OKC aggressively looking to move up in draft?

[Clangus]

I read that on ESPN insider is says that we are among teams looking to move up

Anyone got insider access to confirm/deny this?

[Balkman32]

Confirm. The Thunder with the Spurs and Pistons have been the most aggressive teams making calls about moving up the draft board.

[slick_watts]

Move up for who? If not Cousins, then Monroe? Udoh? Aldrich?

[TheOGJabroni]

I think Monroe really seems like a Presti guy to me. He'd be an incredible fit for OKC, IMO. It's a weird comparison but he's like the big man version of James Harden. He can find his own shot, but is also a great team player and is always looking for the team's scorers.

[slick_watts]

I think Monroe really seems like a Presti guy to me. He'd be an incredible fit for OKC, IMO. It's a weird comparison but he's like the big man version of James Harden. He can find his own shot, but is also a great team player and is always looking for the team's scorers.

I like Monroe too.. we need a big who's going to be able to score. Monroe's big enough to play NBA center passably.

[Rome]

I too would love to see Monroe in a OKC uniform, but how would we be able to move up to 4 or 5 to get him and if we could wouldnt we take cousins?

[Balkman32]

I dont think Udoh and Aldrich are good fits here.

Cousins, Favors, Monroe, and Orton would be my guess.

[sotrak1000]

Buck fan here, I was just wondering if none of the bigs we want are there and the Thunder couldn't successfully move up far enough for Udoh, Aldrich, Monroe, Cousins, or Favors could we draft Orton and swap him for anything from you, and if so what?

[TheOGJabroni]

I too would love to see Monroe in a OKC uniform, but how would we be able to move up to 4 or 5 to get him and if we could wouldnt we take cousins?

With the way that I said Monroe seems like a Presti type player, Cousins is not. If OKC had a top 5 pick this year and both were available, Presti doesn't seem to be the type of GM that would let the media affect his decision and force him to take Cousins just because he is regarded by most as the better prospect. He took Westbrook way higher than he was projected and took Harden when there prospects that were considered better on the board. Him taking Monroe over Cousins would not surprise me in the least, if given the opportunity.

[DizzyDai]

Buck fan here, I was just wondering if none of the bigs we want are there and the Thunder couldn't successfully move up far enough for Udoh, Aldrich, Monroe, Cousins, or Favors could we draft Orton and swap him for anything from you, and if so what?

I wouldn't give up much. A first, a future second and your choice of Kyle Weaver, Nenad Krstic, or D.J. White.

[Jimmy76]

moving up with green and grabbing monore has been my dream off-season for awhile

[Balkman32]

The Thunder will not trade Green, Harden, or Maynor to move up in the draft. It is just not worth it to get a guy who you really have no idea how he can exactaly fit.

[Big_Mac79]

Would one of DET or Utah want to dump salary and trade back for #21?
Detroit has Prince at $11,148,760
Utah has Kirilenko at $17,822,187

[Balkman32]

Would one of DET or Utah want to dump salary and trade back for #21?
Detroit has Prince at $11,148,760
Utah has Kirilenko at $17,822,187

Not for that much cake! Come' on Man!

[sonictecture]

Thus far draft rumors have suggested OKC is willing to take on additional salary from another team to move up in the draft and that OKC has been amongst the more aggressive teams looking to move up. Unless OKC wants to become the youngest team in the history of the NBA by replacing Thomas and Ollie with rookies, there is some logic to consolidating draft picks this year in terms of available roster space and development resources.

Based on history, I would assume that the willingness to add a player contract from another team would have some limits. The player would have to be entering the last year of his contract, the amount of the contract would be less than 10M, the player in question have a personality that doesn't prohibit the addition. Any productivity being a bonus.

Potential Target Teams
Sacramento-If the target draftee is Monroe or Cousins, it looks like this is the first team you'd have to deal with. Sacramento doesn't have an expiring contract they'd like to shed, but Andres Nocioni is a player rumored to be on the trading block. Nocioni has two years remaining at 6.5M a year. If OKC was willing to trade Krstic or Collison back to Sacramento absorbing Nocioni could work from OKC's perspective.

Golden St.- Also doesn't have an expiring contract they want to shed. Here Turiaf comes the closest with two years at 4.5M. OKC could bend there limitations and take on both years for a swap of draft picks.

Detroit- At this point Monroe and Cousins are probably off the board. If the goal is still to move up then the willingness to pay will probably be reduced. Prince was mentioned earlier, but it seems Dumars believes he can still get value for Prince and if not would probably be willing to let him play the season out. Another potential player/contract is Jason Maxiell who has 2 years at 5M a year remaining. Both seem prohibitive cost to move up.

LA Clippers-There are no good matches in terms of salary.

Utah Jazz- Kirilenko is a player that could be a rotation player for OKC, but absorbing his salary straight up is not possible both in terms of cap space available and risk. OKC could trade both Kristic and Collison for Kirilenko absorb the approximately remaining 5M salary for the right to switch picks.

Indiana-Has the most contract options. The best candidate in my mind is Jeff Foster with one year at 6.5M remaining.

Further thoughts?

[slick_watts]

I'm not sure any of those players are enough going out for the teams to consider giving up their lotto picks. After what happened to Washington, I don't think teams will be eager to trade their lotto picks for nothing especially with the big man depth in this draft.

I'm not sure who we are moving up for if it's not Cousins or Monroe. Are Aldrich, Whiteside, Udoh, etc. good enough to move up for? I'm not sure...

I don't think the Jazz view AK47 as trade ballast anymore. He was really productive this year and they're going to be way over the cap anyway. Plus, they probably need a big guy as much as we do. I think they keep that pick.

I think if we move up the most likely would be into the mid first round to pick someone up who Presti just likes for some reason.

[Balkman32]

Indiana is the Best Option. But, I dont know if I see the fit. The Thunder could take back salary, and move up to #10 but what else do they have to give up? Why would Indiana trade back when they could add a PF like Ed Davis @ 10 and let him grow next to Hibbert and Granger.

[sonictecture]

I think any effort to move up after Golden St. is to get someone Preti just likes. It could even be someone that might have fallen to 21, but Presti didn't want to take a chance and wanted to shed some picks rather than add more youth to the roster.

Utah doesn't really give up size in the scenario suggested as they get Kristic and Collison back. The money saved can be used to resign Mathews or Korver while staying below the luxury tax threshold.

Indiana has been losing a lot of money. Shedding 6.5M in salary could be all the incentive needed to trade down in a draft where the talent level is fairly level from 10 through 30. If Indiana doesn't fall in love with anyone at #10, picking up 21, 26 might be desired.

[Hobes]

According to Chad Ford, Cousins is moving down. Apparently many teams are becoming weary of his weight and personality (bad work ethic?). Ford has him projected to go at 6 now. So I doubt the Warriors are willing to give up their pick upon this news, he seems to fit right in their system. But maybe if we could get the King's pick we could snag him up at five (provided Presti likes the guy).

[blueandgold]

Pacer here with the #10 pick to swap. What can you give us. We need PG and PF help. The expirings are Murphy 11M, Ford 8.5M, Dunleavy 9.7M and Foster 6M.