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What's the general state of opinion among Thunder fans about Green? I'm curious about how good you think he'll be; whether you see him as a PF or a SF; and your sense of his ability on defense. Thanks.

I see Green as a SF, not as a PF. There are many OKC fans that believe Green is a good starting PF for the team. I think differently. The only way OKC will avoid this horrible experiment on Green playing PF is that if OKC lands the 1st pick. OR, MAYBE, Presti is such a genius that he purposely got Green and groomed him into a standout talent that many teams are in need for, only to trade him for pieces that will fit Presti's dream team. Think about it. OKC could fill 2-3 spots for Green and some expiring contracts. Oh yeah, one more thing...Say OKC drafts Thabeet and runs with the same players as last season...Just wondering on what are the odds of OKC making the playoffs that year??? NOT GOOD! Having a marketable superstar in KD missing the playoffs for 3 straight years isn't good at all! CP3, Wade, LBJ, Dwight, Amare, Roy, D-Will, D-Rose, KG, Dirk, Carmelo, are all "Stars" that made the playoffs by their 3rd season. KD has the talent to be centerpiece to a playoff team. Its just about putting the right pieces around him! SO think about it, 3 years in a row, no playoffs. OKC is in desperate need of players that have experience and are proven. 3 years is too long to be labeled as a rebuilding team.

Green is a SF who can also play PF. I think that he is still on the way up skillwise but his lack of rebounding makes him less than ideal to play PF for a team that already struggles on the boards. I like Green but think that his value would probably be better maximized on another team that needs a quality starting SF. Since we are building around Durant, trading Green for players that better complement Durant and the team overall would be a good idea if the right deal comes along.

Durantist wrote:I see Green as a SF, not as a PF. There are many OKC fans that believe Green is a good starting PF for the team. I think differently. The only way OKC will avoid this horrible experiment on Green playing PF is that if OKC lands the 1st pick. OR, MAYBE, Presti is such a genius that he purposely got Green and groomed him into a standout talent that many teams are in need for, only to trade him for pieces that will fit Presti's dream team. Think about it. OKC could fill 2-3 spots for Green and some expiring contracts. Oh yeah, one more thing...Say OKC drafts Thabeet and runs with the same players as last season...Just wondering on what are the odds of OKC making the playoffs that year??? NOT GOOD! Having a marketable superstar in KD missing the playoffs for 3 straight years isn't good at all! CP3, Wade, LBJ, Dwight, Amare, Roy, D-Will, D-Rose, KG, Dirk, Carmelo, are all "Stars" that made the playoffs by their 3rd season. KD has the talent to be centerpiece to a playoff team. Its just about putting the right pieces around him! SO think about it, 3 years in a row, no playoffs. OKC is in desperate need of players that have experience and are proven. 3 years is too long to be labeled as a rebuilding team.

I doubt Green gets traded for multiple pieces.

In this leage where really one guy can dominate a game I'd much rather have quality over quantity. And sure the Thunder are putting together some quality pieces but they do have their fair share of quantity.

If Green gets traded I'd rather see a Green, Weaver, Atkins or Earl package for an All-Star.

I'd much rather have a few pieces going out and only having one piece come back in.

I like Green a lot and I think he was drafted with a long term plan in mind. Eventually Durant is going to grow up and mature physically.

Right now Green can physically play the PF. In two years Durant should have beefed up enough where he can play PF. Those two will be mismatch nightmares for the other team. You will have 2 SF/PF on the floor at the same time and they will be unstoppable.

I will say that Greens lack of rebounds towards the end of the season did raise my eyebrow a bit but not to the point where it is time to move him.

Eventually I do see Green being a great SF.........for the Thunder, because Durant will be PF and torturing his opposition.

I see Green a lot like David West. He doesn't have the exact same game or anything, but could fill the same role on a team. The Hornets have Chandler next to West, and on the off-chance that he's healthy, he does a great job covering up West's deficiencies. The Hornets big problem with this combo is that Peja doesn't offer the versatility at the 3 that Durant was to further mask the PF's weaknesses while further allowing to exploit the mismatches.

With the right center, this is THE forward combo I want long term.

wizkid27 wrote:I see Green a lot like David West. He doesn't have the exact same game or anything, but could fill the same role on a team. The Hornets have Chandler next to West, and on the off-chance that he's healthy, he does a great job covering up West's deficiencies. The Hornets big problem with this combo is that Peja doesn't offer the versatility at the 3 that Durant was to further mask the PF's weaknesses while further allowing to exploit the mismatches.

With the right center, this is THE forward combo I want long term.

Bang on. Took the word out of my mouth!

If the Thunder get the 1st pick, no doubt you guys would be picking Blake Griffen. He is as NBA ready as they come so no doubt he would play PF for you guys. That leaves Green out of the starting lineup as KD would play SF right?

So my question is, if you guys get the 1st pick, would your FO start fielding calls for Green? Or, would you trade down and try to land say, Rubio, and keep on developing the Green/Durantula combo at the Forward positions?

Im a Warrior, and have a really high opinion on Green, and would love to see him in a GS jersey next season. We have some players that the Thunder may be interested in and we'll also have a fairly high pick in the draft (6-7 most likely). If you guys nab Griffen, what are the chances that the Warriors and Thunder work out a deal that could revolve around Green/Watson for #6-7 pick + Crawford and Brandon Wright? The deal could help out both teams in a big way IF you get Griffen.

Thunder
PG Westbrook
SG Crawford
SF Durant
PF Griffen
C Krstic

B - Wright, Sefelosha, Mason, Swift, Livingston + 6-7 pick in the draft.

