Article over offseason
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 1:51 am
Oklahoma City
What went right:
They got out of Dodge.
Actually, they're a lot closer to Dodge -- Dodge City, KS -- than they were up in Seattle. But you know what we're talking about: These guys can settle into their new home now and won't face another lame-duck season in Seattle, where emotions were turning sour and being directed at the basketball operation when there weren't owners around to boo. The love that will emanate from the folks at the Ford Center -- where they still stand, rah-rah style, until the home team scores its first points -- should be worth a few victories all by itself.
Russell Westbrook can play. Now.
Most veteran GMs will tell you that it doesn't matter where a player is picked if he does what he's projected to do. So the idea that Westbrook went too high at No. 4 in June really is wasted fretting if he gives this club what it needs at point guard. And based on his summer league play in Orlando (18 points, five assists, four rebounds in his debut; 15 points in the first half of his second game), that seems highly likely. No one figures to be nostalgic for the Luke Ridnour era. "I knew he was going to come in here and play well,'' prized second-year wing man Kevin Durant said. "He's a fun player to watch and he's even funner to play with." And who doesn't like funner?
What went wrong:
There still is no flag-planting, lightning-rod, go-to player.
Bringing Desmond Mason back, to the club and the city, is a nice feel-good move that added a helpful role player. Acquiring Joe Smith in the three-cornered deal with Milwaukee and Cleveland added another terrific personality and lunch-pail player. Mason and Smith also has those much-coveted expiring contracts. But they never have been fiery team leaders and they're hardly franchise players. The relocated Sonics remain a team of someday-will-bes and once-weres, with no star player in his prime.
Travel got a whole lot worse.
You might think it wasn't possible, considering how the Sonics were way off in a corner of the U.S. map with the longest flights possible for games in Miami and Orlando. Now they're centrally located, right? Right -- except that Oklahoma City is closer to a bunch of non-Northwest teams (189 miles to Dallas, 430 to Houston and Memphis, 420 to San Antonio, 688 to Indianapolis, 690 to Chicago) than to several in its own division. Trekking to and from Salt Lake City (860), Minneapolis (691) and what used to be a quick Hwy. 5 shot to Portland (now 1,483) will make for some of the worst in-division travel in the league.
Grade: C+
Most of this team's improvement will hinge on Durant and Jeff Green taking big steps as sophomores. Westbrook should be exciting to watch, too, both in his play and his development. The rest of them, though, will mostly be getting acquainted and learning where the best stores and restaurants are in Oklahoma City.
What went right:
They got out of Dodge.
Actually, they're a lot closer to Dodge -- Dodge City, KS -- than they were up in Seattle. But you know what we're talking about: These guys can settle into their new home now and won't face another lame-duck season in Seattle, where emotions were turning sour and being directed at the basketball operation when there weren't owners around to boo. The love that will emanate from the folks at the Ford Center -- where they still stand, rah-rah style, until the home team scores its first points -- should be worth a few victories all by itself.
Russell Westbrook can play. Now.
Most veteran GMs will tell you that it doesn't matter where a player is picked if he does what he's projected to do. So the idea that Westbrook went too high at No. 4 in June really is wasted fretting if he gives this club what it needs at point guard. And based on his summer league play in Orlando (18 points, five assists, four rebounds in his debut; 15 points in the first half of his second game), that seems highly likely. No one figures to be nostalgic for the Luke Ridnour era. "I knew he was going to come in here and play well,'' prized second-year wing man Kevin Durant said. "He's a fun player to watch and he's even funner to play with." And who doesn't like funner?
What went wrong:
There still is no flag-planting, lightning-rod, go-to player.
Bringing Desmond Mason back, to the club and the city, is a nice feel-good move that added a helpful role player. Acquiring Joe Smith in the three-cornered deal with Milwaukee and Cleveland added another terrific personality and lunch-pail player. Mason and Smith also has those much-coveted expiring contracts. But they never have been fiery team leaders and they're hardly franchise players. The relocated Sonics remain a team of someday-will-bes and once-weres, with no star player in his prime.
Travel got a whole lot worse.
You might think it wasn't possible, considering how the Sonics were way off in a corner of the U.S. map with the longest flights possible for games in Miami and Orlando. Now they're centrally located, right? Right -- except that Oklahoma City is closer to a bunch of non-Northwest teams (189 miles to Dallas, 430 to Houston and Memphis, 420 to San Antonio, 688 to Indianapolis, 690 to Chicago) than to several in its own division. Trekking to and from Salt Lake City (860), Minneapolis (691) and what used to be a quick Hwy. 5 shot to Portland (now 1,483) will make for some of the worst in-division travel in the league.
Grade: C+
Most of this team's improvement will hinge on Durant and Jeff Green taking big steps as sophomores. Westbrook should be exciting to watch, too, both in his play and his development. The rest of them, though, will mostly be getting acquainted and learning where the best stores and restaurants are in Oklahoma City.