shut Wroten down. You can only score so many points, why put another player out there with Durant, Russ, Serge and Kanter who needs to score to justify minutes? Why not play that guy with the second unit where points and a system are needed?

[bondom34]

As weird as it sounds, I'd debate trading back if Oubre wasn't available. I've talked about a pick swap w/ Toronto where they get PJ and Dion, OKC gets Ross, and they swap 14 for 20, some seem to like it on the trade board, others meh. Ross can at least shoot some and might be a solid KD backup if Oubre's not there.

[Marcus50]

Do you think Kanter would be okay being our 6th man?

I'd love to see this starting lineup:
PG: Russ
SG: Morrow/Roberson (vary it depending on match ups please)
SF: KD
PF: Serge
C: Adams

I'd then bring out KD and Adams first and let Russ and Kanter work the pick and roll.

What I love about this team is the flexibility now. Why can't we stagger lineups and use guys based on their strengths and opponents? For example, instead of forcing Roberson into a 3 and D role he's clearly not offensively ready for, bring him in as a defensive specialist. Some nights he gets 20 minutes and other nights zero. Thoughts?

I think that is our best starting lineup but Kanter's defense will kill us in the 2nd lineup.

The big question in my mind is why does okc think it can fix Kanter's defense when the Jazz spent 4 years and got nowhere?

[spearsy23]

As weird as it sounds, I'd debate trading back if Oubre wasn't available. I've talked about a pick swap w/ Toronto where they get PJ and Dion, OKC gets Ross, and they swap 14 for 20, some seem to like it on the trade board, others meh. Ross can at least shoot some and might be a solid KD backup if Oubre's not there.

It's not bad, but I'd rather just take BPA and play Lamb. Maybe I'm still irrationally high on him or I just like Ross less than most, but I don't think he's much of an upgrade. Supposedly the Spurs are going to shake up their roster, if Oubre's gone I wonder if Danny Green is available...

[spearsy23]

Do you think Kanter would be okay being our 6th man?

I'd love to see this starting lineup:
PG: Russ
SG: Morrow/Roberson (vary it depending on match ups please)
SF: KD
PF: Serge
C: Adams

I'd then bring out KD and Adams first and let Russ and Kanter work the pick and roll.

What I love about this team is the flexibility now. Why can't we stagger lineups and use guys based on their strengths and opponents? For example, instead of forcing Roberson into a 3 and D role he's clearly not offensively ready for, bring him in as a defensive specialist. Some nights he gets 20 minutes and other nights zero. Thoughts?

I think that is our best starting lineup but Kanter's defense will kill us in the 2nd lineup.

The big question in my mind is why does okc think it can fix Kanter's defense when the Jazz spent 4 years and got nowhere?

Because he's 23 and big men take a while to figure out NBA defense. Especially ones that aren't uber athletic. Besides, it's not like we expect him to be Marc Gasol, he just has to be slightly below average. Even if he stays terribad he scores so well that having him play 24 minutes per night isn't a bad thing. He was putting up 18/10 in well under 30 minutes, that's insane production.

[KD35Brah]

Do you think Kanter would be okay being our 6th man?

I'd love to see this starting lineup:
PG: Russ
SG: Morrow/Roberson (vary it depending on match ups please)
SF: KD
PF: Serge
C: Adams

I'd then bring out KD and Adams first and let Russ and Kanter work the pick and roll.

What I love about this team is the flexibility now. Why can't we stagger lineups and use guys based on their strengths and opponents? For example, instead of forcing Roberson into a 3 and D role he's clearly not offensively ready for, bring him in as a defensive specialist. Some nights he gets 20 minutes and other nights zero. Thoughts?

I think that is our best starting lineup but Kanter's defense will kill us in the 2nd lineup.

The big question in my mind is why does okc think it can fix Kanter's defense when the Jazz spent 4 years and got nowhere?

He already said he is going to be working on his defense this summer and he is going to play on his national team(they most likely demand defense like our Team USA).

Donovan and a defensive assistant will most likely work with him.

Donovan has a lot of plays for post up bigs too, which Kanter is perfect for.

[Marcus50]

Do you think Kanter would be okay being our 6th man?

I'd love to see this starting lineup:
PG: Russ
SG: Morrow/Roberson (vary it depending on match ups please)
SF: KD
PF: Serge
C: Adams

I'd then bring out KD and Adams first and let Russ and Kanter work the pick and roll.

What I love about this team is the flexibility now. Why can't we stagger lineups and use guys based on their strengths and opponents? For example, instead of forcing Roberson into a 3 and D role he's clearly not offensively ready for, bring him in as a defensive specialist. Some nights he gets 20 minutes and other nights zero. Thoughts?

I think that is our best starting lineup but Kanter's defense will kill us in the 2nd lineup.

The big question in my mind is why does okc think it can fix Kanter's defense when the Jazz spent 4 years and got nowhere?

Because he's 23 and big men take a while to figure out NBA defense. Especially ones that aren't uber athletic. Besides, it's not like we expect him to be Marc Gasol, he just has to be slightly below average. Even if he stays terribad he scores so well that having him play 24 minutes per night isn't a bad thing. He was putting up 18/10 in well under 30 minutes, that's insane production.

Look don't gete wrong I would love for Kanter to be a great signing but each year he has said he will work on his defense and after 4 years he is the third worst Centre on defensive metrics. All I saying is okc must think the can achieve some defensive output that the Jazz couldn't.

Remember with Kanter's scoring comes a very porous defense that so far is producing a net negative overall.contribution despite the impressive scoring numbers.

We shall see but it's a risky signing given the $ it's going to take. If you look at the Jazz site there is not a lot of love for the big man

[kd 35]

Some of you will probably hate these but I thought I'd share my uniform concepts with you guys - since it is the offseason and all.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I like what you did with the OKC. I'm not a fan of the stripe you have down the side. It looks like an indian rug design to me and while I understand how that would tie in with Oklahoma I'm just not feeling it on the jerseys. I don't like the yellow one it makes me think of Michigan not OKC. I think I understand what you were going for and they don't look bad, but they are not my style. If the stripe was solid or solid with a single colored row of diamonds I'd probably like it better.

[bondom34]

The OKC is cool, and I actually really like the black ones (though I admit I'm always a fan of black jerseys pretty much). Good stuff!

[KD35Brah]

Looks like we got one assistant down.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DarnellMayberry/status/596529600693305344[/tweet]

Is he any good?

[bondom34]

Looks like we got one assistant down.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DarnellMayberry/status/596529600693305344[/tweet]

Is he any good?

He was Alabam's HC for a few years as well as VCU. Don't know hos style but he had some god teams given they weren't at basketball schools (VCU wasn't yet).

[Zagor]

That was expected,thing that he will bring some of his familiar faces.
Grant was his assistant for 10 years at UF according to wikipedia. I think the most important assistant will come as the last.
That defensive guru and also experienced man in nba stuff.

@kd 35
I like that black jersey,OKC logo is attractive....but I don't like yellow jersey and that stripes.
Franchise needs new logo,that needs to be priority if they want to change something.

[spearsy23]

I don't get why people hate our jerseys so much, I'm quite fond of them.