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Adams: let's start with the good- I think he'll start and like Robes I think it's the correct decision. On the flip side I'm fully prepared to be disappointed by Steven's progress this season. I don't think he'll look significantly better than last season in any statistical category, though he should be a bit better defensively. Overall I don't think he'll regress, but I think we'll all be a bit disappointed if he stagnates.

Kanter: so much has been made of his defense since the season ended that we've completely overlooked the good things he did do. With proper players to help cover his weaknesses I think he'll be okay, we'll all love him again and he'll put up nice stats. There will be an offensive regression from him as KD and Serge return, but his penchant for offensive rebounding and touch around the basket will give us a multidimensional offensive look that we've still never seen in OKC. I expect a big year from Enes, and he may even take over the third option role from Serge. Enes has take a lot of criticism this offseason, much of it warranted, but ultimately he's still young and has as much room to improve as anyone on the team. I wouldn't be shocked if that contract looks like a steal after next year.

Gree 100 percent on Adams. Kanter still concerns me a bit, and don't know if steal is the right word, but I have some faith in the coaching and enough in the front office to think he can become passable enough on defense to be a help to the team (I hope at the least). Watching replay of last year it was clear he had chemistry with Russ and loved playing with him, and I think that will help him along as well. He brings something this team never had, and I'm intrigued to see how it adds to them. Really just want this team to do well and quiet doubters, keeping KD around long term (which I think he does anyway, but winning soon would be a bonus).

Adams: Expect him to start and get close to double double stats. Won't be averaging a double double, but probably 8 and 8 or so. Kanter will come off the bench as 6th man, I think, and get minutes mixed and matched with the starters depending on matchup needs.

Hmm I don't see how you give someone a max deal and bring him off the bench.
I am pretty sure Kanter will start but if he continues struggling defensively then he might find himself coming off the bench.
But if he at least becomes an average defender he will be the starter for sure!

I think the conversation about both Kanter and Adams has become a bit distorted. Both are good enough to start for this team. Adams defense is not quite as good as being portrayed equally Kanter's offensive effectiveness may not be as good as it was in the last month last year when effectively the entire team elected not to defend. What we can say reasonably is Adams is the better defender of the two and Kanter the better on offense. How Donovan chooses to use them will be more about the five man lineups he thinks will be most effective. We know that Russ/KD/Serge/Robes and Adams has been effective. What Donovan needs to look at is can he put together lineups using Kanter, AMo, Dion etc that are as or more effective with KD/Russ and Serge. The pre season will give some good insight into that

It ultimately depends on Kanter's progress on D. If he improves and hustles, he will be a no brainer. But if he keeps being a liability on D, Donovan will probably start the one who plays better D. But I think he will start. And I think his D will be a lot better than last year. Having Dion or Morrow and Kanter alongside the 3 makes OKC a monster team. I doubt any coach will miss the chance.

You go with Kanter as the starting C, the money alone justifies his start and he was putting up over 18ppg and 11rpg last season with OKC, there are very few bigs in the league that can do that.

Mr Gametime wrote:You go with Kanter as the starting C, the money alone justifies his start and he was putting up over 18ppg and 11rpg last season with OKC, there are very few bigs in the league that can do that.

I suspect we are over playing Kanter's offense as much as Adams defense, Kanter can score no doubt but look at his whole season stats you get a bit better perspective. Kanter was scoring freely and very well in a team that effectively offered no defensive resistance, nor really endeavored to. His usage was high and if he starts we sort of neutralize his scoring potential unnecessarily. The last part of last season was very misleading. Lets not forget Adams also had a series of double doubles and Russ was playing all offense without much attention to his defensive work. I expect Kanter off the bench simply so that they can get his usage up. Adams will be there to see of the opposing teams starting lineup and Donovan will unleash Kanter, Morrow and Dion, probably playing quite significant minutes with either KD or Russ on the court

spearsy23 wrote:Adams: let's start with the good- I think he'll start and like Robes I think it's the correct decision. On the flip side I'm fully prepared to be disappointed by Steven's progress this season. I don't think he'll look significantly better than last season in any statistical category, though he should be a bit better defensively. Overall I don't think he'll regress, but I think we'll all be a bit disappointed if he stagnates.

Kanter: so much has been made of his defense since the season ended that we've completely overlooked the good things he did do. With proper players to help cover his weaknesses I think he'll be okay, we'll all love him again and he'll put up nice stats. There will be an offensive regression from him as KD and Serge return, but his penchant for offensive rebounding and touch around the basket will give us a multidimensional offensive look that we've still never seen in OKC. I expect a big year from Enes, and he may even take over the third option role from Serge. Enes has take a lot of criticism this offseason, much of it warranted, but ultimately he's still young and has as much room to improve as anyone on the team. I wouldn't be shocked if that contract looks like a steal after next year.

Depends where your looking for improvement. I don't think he will score much more as that will take more usage and that seems unlikely. I want to see less turnovers, better FT % and improved defensive rating. With KD/Russ and Serge in the lineup I cant see Steve shooting more and he already has a solid FG%.

Adams as a seasoned veteran of 22 years old has his best season yet. The most improvement will be noticed in efficiency with a 60% FG% and 70% FT%. His rebounding rate will increase slightly. Adams will start and finish games. Kanter will be offense off the bench. He will be his normal self putting up solid 15 and 7 numbers in 25 minutes off the bench. The casual fan will think he is great and wonderful because he does the obvious stuff while many more will get frustrated because of his lack of defense and the stretches of no effort.

Kanter will end up with a reduced role late in the season and in the playoffs because his defense and effort issues are not going to change. He will get traded in the off-season to a team that thinks he can be their 20-10 center. He will then be a 20-10 guy, but he will still fail to be a net positive on the floor making him the only 20-10 player to actually make his team worse.

Kizz Fastfists wrote:Kanter will end up with a reduced role late in the season and in the playoffs because his defense and effort issues are not going to change. He will get traded in the off-season to a team that thinks he can be their 20-10 center. He will then be a 20-10 guy, but he will still fail to be a net positive on the floor making him the only 20-10 player to actually make his team worse.

Dream on. No one would trade for Kanter with this contract and it seems that you forgetting the trade kicker! If Kanter turns into a 20/10 player with average defense the thunder will use him and if the doesn't his contract will be a little bit of poison...

el_turco wrote:

Kizz Fastfists wrote:Kanter will end up with a reduced role late in the season and in the playoffs because his defense and effort issues are not going to change. He will get traded in the off-season to a team that thinks he can be their 20-10 center. He will then be a 20-10 guy, but he will still fail to be a net positive on the floor making him the only 20-10 player to actually make his team worse.

Dream on. No one would trade for Kanter with this contract and it seems that you forgetting the trade kicker! If Kanter turns into a 20/10 player with average defense the thunder will use him and if the doesn't his contract will be a little bit of poison...

Dream on. We could trade him to Portland right now if we wanted.

Why is Kanter on bench? He should be first five with the money thunder is paying. he is good too, even if in small minute he average good.

zigzagz wrote:Why is Kanter on bench? He should be first five with the money thunder is paying. he is good too, even if in small minute he average good.

Because he's better off the bench.

zigzagz wrote:Why is Kanter on bench? He should be first five with the money thunder is paying. he is good too, even if in small minute he average good.

He's actually done a good job with his defensive effort and doing his best to fit in with our scheme's.
But he has yet to reach the point where his playtime wontbe a diminishing returns situation.

BTW, i look at "starter" as more of a minute thing.