RealGM

This cheered me up, hope it does the same for all...
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014/st ... ne-thunder

But according to the GB the thunder have hit there celing and should trade Westbrook for Rubio and Pek. they are crazy on the Genral board with overreactions. Everyone is doing exactly what they did with Cleveland a few years ago. Hoping the thunder will lose so they can snatch westrbook or durant in free agency and become title contenders.i wil predict the thunder will be in the finals next year and you can quote me and everything. I think Brooks did a pretty good job this playoffs considering the circumstances and you can't fire a guy for losing to greg popivich and the number 1 seeded spurs. The thunder are fine, the future is bright and I am ready for the draft and FA season to beging and then it's time to worrying about winning by only 15 over the 76ers and everybody on the GB saying they should have trade Westrbook and Ibaka to Keep harden.

Trading Westbrook isn't the solution but another Coach could be...

Sure the Thunder hasn't reach any ceiling, but the only way this team jumps to a third level is sure, to hire a better offensive coach. Brooks' bad offensive coaching is crystallizing very bad habits for Durant and Westbrook.

When I start thinking about the Brooks thing I always come back to... who else would you bring in? I don't think the guy is an amazing coach or anything, but he certainly does some things really well and some others poorly. I just don't know that there is a great solution out there.

I'd look for an Euro assistant coach. Or maybe give a shot for some college coach.

This teams needs to develop passing more than anything.

bbms wrote:Sure the Thunder hasn't reach any ceiling, but the only way this team jumps to a third level is sure, to hire a better offensive coach. Brooks' bad offensive coaching is crystallizing very bad habits for Durant and Westbrook.

You could amnesty Perkins, use Lamb or other salary to acquire a pick which will get you far enough below cap to pursue Spencer Hawes, Channing Frye or Jordan Hill who could provide some reliable big-man scoring alongside Ibaka and Adams' powerful defensive effort. Or use Perkins expiring and other assets to do something similar via trade. I just think Perkins 9.4m is a big thing holding back a team that just needs some cheaper depth if you ask me. Brooks isn't ideal but I don't think he's the only limitation.

As a fan of another team, these are my thoughts:
Sam Presti is your GM - he is a San Antonio guy. Continuity is important. You have a good nucleus of Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka.
Before being rash and getting rid of the coach and/or trading Westbrook - what the Thunder needs are better role players who can score preferably guys who can shoot spot up jumpers and more importantly you need a quality bench. What you have now is miserable.

jayu70 wrote:As a fan of another team, these are my thoughts:
Sam Presti is your GM - he is a San Antonio guy. Continuity is important. You have a good nucleus of Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka.
Before being rash and getting rid of the coach and/or trading Westbrook - what the Thunder needs are better role players who can score preferably guys who can shoot spot up jumpers and more importantly you need a quality bench. What you have now is miserable.

A a fan of the Thunder...how are you so in touch with reality while others are spouting garbage.

3 FACTS
Perk will not get amnestied.
Brooks will be the coach.
Westbrook will not get traded.

I agree with jayu70 in the role players.

THABO was pathetic after a decent shooting year last season. An upgrade there opens up the court drastically. Lamb fell off but Butler and Fish didn't necessarily pick up lots of slack either. A good shotter decent defender to start and a few shooters on the second unit and Thunder are calling it an offseason.

wizkid27 wrote:When I start thinking about the Brooks thing I always come back to... who else would you bring in? I don't think the guy is an amazing coach or anything, but he certainly does some things really well and some others poorly. I just don't know that there is a great solution out there.

George Karl would at least get the ball moving around on offense. He can't stand guys dribbling in one spot "killing grass" all shot clock long. I like Brooks, but he either is a bit of a pushover, or a bit dimwitted. Karl would be an upgrade, but I'm not sure it's enough.

Podirk wrote:

jayu70 wrote:As a fan of another team, these are my thoughts:
Sam Presti is your GM - he is a San Antonio guy. Continuity is important. You have a good nucleus of Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka.
Before being rash and getting rid of the coach and/or trading Westbrook - what the Thunder needs are better role players who can score preferably guys who can shoot spot up jumpers and more importantly you need a quality bench. What you have now is miserable.

A a fan of the Thunder...how are you so in touch with reality while others are spouting garbage.

3 FACTS
Perk will not get amnestied.
Brooks will be the coach.
Westbrook will not get traded.

I agree with jayu70 in the role players.

THABO was pathetic after a decent shooting year last season. An upgrade there opens up the court drastically. Lamb fell off but Butler and Fish didn't necessarily pick up lots of slack either. A good shotter decent defender to start and a few shooters on the second unit and Thunder are calling it an offseason.

We're workin on an Afflalo deal on the trade board.

Podirk wrote:

jayu70 wrote:As a fan of another team, these are my thoughts:
Sam Presti is your GM - he is a San Antonio guy. Continuity is important. You have a good nucleus of Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka.
Before being rash and getting rid of the coach and/or trading Westbrook - what the Thunder needs are better role players who can score preferably guys who can shoot spot up jumpers and more importantly you need a quality bench. What you have now is miserable.

A a fan of the Thunder...how are you so in touch with reality while others are spouting garbage.

