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http://newsok.com/article/5502495

Sam Presto wrote:Q. What will the draft be like this season with no picks?

Sam Presti: "Well, it's a first. Like we talked about earlier, you know, we're truly an organization of firsts. We're still not 10 years old, and we haven't encountered the situation yet. I'm actually kind of excited by it because it's an opportunity to approach the draft in a different way. It's a way to use our creativity and imagination in ways we haven't. So I'm kind of excited to see where it leads us.

Now, we will prepare for the draft like we're picking 60 times, no different than we've ever done or prepared for any draft, but we can use our minds a little bit differently, trying to decide how to get in, and if we were to get in and who to get in for. I'm kind of looking forward to that.

Again, I feel like the opportunity that we at the trade deadline to get Randy and then to create that much flexibility from a salary cap standpoint, we saved about $9½ million on that particular transaction, that we can then apply to this season's team or future teams, and we can still find ways to get in the draft.

But we felt like that was the right decision for us, and I think it'll be fun to prepare for a draft with we have to be more creative."

The way he talks in this interview, I'd be really surprised if we don't get into the draft somehow this season. Likely in the second, but maybe he sees someone he likes and moves into the first.

I don't recall the exact date when it flips, but assuming the cash paid out still applies from this season we only have $730,441 in cash remaining to put towards trades. We have all the guys on roster, our 2nd next year, Memphis's 2nd next year, and a worthless 2018 top-55 protected 2nd from Boston.

1) Do we get into the draft? How?

2) Which round, 1st or 2nd?

3) What positions should we target, or should we take BPA?

4) Who are some players that Presti's likely to target?

If any of you guys are over on DT at the moment, tell Justin to get over here and drop some knowledge on us too. Want to get some opinions.

One guy that's got me a little intrigued is Isaia Cordinier. Bit of an all-rounder, decent frame, elite athleticism, can shoot, handle and pass. Could be a stash prospect but wants to come over immediately.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Isaia-Cordinier-68220/

I think we at least get a second round pick or something. Probably just buying it. Sam is really committed to the development pipeline if you heard that interview with Woj.

There are several guys I'm interested in (all 2nd round prospects currently)
1. Gary Payton II sort of poor man's Russ.

2. Pat McCaw, a 3 and d shooting guard prospect.

3. Dorian Finney Smith, played for Donovan at Florida. Sort of a stretch four.

4. Isaiah Cousins, combo guard from Oklahoma. Can shoot and handle a bit.

Not sure on best player available versus need. In second round your doing good if you get a player at all though so that would point to best player available.

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Not sure if Mitch has the value to get into the first, or if they'd be able to pull something else off. A second seems more likely, maybe Boston or Philly who have a ton of picks.

Looking at DX, Isaiah Whitehead and Kay Felder are 2 names that pop out as guys I'd be a little interested in. If by some miracle they could get early/mid 2nd I wonder if Lavert is still around after his injury concerns. Would be a great scenario, but you never know I guess.

Also tried to get Justin over here, hoping he drops in.

bondom34 wrote:Not sure if Mitch has the value to get into the first, or if they'd be able to pull something else off. A second seems more likely, maybe Boston or Philly who have a ton of picks.

Looking at DX, Isaiah Whitehead and Kay Felder are 2 names that pop out as guys I'd be a little interested in. If by some miracle they could get early/mid 2nd I wonder if Lavert is still around after his injury concerns. Would be a great scenario, but you never know I guess.

Felder is a good call—he's a baller who'd go a lot higher if he wasn't so short. Could get a nice (and cheap to keep) scorer.

GPII and Isaiah Cousins are two other guard prospects that look interesting. GPII can't shoot a lick, but all of his other skills are really interesting—he's one of the best rebounding guards in college basketball ever, has elite athleticism, and is a decent playmaker. Cousins is a decent shooter from outside, not great shot selection, has been performing well in combine. Also you get the hometown bonus since he played for OU.

I could definitely see them giving Dorian Finney-Smith a go. Combo forward who played under Donovan.

Not sure about Felder. He reminds me of Will Bynum.

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bondom34 wrote:Not sure if Mitch has the value to get into the first, or if they'd be able to pull something else off. A second seems more likely, maybe Boston or Philly who have a ton of picks.

Looking at DX, Isaiah Whitehead and Kay Felder are 2 names that pop out as guys I'd be a little interested in. If by some miracle they could get early/mid 2nd I wonder if Lavert is still around after his injury concerns. Would be a great scenario, but you never know I guess.

I'd definitely like Caris. In the second round that is a low risk high reward proposition.

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They will buy into the 2nd round twice. They will take Isaia Cordinier and Gracin Bakumanya.

Cordingier is a 19 yr old 6'5 SG from France. He can get to the rim and is a good defender. He needs to improve his shooting.

Bakumanya is an 18 year old from Congo. He has an athletic big man, 6'11, with a good jumper and good shot blocking ability. Sound familiar?

Both will be draft and stash guys. Cordingier needs 1-2 more years in Europe and Bakumanya needs 2-3 years before he's ready.

If they trade into the first round it means Presti is going to be making major changes this off-season because Ibaka will be the piece moved to get into the first. If he does it will also be returning an established PF, similar to when he traded Harden he got K-Mart back as the short-term replacement. Teams that might fit that would be Boston, Olynyk and #3, Denver, Faried and #7, or Chicago, Miritoc and #14.

