Post#9 » by stillalive » Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:48 pm
here's a cool outlook on the trade and what some experts think about thabo via espn.com
Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
Ric Bucher, ESPN The Magazine: Only two teams actually tried to improve themselves, talent wise, so it's between Orlando acquiring Rafer Alston and OKC snaring Thabo Sefolosha.
Winner: Thunder, because they gave up a late first-round pick to get 1) a player at a position of need -- shooting guard -- especially with Desmond Mason injured, and 2) a player who is assuredly better than anything they could get late in this year's draft.
Alston fills the gap left by the injured Jameer Nelson, but what happens when Nelson is healthy again? Now you're paying Alston more than $5 million to be a backup point guard and endangering your team chemistry. Maybe it works out fine, but in the OKC deal, there is no downside.
Henry Abbott, TrueHoop: Oklahoma City has been, under Sam Presti, all about draft picks and future cap space. It's a good strategy. Give up assets today for the chance to be great in the future.
But under new coach Scott Brooks, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green are starting to show signs of being able to win now. And Presti has made his moves to open the window a little faster. Sure, the Tyson Chandler trade was rescinded ... but trading a pick for can-do big guard Thabo Sefolosha fills a need, and more importantly shows the future is becoming the present for the upstart Thunder.
Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN.com: It might not be the splashiest deal of the day -- and it's certainly a fall-off from the Tyson Chandler trade -- but I like Oklahoma City's acquisition of Thabo Sefolosha for a late first-round draft pick.
Oklahoma City has incredible offensive firepower on its roster. What OKC needs now are some players like Sefolosha who can give them some length and toughness on the wing. For the Thunder to become a perennial playoff team in the West, they'll need a defensive stopper or two, and Sefolosha can excel in that regard. He can guard four positions and rebound the ball without hurting them offensively. In other words, he can provide the Thunder some reliable glue for all those nice pieces.
David Thorpe, Scouts Inc.: It might have been the last trade announced, and it involves only one current NBA player, but I love OKC grabbing Thabo Sefolosha for a late first-round pick.
First and foremost, I know Sam Presti intends to build his team on both ends of the court, not just with offensive firepower. Westbrook fits that plan, and now, so does their (soon-to-be) new starting shooting guard. Thabo is a real pest on defense, though he's less of a lock-down guy than someone who gets his hands on lots of basketballs. Dribble drives, guard-to-wing passes, finishes at the rim -- Thabo finds a way to disrupt all of them with his feel, length, and desire to make plays on that end.
He's improved as an athlete on offense, and he's an excellent passer. I suspect he'll be a better shooter, too, once he gets consistent minutes. The Bulls are loaded at his positions (yes, he can play two spots and defend three) so I understand them moving him. But the Thunder added a guy who should be part of their rotation as they evolve toward playoff relevance.
"I take it very seriously, knowing my opponent really wants to come at me. It's not just God's gifts. You have to work at this game. If not, you're just going to be average. You have to want it and do whatever you have to do to get it."-D.Rose