3 FACTS
Perk will not get amnestied.
Brooks will be the coach.
Westbrook will not get traded.

I agree with jayu70 in the role players.

THABO was pathetic after a decent shooting year last season. An upgrade there opens up the court drastically. Lamb fell off but Butler and Fish didn't necessarily pick up lots of slack either. A good shotter decent defender to start and a few shooters on the second unit and Thunder are calling it an offseason.

This is a double-edged blade...Thabo went downhill just as the Thunder seemed to quit playing defense. If they'd have focused on D more, guys like Thabo and Nick would've looked a lot better. As it played out, it was obvious defense wasn't all that important. Durant fell asleep on D more than 1/2 the residents at the nearest retirement home. It was pathetic defense compared to their padt

bondom34 wrote:

Podirk wrote:

jayu70 wrote:As a fan of another team, these are my thoughts:
Sam Presti is your GM - he is a San Antonio guy. Continuity is important. You have a good nucleus of Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka.
Before being rash and getting rid of the coach and/or trading Westbrook - what the Thunder needs are better role players who can score preferably guys who can shoot spot up jumpers and more importantly you need a quality bench. What you have now is miserable.

A a fan of the Thunder...how are you so in touch with reality while others are spouting garbage.

3 FACTS
Perk will not get amnestied.
Brooks will be the coach.
Westbrook will not get traded.

I agree with jayu70 in the role players.

THABO was pathetic after a decent shooting year last season. An upgrade there opens up the court drastically. Lamb fell off but Butler and Fish didn't necessarily pick up lots of slack either. A good shotter decent defender to start and a few shooters on the second unit and Thunder are calling it an offseason.

We're workin on an Afflalo deal on the trade board.

AA 7.5 and 7.75 in the next two years scares me a bit...when people were suggesting it round trade deadline I laughed it off...but with the tax going up it seems more workable.

RealGM Article as well:
http://basketball.realgm.com/article/23 ... un-To-Open
A quote:


Most importantly, in two seasons, Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka will be the same age as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh when they united.

This team will only get better with time.

Keep this core together and let the young guys continue to mature and develop.

I see OKC becoming the next Spurs of the league in terms of continuity.

The future is bright so keep your heads high Thunder fans and continue to believe in this team and this organisation!

I agree with the Spurs fan. Westbrook/Durant/Ibaka core in there primes should bring us a championship regardless of the coach. This off season I would like to see:

1) Brooks, he has one more shot next year, I say title or bust and then he's gone. Bring in a capable offensive coach who can help reduce ISO ball and incorporate more plays in the system.

2) The absolute key to OKC championship hopes is the development of (Jackson, Lamb, Jones, Roberson, Adams) our young core is the X factor. We have and MVP, a first team All NBA pg, a first team defense PF.. That core is ridiculous. Other guys need to develop into big time support roles that can contribute like the Spurs support cast.. (Green, Splitter, Diaw, Mills)

3) Wouldn't mind at this point trying to package both of our picks and either Lamb or Jackson and try and move up into the top 10 and grab another guy who will produce right away and can be a big time player.. Want to keep Jackson because he's proven he can be a 15ppg guy in his prime off the bench, but don't know if Lamb and the picks could get that done.

4) Get rid of the old men and start playing our young guys in prominent roles.. I know a lot of people are down on Roberson because of his painfully bad stroke, but I see all kinds of potential for this kid defensively.. Like better then Thabo prime good.. He is long as hell, rebounds like a maniac, and I thought showed good one on one D to go a long with his tenacity. If he started though, you would have to start Adams for Perk so we still have 4 guys who can put the ball in the hoop. Robe has to watch a guy like Tony Allen and just be an expert cutter and continue working on corner 3s.

I really like Roberson's potential too. My hope is they let Thabo go if he wants anything over about 4/yr, but I'm afraid Butler's probably coming back either way. Other than that hopefully Roberson/PJ/Lamb get minutes, assuming they're not traded.

bondom34 wrote:I really like Roberson's potential too. My hope is they let Thabo go if he wants anything over about 4/yr, but I'm afraid Butler's probably coming back either way. Other than that hopefully Roberson/PJ/Lamb get minutes, assuming they're not traded.

I could have seen that the way things were going, but the last few games of the season Butler really saw his minutes reduced.. Don't even know if he played Game 6.. He left early and missed his exit interview.. Could there be some bad blood?

bondom34 wrote:RealGM Article as well:
http://basketball.realgm.com/article/23 ... un-To-Open
A quote:


Most importantly, in two seasons, Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka will be the same age as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh when they united.

An even bigger reason for not entering the tax the last few years...to be hitting the repeater tax when the group is really at their peak would be horrible.

DontH8TheBrody wrote:

bondom34 wrote:I really like Roberson's potential too. My hope is they let Thabo go if he wants anything over about 4/yr, but I'm afraid Butler's probably coming back either way. Other than that hopefully Roberson/PJ/Lamb get minutes, assuming they're not traded.

I could have seen that the way things were going, but the last few games of the season Butler really saw his minutes reduced.. Don't even know if he played Game 6.. He left early and missed his exit interview.. Could there be some bad blood?

I think the OFFICIAL statement was he was sick and missed the first day and they forgot the second day...........

But the rumored breakup is bad, luckily I don't think we really cared to have him back.