Kizz Fastfists wrote:They will buy into the 2nd round twice. They will take Isaia Cordinier and Gracin Bakumanya.

Cordingier is a 19 yr old 6'5 SG from France. He can get to the rim and is a good defender. He needs to improve his shooting.

Bakumanya is an 18 year old from Congo. He has an athletic big man, 6'11, with a good jumper and good shot blocking ability. Sound familiar?

Both will be draft and stash guys. Cordingier needs 1-2 more years in Europe and Bakumanya needs 2-3 years before he's ready.

If they trade into the first round it means Presti is going to be making major changes this off-season because Ibaka will be the piece moved to get into the first. If he does it will also be returning an established PF, similar to when he traded Harden he got K-Mart back as the short-term replacement. Teams that might fit that would be Boston, Olynyk and #3, Denver, Faried and #7, or Chicago, Miritoc and #14.

I read an article on Cordinier recently that said he's trying to get to the NBA this year, not get stashed. That might push him down the ladder a little bit.

The only one of those trades that I think gets Ibaka is Olynyk and #3, and #3 might be a slight overpay. Doubt that happens unless Presti sees a guy that he wants above anything else. It's rare that happens (see: Leonard, Kawhi).

Kizz Fastfists wrote:They will buy into the 2nd round twice. They will take Isaia Cordinier and Gracin Bakumanya.

Cordingier is a 19 yr old 6'5 SG from France. He can get to the rim and is a good defender. He needs to improve his shooting.

Bakumanya is an 18 year old from Congo. He has an athletic big man, 6'11, with a good jumper and good shot blocking ability. Sound familiar?

Both will be draft and stash guys. Cordingier needs 1-2 more years in Europe and Bakumanya needs 2-3 years before he's ready.

If they trade into the first round it means Presti is going to be making major changes this off-season because Ibaka will be the piece moved to get into the first. If he does it will also be returning an established PF, similar to when he traded Harden he got K-Mart back as the short-term replacement. Teams that might fit that would be Boston, Olynyk and #3, Denver, Faried and #7, or Chicago, Miritoc and #14.

And what happens if those guys are off the board?

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Old Man Game wrote:And what happens if those guys are off the board?

Then they don't buy any picks. They would be buying the pick as it was on the clock for a specific player. They wouldn't get picks and just hope the guy they wanted dropped.

dbrandon wrote:I read an article on Cordinier recently that said he's trying to get to the NBA this year, not get stashed. That might push him down the ladder a little bit.

He could demand to come over right away and I still think he's the type of player Presti would take a chance on. Even if he spends most of the year in the D-League. He is a good defender and can create his own shot. Exactly the type of player Presti looks for in a wing off the bench.

Kizz Fastfists wrote:

Old Man Game wrote:And what happens if those guys are off the board?

Then they don't buy any picks. They would be buying the pick as it was on the clock for a specific player. They wouldn't get picks and just hope the guy they wanted dropped.

The point was that said players were not available to them. "Of the board" is just shorthand. I thought maybe you had thoughts on other players that might be plan B and was trying to keep the convo going.

I'm on board with the idea that we're likely to try and get a 2nd. If Sam sees someone he really likes, though, what are the ways we can get into the first round? Is there a path that doesn't involve trading Serge/Stevie/KD/Russ/Payne?

dbrandon wrote:I'm on board with the idea that we're likely to try and get a 2nd. If Sam sees someone he really likes, though, what are the ways we can get into the first round? Is there a path that doesn't involve trading Serge/Stevie/KD/Russ/Payne?

It seems very unlikely. OKC can't trade a future first until 2020. So it is unlikely they could use a future first to trade into this year's draft. It is possible someone could give a late first for Kanter.

Patrick McCaw is really picking up steam.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/16/11940116/patrick-mccaw-nba-draft-2016-sleeper-unlv-basketball

Kizz Fastfists wrote:If they trade into the first round it means Presti is going to be making major changes this off-season because Ibaka will be the piece moved to get into the first. If he does it will also be returning an established PF, similar to when he traded Harden he got K-Mart back as the short-term replacement. Teams that might fit that would be Boston, Olynyk and #3, Denver, Faried and #7, or Chicago, Miritoc and #14.

We're not trading Ibaka to rely on some young player who could turn out to be a total bust. Russ and Kevin are too old for that.

Pillendreher wrote:

Kizz Fastfists wrote:If they trade into the first round it means Presti is going to be making major changes this off-season because Ibaka will be the piece moved to get into the first. If he does it will also be returning an established PF, similar to when he traded Harden he got K-Mart back as the short-term replacement. Teams that might fit that would be Boston, Olynyk and #3, Denver, Faried and #7, or Chicago, Miritoc and #14.

We're not trading Ibaka to rely on some young player who could turn out to be a total bust. Russ and Kevin are too old for that.

Yeah. Seems super risky. You could probably count on one hand the amount of rookies drafted in the first round outside the top three (which Serge wouldn't get you to anyway) in the last ten years that would be at or greater to what you would be likely to get from Serge in the next couple years.

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How bout

Victor Olidipo, pick 11 and CJ Watson for Serge Ibaka?

I know Henny loves this guy and he is the perfect fit next to Vucivic

Pass.