Orton May Have Gotten Promise From Thunder

[TheOGJabroni]

The Thunder may have given Kentucky big man Daniel Orton a guarantee that they'll draft him if he's available with the 21st overall pick.

"Daniel Orton has canceled all six of his remaining workouts, according to an NBA source," Jonathan Givony of Draft Express writes on his Twitter page. "Speculation is that he may have a promise from OKC."



Read more: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... z0r9K49HpU

He's got a ways to go but he could be a nice player for OKC, IMO. What are your thoughts?

[xpmar9x]

He'd be a great pick. I'd say he won't be available at #21 though. T'Wolves at 16, Bulls at 17, or Heat at 18 could use him.

Maybe the Thunder should trade the Bulls, #21 & #32

[xpmar9x]

He'd be a great pick. I'd say he won't be available at #21 though. T'Wolves at 16, Bulls at 17, or Heat at 18 could use him.

Maybe the Thunder should trade the Bulls, #21 & #32

[Clangus]

I didn't think he was going to last until the 21st - I wonder if this is true and if it is I wonder if Presti already has a trade planned to move up?

[wiff]

I have a feeling this is a done deal.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Presti make a package to move up. And I don't see Presti giving up anything other than picks to get it done.

[slick_watts]

Orton at #21 is fine but please don't trade up for him. One of the bigs (Whiteside, Alabi, Orton, even Sanders) is likely to be there at #21 and the difference between them is negligible. If we trade up at all it should be to get one of Monroe or Cousins, and that's very unlikely.

[wiff]

Orton at #21 is fine but please don't trade up for him. One of the bigs (Whiteside, Alabi, Orton, even Sanders) is likely to be there at #21 and the difference between them is negligible. If we trade up at all it should be to get one of Monroe or Cousins, and that's very unlikely.

Negligible, in play but not at the box office.

Since Orton is from OKC I'm sure he will sell some tickets his rookie year.

Of course we all know that's good for about 20 games then it becomes can this guy actually play. As is Luke Ridnor.

[sonictecture]

The difference between Orton and Alabi, Whiteside or Sanders may be fairly small in overall value on draft day, but they offer very different packages in terms of potential fit for the Thunder.

In many ways Orton is similar to the player whose roster spot he is likely to take, Etan Thomas. Similar physical builds and style of play. Orton obviously lacks the experience of Thomas but brings a some athletic ability that Thomas hasn't seen in 10 years.

I think Orton will benefit from what Kendrick Perkins has been able to accomplish on a talented team. If the Thunder can develop Orton similarly then they have a player who projects as a high value role player capable of playing alongside current front court players with good results. I'm not sure the same could be said about the other prospects.

I'm o.k. if Presti moves up to draft Orton. Mostly because I just don't see Presti adding 2-3 more draft picks to next years roster and there is no one else like Orton projected between 10-26.

[slick_watts]

Nobody else like Orton? The guy's a project center. Do you mean nobody as big as Orton? Dexter Pittman is bigger than Orton, and he's actually been productive as a college player. Don't see him in the first round...

Orton has 500 NCAA minutes under his belt and many of the reports on his workouts haven't been that great. He was a top recruit, but there are questions about his knee that he injured in high school.

Orton would be a great pick in the 20's range but I haven't seen anything about the guy that warrants moving assets around to get him. This is the same logic that brought us Byron Mullens last season over Roddy Buckets. Mullens was actually a more highly regarded prospect than Orton is, come to think of it.

We have three selections that's three shots to get a rotation player out of this draft, do you sacrifice one of those chances to move up for Daniel Orton? I wouldn't...

[dream_catcher_9]

Nobody else like Orton? The guy's a project center. Do you mean nobody as big as Orton? Dexter Pittman is bigger than Orton, and he's actually been productive as a college player. Don't see him in the first round...

Orton has 500 NCAA minutes under his belt and many of the reports on his workouts haven't been that great. He was a top recruit, but there are questions about his knee that he injured in high school.

Orton would be a great pick in the 20's range but I haven't seen anything about the guy that warrants moving assets around to get him. This is the same logic that brought us Byron Mullens last season over Roddy Buckets. Mullens was actually a more highly regarded prospect than Orton is, come to think of it.

We have three selections that's three shots to get a rotation player out of this draft, do you sacrifice one of those chances to move up for Daniel Orton? I wouldn't...

PIttman is also 300 pounds, not as athletic and has much more experience. Orton is a big body with good length and good athleticism and the mentality to play in the post. He also has a defensive presence for such a young guy. Those guys are very hard to find.

[slick_watts]

PIttman is also 300 pounds, not as athletic and has much more experience. Orton is a big body with good length and good athleticism and the mentality to play in the post. He also has a defensive presence for such a young guy. Those guys are very hard to find.

I'd say Whiteside (6,000 blocks per game) and Alabi are good defensive presences. As for athleticism, Orton's 4th worse, 5th worse, and 5th worse in No step vertical, Sprint, and Agility testing among the 12 centers tested. Not horrible considering his weight, but the dude's no freak of nature.

What differentiates Orton from Alabi or Whiteside? We know Whiteside blocked over five a game, an accomplishment on its own. We know Alabi has more length than Orton and was productive in school on a team that didn't care much about offense. He can also knock down free throws which might be a nice sign of things offensively. We know he was hurt right before his testing which might have affected his numbers. I'm not averse to drafting Orton but I just don't understand what separates him from the others in that range.

