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Thunder Rank

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:46 pm
by sonictecture
Royce Young at Daily Thunder put together a preseason ranking from 18 to 1 of Thunder players currently under contract. Royce didn't talk about his criteria of the ranking, but in his explanations you can see that they are influenced by past memories that stuck and a fan's observance. I found the ranking very interesting and topical to current threads on this board.

http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/09/thu ... more-22009
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/09/thunderrank-10-1/

Royce Youngs List:
18. Andy Rautins
17. DeAndre Liggins
16. Daniel Orton
15. Hollis Thompson
14. Hasheem Thabeet
13. Lazar Haywood
12. Cole Aldrich
11. Reggie Jackson
10. Daequan Cook
9. Perry Jones
8. Kendrick Perkins
7. Eric Maynor
6. Thabo Sefolosha
5. Nick Collison
4. Serge Ibaka
3. James Harden
2. Russell Westbrook
1. Kevin Durant

Do you agree with this list? Feel free to make your own list.

Re: Thunder Rank

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:52 pm
by cumaethor
My list:
18. Andy Rautins
17. DeAndre Liggins
16. Cole Aldrich
15. Daniel Orton
14. Hollis Thompson
13. Hasheem Thabeet
12. Lazar Haywood
11. Reggie Jackson
10. Daequan Cook
9. Perry Jones III
8. Thabo Sefolosha
7. Nick Collison
6. Eric Maynor
5. Kendrick Perkins
4. Serge Ibaka
3. James Harden
2. Russell Westbrook
1. Kevin Durant

I am not high on Aldrich he had plenty of time to show us something, he even failed to deliver in this years summerleague. And I don't like Thabo as much as Royce, he is not good as advertised.
I hope Jones III jumps few places when season starts.

Re: Thunder Rank

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 2:31 am
by CKRT
Nick is most definitely better than Ibaka unless Serge learned to actually play defense.

Re: Thunder Rank

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 3:43 pm
by Devilanche
Based it on current level of player and their assumed minutes they'll play. Wanted to see preseason to see how much ibaka can improve. Harden efficiency is absurd but unless he start adding new layers to his game (mid range for one), there's very little room for him to improve.

18.Andy Rautins
17.Daniel Orton
16.Hollis Thompson
15.DeAndre Liggins
14.Cole Aldrich
13.Hasheem Thabeet
12.Lazar Haywood
11.Daequan Cook
10.Perry Jones
9.Reggie Jackson
8.Kendrick Perkins
7.Eric Maynor
6.Nick Collison
5.Thabo Sefolosha
3.Serge Ibaka
3.James Harden
2.Russell Westbrook
1.Kevin Durant

