RealGM

Tjarks is the first positive OKC article of the offseason:
http://basketball.realgm.com/article/22 ... Of-Thunder

"Durant and Westbrook are only 24, more than six months younger than Stephen Curry. By NBA standards, they are impossibly young, with the primes of their careers still ahead of them. Both have room to improve as decision-makers and all-around players, a transition many great players make as they move deeper into their twenties. In a best-case scenario for Oklahoma City, the two become a younger version of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade."

Good read. Very good points. The trade of Harden for Adams, Lamb, and another 1st round pick (top 20 protected) from Dallas, adds 3 cheaper players that cost less than the 4 year 60 million deal Harden wanted. It will make it easier for the Thunder to re-up Thabo (last year of his deal) and maybe Collison (will be 35 to start the 15-16 season, signed through 14-15).

I am very interested to see what Mr. October (aka Jackson) will do this season and what kind of contract he will be looking for. He could start in this league. Sammy might be looking to make a deal similar to Harden (obvi not getting as much back) within the year.

Guys signed through the 15-16 season:
Adams/
Ibaka/ PJ3
Durant/ Roberson
Lamb/
Westbrook/

Balkman32 wrote:
I am very interested to see what Mr. October (aka Jackson) will do this season and what kind of contract he will be looking for. He could start in this league. Sammy might be looking to make a deal similar to Harden (obvi not getting as much back) within the year.

Guys signed through the 15-16 season:
Adams/
Ibaka/ PJ3
Durant/ Roberson
Lamb/
Westbrook/

Agreed that both the lineup looks great and on Jackson. I think he may be called on a bit this year, and if he produces there may be an Eric Bledsoe type situation where he's highly coveted in a deal next year as well.

Chalky will not like this.

Balkman32 wrote:Good read. Very good points. The trade of Harden for Adams, Lamb, and another 1st round pick (top 20 protected) from Dallas, adds 3 cheaper players that cost less than the 4 year 60 million deal Harden wanted. It will make it easier for the Thunder to re-up Thabo (last year of his deal) and maybe Collison (will be 35 to start the 15-16 season, signed through 14-15).

You miss Abrines in there. I do wonder when if ever Pleiss is coming over. Any chance Adams becoming our starting center by season end and Pleiss come over within the next 2 seasons?
edit: Didn't realise Pleiss is 23 already, players seems to come over by 25. Latavious Williams is 24 now...

Durant and Westbrook are still on the roster, so providing for health, they should still be a top-notch team. They probably won't be as ultra-disgustingly-dominant on offense as they were in the 2013 regular season because of Martin's departure, but they should still be very strong. No reason to be super-pessimistic unless you're a "title or bust" fan/analyst.

Who needs martin when you got fisher?