[wiff]

I'm not averse to drafting Orton but I just don't understand what separates him from the others in that range.

He grew up in OKC. Local boy done good.

[sonictecture]

What separates Orton from Alabi and Whiteside on day one is the ability to physically hold position in the post both offensively and defensively. OKC already has the long, raw athletes in Ibaka and Mullens, there is no need to duplicate them with Alabi and Whiteside. Rather give Brooks a different physical option to use in Orton.

The talent level of this draft is not dramatically different from 10 through 30. You may like some of the players rated within this range more than others but overall little separates them. If Presti happens to like Orton more than others in this range and wants to ensure he gets him by using some of the assets he's accumulated for such an opportunity, it seems his right.

We talk all the time about the difference between the market value of a player versus the value a certain player has to a individual team. It's possible that in this case Orton has more value to Presti than what his market value would bring. This type of differential seems to happen often with GM's who have a clear plan for how they want to build a team. The desire to add players that fit with existing teammates over adding players with more production or perceived talent can be difficult to reconcile, but in this situation makes sense.

There are simply not enough developmental assets to draft 3-4 players in this draft with the intent of trying to find a rotation player. I am in favor of consolidating, selling or stashing assets and selecting one or two potential roster players for next years team.

[maldridge5783]

Negligible, in play but not at the box office.

Box office is doing fine. 93% season ticket renewal. Sold tons of new season tickets during the playoff run. Already had 98.9% attendance for the year.

We want to win; not a hometown hero. Our hero is Durant.

[Jimmy76]

we should move up

grab Monroe if he falls

Aldrich if he doesnt

I can live with Orton as late lotto

[dream_catcher_9]

PIttman is also 300 pounds, not as athletic and has much more experience. Orton is a big body with good length and good athleticism and the mentality to play in the post. He also has a defensive presence for such a young guy. Those guys are very hard to find.

I'd say Whiteside (6,000 blocks per game) and Alabi are good defensive presences. As for athleticism, Orton's 4th worse, 5th worse, and 5th worse in No step vertical, Sprint, and Agility testing among the 12 centers tested. Not horrible considering his weight, but the dude's no freak of nature.

What differentiates Orton from Alabi or Whiteside? We know Whiteside blocked over five a game, an accomplishment on its own. We know Alabi has more length than Orton and was productive in school on a team that didn't care much about offense. He can also knock down free throws which might be a nice sign of things offensively. We know he was hurt right before his testing which might have affected his numbers. I'm not averse to drafting Orton but I just don't understand what separates him from the others in that range.

Whiteside is a freak of nature sure, long wingspan and standing reach, but he has major red flags on his character and work ethic AND is rail thin. No way would he be able to contribute right away with his frame, and might not contribute in the future because of his character/work ethic.

Alabi has good character good work ethic, and has great length. However he is not a big body in width, he will get back down in the NBA right off the bat. He will get stronger in the future but he is going to be 23 this coming season, while Orton will turn 20 this season.

I wouldn't mind drafting Alabi if Orton is off the board but no way would I touch Whiteside.

[wiff]

Negligible, in play but not at the box office.

Box office is doing fine. 93% season ticket renewal. Sold tons of new season tickets during the playoff run. Already had 98.9% attendance for the year.

We want to win; not a hometown hero. Our hero is Durant.

Personally I think drafting hometown heros is foolish but you can't deny it happens.

[Balkman32]

I aggree a little bit on Orton comming back home might not be the best situation. He can't go back and hang out with his old friends and turn his house into a FRAT house. He is a professional basketball player. Hopefully if the Thunder draft him he understands that the most important thing is to have good people around him. He has to put his team first and his much friends and fam to the side if thy are goin to b a crutch in any way.

[slick_watts]

From Yahoo.com: http://tinyurl.com/2e2z5hq

League executives say Orton has been out of shape and struggling with knee issues during the predraft process. Orton, a 6-foot-10 freshman, had planned to hire agent Raymond Brothers, but sources said an internal family struggle over control has kept him without formal representation. With so much uncertainty surrounding Orton, he could face a steep drop Thursday night.

It's funny how we lambast productive prospects like Cousins or productive NBA centers like Dalembert for their 'red flags' but we're talking about moving up for this unproven local product who has more questions than almost all the other bigs projected in the first round.

Orton at 21.. yeah, OK. But please, please do not trade up for this guy. That would be a joke.

[sonictecture]

It's difficult to take too much stock in the speculation going on at this time a year, good or bad.

Red Flags?
I'm not sure what constitutes as being in shape, but there is evidence that Orton has/had been preparing for the workouts with consultants. He weighed in the draft combine at 270, but looked closer to 240. This is a man who carries his weight very well.

Considering the rookie wage scale, I'm not so sure that Orton not having representation counts as a red flag. Orton is essentially locked into his first contract based on when he's drafted. Players change agents so much that it makes no sense to worry about the second contract at this point.

A potential knee injury certain raises concern and requires the diligence of a medical review, but not even this is really a red flag in my mind until an injury becomes known.

Orton has always fallen in the category of having to project his future success based on his limited experience at Kentucky. He's hardly the first prospect to fall into this category.

If Presti wants Orton and it isn't necessary to move up to secure him, then great. Otherwise I am always in favor of getting the player you want.