Re: Thunder Rank

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 6:05 am
by sonictecture
19. Walker Russell
The oldest point guard in camp. A five year veteran of the dleague, who received a call up and played a bit for Detroit last year. Smaller point at barely 6'-0" and only 170lbs. Knows how to run a team, looks to get teammates involved as evidenced by very good assist numbers. Typically Presti like to reward Tulsa guys with a training camp invite with Vaden and Reid being recent examples.
18. Andy Rautins
Lacks size, lacks athleticism and is a shooting specialist that hasn't mastered the art of hitting shots without the luxury of playing time required to warm muscles and create a rhythm. Is routinely lauded for a high basketball IQ and Presti still has scouting and dleague positions open.
17. D'Andre Liggins
Does anyone remember Elijah Milsap? Presti brought Paul Milsap's little brother to camp two years ago where he got some decent reviews for defensive potential. Milsap played well for the 66ers for a year and then was quietly traded to the LA Defenders last summer, where he enjoyed a successful year at least by dleague standards. Liggins is the same kind of player. His remote chance to make the team is based on how well he defends, he has a jack of all trades, master of none skill set. Excellent size, but average athleticism. There is room on the 66er roster if Liggins wants to hang around for a potential NBA call up.
16. Daniel Orton
Pre draft rumors suggested Presti might be interested in Orton as a late first round draft choice. Orton was able to leverage some defensive moments at Kentucky and his "big man" potential to Orlando before injuries and frequent visits to Stan Van Gundy's dog house made his potential look less promising. Would Orton have received an invite if he grew up in Portland, Oregon rather than Oklahoma City? If Orton is willing to spend some time in Tulsa he might have more career opportunities a year from now. The 66ers run the same system as the Thunder and if Orton can play a Kendrick Perkins role teams could be interested.
15.Hasheem Thabeet
Low risk, tallest player in team history, willing to sign for the minimum. These are the positives Thabeet brings to the Thunder roster. There may be a tendency to rank Thabeet higher because he was drafted second overall or because he is 7'-3" tall, but his play to date says this is currently the proper place.
14. Lazar Haywood
Lazar has to question his future in OKC. Presti just drafted and signed two small forward candidates in Jones and Thompson that have longer security contracts than Lazar. Haywood conducts himself in a professional manner, gets along well with teammates and understands he is a role player. Haywood has a guaranteed year left on his contract and is no longer eligible for dleague assignments so he's likely to remain a practice player for another year unless someone above stands out.
13. Hollis Thompson
Thompson suffered a groin injury before the draft and never had the opportunity to convince scouts he had more to offer than his numbers as a team player at Georgetown indicated. Thompson has very good size at 6'-8" and acceptable athleticism. Thompson is a scorer but may be asked to specialize as a shooter. While minutes in OKC will be scarce, opportunities in Tulsa should be abundant and his role there will be telling to his potential future.
12. Daequan Cook
Asked to be a three point shooter off the bench, unfortunately Cook has been streaky enough to question whether he is a good enough shooter for this role. A better athlete and a more willing defender than many of his peers in the league in the same role, but none of that matters if you can't hit enough shots, especially open looks. Cook spent the summer in the Thunder practice facility working on his game demonstrating a willingness to buy into the Thunder program and a recognition that he needs to play better to get another contract.
11. Reggie Jackson
Pressed into action after Maynor injured his knee and replaced by Fisher at the end of the season. Jackson played cautiously in an effort to do no harm as a rookie back up point guard. With Maynor's return Jackson will have additional opportunities as a scorer, with a unique package of length and athleticism. Jackson has tantalizing potential, but if he can't cement a rotation position this year still has eligibility for the dleague if it is deemed playing time is desirable.
10. Cole Aldrich
You've heard Presti talk about players blending into the team, and developing at their own pace, well Aldrich is the poster boy. Presti decided not to resign Mohammed who was preferred by Brooks, signed Thabeet who should be a long shot to out play Aldrich based on history and has decided to keep Perkins out of the preseason as a precaution to his healing wrist. Presti could scarcely do more to give Aldrich an opportunity to impress and give Brooks no other options heading into training camp.
9. Eric Maynor
How important is the back up point guard coming off a season in which the team reached the finals with a rookie and an over the hill veteran taking Maynor's place following his injury? Maynor brings good height, but a thin frame, more shifty than athletic. Willing to take the big shot, which works for and against the team at this point. It will be nice to have Maynor back, but the team has proven it can win without him.
8. Perry Jones
Typically a rookie drafted 28th overall shouldn't be rated this high on this team. Jones has a rare combination of size and athleticism along with a developing diverse skill set. Unlike some big men on the roster, Jones has very good hands and comes in as a very good finisher around the rim and in transition. Brooks has no pressure to play Jones, but Jones may be able to steal minutes from others. Long term Jones could be a difference maker and allow the Thunder to create even more match up advantages.
7. Nick Collison
The kind of player you want on your team, even as his game starts to slip. A quiet leader who has always helped set the tone with his willingness to sacrifice and his work ethic. Still a good defender and showed his ability to make a difference offensively in the pick and roll game. Mid range game seemed a little more consistent last season, but his rebounding slipped a bit.
6. Thabo Sefolosha
Banged up or out with injury for a good part of the shortened regular season it became easy to forget the value of Sefolosha on this team. It wasn't until the playoffs where Sefolosha started to show his ability to guard multiple positions and how those results helped the team win. Watching Sefolosha hound the Kobe who still has the best foot work and variety of moves in the game was inspiring. Watching Sefolosha turn the tide of the Spurs series by limiting Tony Parker with his defense proved his worth. As we question why Presti hasn't signed Harden perhaps we need to look more at what Sefolosha did for the team in the playoffs.

Re: Thunder Rank

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:42 pm
by slick_watts
I think Jones is too high, Maynor and Perkins should be flip flopped (don't like Perkins, but with our big man depth vs. guard depth...) and Thabo and Nick may get flip flopped too. Nick's showing strong indicators of steep decline coming up.

Re: Thunder Rank

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:24 am
by bbms
1-Durant
2-Westbrook
3-Ibaka
4-Martin
5-Sefolosha
6-Collison
7-Perkins
8-Maynor
9-Jones III
10-Lamb
11-Jackson
12-Thabeet

Re: Thunder Rank

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:00 pm
by wizkid27
Think Martin is really at 4th on the team after falling off a decent bit the last couple of years? I haven't watched him a bunch but everyone seems to have not too many positive things to say...

Re: Thunder Rank

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:49 pm
by Devilanche
from bbms list 5th to 8th are role players while below that are mostly rookies and Thabeet. So to be frank, Martin has to be a top rate role player.