RealGM

Do you think the Thunder will make any moves?

I honestly do not see them making a hugh splash at all. But, getting a guy who can start @ the 2 would be nice if Thabo is really not comming back soon. Other needs is @ Point Guard and Center. I think the point is more of a need especially the way we did not move the ball enough in the playoffs and how Maynor is not comming back this season. Plus, Aldrich might be able to help the need at center.

I think in general we equate good ball movement and high assist totals with good team offense, but the Thunder don't follow this paradigm in their methodology of team offense. Brooks has allowed his best players to develop naturally and uses their strengths to the teams advantage. Other players have agreed to play a role within the offense and contribute in ways other than scoring. I've accepted this team for what it is and eagerly await it being tested in the playoffs.

I thought that Chase Budinger should be on the Presti's radar, but he's in the rotation and Houston looks like a playoff team this year. I have some interest in J.J. Hickson, but there doesn't seem any room for him.

Lazar Hayward scored 30 & 27 points respectively in his first two games with Tulsa with decent rebounding. If Hayward gets a little confidence back in his shot, perhaps he could fill a Budinger role?

We might trade for a rental backup PG, like a ridnour or something.

fallacy wrote:We might trade for a rental backup PG, like a ridnour or something.

That is the need right now. If Westbrook went down the Thunder would be right behind him.

back-up pg n pf/c type guy

Could maybe use a rental of a backup PG, but I think we're staying put.

I think we need a wing scorer. Backup PG doesn't seem too important to me since James Harden should be handling in those situations anyway. Reggie's issue is that he isn't shooting well. I'd take a look at Beno Udrih, though. Maybe Dorrell Wright.

Beno would be a nice pickup at the deadline. Only problem is that he makes 7.2 million this year and next. We would have to trade Nazr as well as a couple other players to stay under the cap.

Maybe Nazr, our Mullens trade exception and Maynor?

We can't combine Mullens TPE with players. If that TPE is going out, it'll be TPE + 100k not the usual 125% rule.

Is it just me or is durant getting more and more time at the 4 in our smallball lineup which we have use pretty often(and quite well i must say)? Pretty sure that it'll probably mean Harden > Ibaka > Perkins in terms of importance to resign/trade. Don't think we need a PF/C then.

If the aim is just to get a floor spreader and let harden handle the ball, we can go for daniel gibson as well. He's quite decent from range.

The Thunder will not take on Beno. He is too much against the cap next season.

Balkman32 wrote:The Thunder will not take on Beno. He is too much against the cap next season.

What are we doing with cap space next year?

Westbrook is getting an extra 10 million. They cant get too close to the Lux tax. Because the Thunder will be in it soon. And once you are in it for multiple years the penalty gets worse and worse.

What are the thoughts on CJ Miles and Gerald Wallace? I don't know if Portland would even trade with us.

slick_watts wrote:

Balkman32 wrote:The Thunder will not take on Beno. He is too much against the cap next season.

What are we doing with cap space next year?

exactly, we have enough room for Beno this year and next if we trade Nazr and Maynor.

Balkman32 wrote:What are the thoughts on CJ Miles and Gerald Wallace? I don't know if Portland would even trade with us.

what are we going to give up? Wallace is still a >8m player even on his new contract. Miles is probably too good for the little time behind Durant. I do believe if we have Thabo back that's enough for durant backup minutes.

We need find some scoring from our PF/C. Maybe Aldrich can come in and provide some more (beside what Ibaka is giving us)

I really think that Presti believes in Aldrich enough that when the time comes for Ibaka/Harden resigning then Perk is going to get the amnesty and Aldrich will be our starting C after years of grooming.

As much as I believe that Presti will always do what he believes is right for the franchise, I also don't think that he plans to amnesty Perkins. Presti seems much more aware that the players on the team are people who deserve to be treated with respect.

I think Presti appreciates what Perkins brings to the team and that Perkins still fits into the teams plans.

If you go back and look at Presti transactions they always have an element of what was good for the player as well as the team. Robinson was bought out so he could find a team with more playing time. White and Mullens were traded for the same reason. Even the trade of Ray Allen can be viewed as a move that was good for the player.

Brooks seems much more responsible for Aldrich's future on the team right now than Presti.

sonictecture wrote:As much as I believe that Presti will always do what he believes is right for the franchise, I also don't think that he plans to amnesty Perkins. Presti seems much more aware that the players on the team are people who deserve to be treated with respect.

I think Presti appreciates what Perkins brings to the team and that Perkins still fits into the teams plans.

As a team that should be contending for a few more years, it'll definitely look better on us if we keep Perkins and take on the luxury tax rather than amnesty Perkins and go out to bid a replacement level big for 2-3m(and still paying tax). Which will probably means a savings of 3-5m once you count on the cap implication.

Worst case, i can see us trading Perkins for expiring contract.

I used Perkins 8m * 2 = 16m vs 3m *2 + 5m ( Other team bidding 3m to win amnesty bidding) = 11m
Savings of 5m on his 2nd last year of contract.

I don't think we should be worried about what is going to happen in 3 years. Sammy will figure it out. What is more important is what will they do if anything to make this team better right now.

Balkman32 wrote:I don't think we should be worried about what is going to happen in 3 years. Sammy will figure it out. What is more important is what will they do if anything to make this team better right now.

we just need a better backup PG or combo guard that can shoot 3?