Not a bad starting lineup really.

I dont think the Thunder would go for it. (Although that is a fair deal) Crawford is undersized and not that good of a defender. It seems like they are trying to create a defensive culture.
There is surely value there, but Personally I love Green and hope we get to keep him!!

apcoxy wrote:If the Thunder get the 1st pick, no doubt you guys would be picking Blake Griffen. He is as NBA ready as they come so no doubt he would play PF for you guys. That leaves Green out of the starting lineup as KD would play SF right?

So my question is, if you guys get the 1st pick, would your FO start fielding calls for Green? Or, would you trade down and try to land say, Rubio, and keep on developing the Green/Durantula combo at the Forward positions?

Im a Warrior, and have a really high opinion on Green, and would love to see him in a GS jersey next season. We have some players that the Thunder may be interested in and we'll also have a fairly high pick in the draft (6-7 most likely). If you guys nab Griffen, what are the chances that the Warriors and Thunder work out a deal that could revolve around Green/Watson for #6-7 pick + Crawford and Brandon Wright? The deal could help out both teams in a big way IF you get Griffen.

Thunder
PG Westbrook
SG Crawford
SF Durant
PF Griffen
C Krstic

B - Wright, Sefelosha, Mason, Swift, Livingston + 6-7 pick in the draft.

Not a bad starting lineup really.

If the Thunder do actually win the lotto, (but I doubt they will). But if they do and draft Griffin for all the obvious reasons I think Green would be on his way out.

But maybe he becomes "super 6th man"?

And I would really hope to get more than Crawford in a starting lineup.
Both Crawford and Wright are pretty decent. Crawford is solid but over paid, and B Wright looks to be pretty good but he would be really unneeded. With Durant at the SF long term and Griffin at the PF long term where is Wright going to play? I guess he could be a sixth man. But then again they could avoid Crawford's bloated contract and have Green be the 6th man. Then throw a lot less money at a guy on Crawford's level.

Honestly if the Thunder do end up drafting Griffin and hang on to Green that is going to be one crazy training camp.

If Green were to accept the role as the 6th man I can see him being one of the leagues best.

That would be a pretty deep bench.

Still light in the center though.

I guess a Krystic/Collison Center combo isn't that bad, it's just not that good.

wiff wrote:

apcoxy wrote:If the Thunder get the 1st pick, no doubt you guys would be picking Blake Griffen. He is as NBA ready as they come so no doubt he would play PF for you guys. That leaves Green out of the starting lineup as KD would play SF right?

So my question is, if you guys get the 1st pick, would your FO start fielding calls for Green? Or, would you trade down and try to land say, Rubio, and keep on developing the Green/Durantula combo at the Forward positions?

Im a Warrior, and have a really high opinion on Green, and would love to see him in a GS jersey next season. We have some players that the Thunder may be interested in and we'll also have a fairly high pick in the draft (6-7 most likely). If you guys nab Griffen, what are the chances that the Warriors and Thunder work out a deal that could revolve around Green/Watson for #6-7 pick + Crawford and Brandon Wright? The deal could help out both teams in a big way IF you get Griffen.

Thunder
PG Westbrook
SG Crawford
SF Durant
PF Griffen
C Krstic

B - Wright, Sefelosha, Mason, Swift, Livingston + 6-7 pick in the draft.

Not a bad starting lineup really.

If the Thunder do actually win the lotto, (but I doubt they will). But if they do and draft Griffin for all the obvious reasons I think Green would be on his way out.

But maybe he becomes "super 6th man"?

And I would really hope to get more than Crawford in a starting lineup.
Both Crawford and Wright are pretty decent. Crawford is solid but over paid, and B Wright looks to be pretty good but he would be really unneeded. With Durant at the SF long term and Griffin at the PF long term where is Wright going to play? I guess he could be a sixth man. But then again they could avoid Crawford's bloated contract and have Green be the 6th man. Then throw a lot less money at a guy on Crawford's level.

Honestly if the Thunder do end up drafting Griffin and hang on to Green that is going to be one crazy training camp.

If Green were to accept the role as the 6th man I can see him being one of the leagues best.

That would be a pretty deep bench.

Still light in the center though.

I guess a Krystic/Collison Center combo isn't that bad, it's just not that good.

Yup +1

A great response really. However, do u really think Green would be happy in Oak as a 6th man? He is pretty damn good. +, he's the incumbant starter. Perhaps Griffen would be the 6th man. Either way, long term, Durant and Griff makes sense right?

GS I think would be fairly open to trading for Green especially with some of our personel. We have Crawford, Maggette, Jackson, Wright, Ellis, Wright, Biedrins and Azubukie all potentially available. (Notice no Randolph in there, Baby Jesus not for sale, lol)

Thunder need some starters and depth as well. As Dunrantist said, Durant needs to be in the playoffs and some better talent I think would be welcomed in Oak. I think Oak and GS could end up trading partners.

I like your thinking APCOXY, but lets say Biedrins is in a deal for Green. I think that's kinda unfair for the Warriors side. Yes Jeff Green could one day fill up the stat sheet, but so can Antawn Jamison. The majority of GMs out there would rather take Biedrins (healthy) over Jeff Green/Antawn Jamison. Your Warriors are going to lack the 2 most important factors of the game, Defense and Rebounding! As for OKC's side: Durant, Griffin, and Biedrins, HAHA, what is that about 30 boards a game for the 3. Now that my friends is a REAL BIG 3! One more thing, I know that its fun to watch but you could never win a title with 5 scorers on the floor. Special thanks to K-Perk, Oberto, Big Ben, Horry, Zo, and Rodman.

apcoxy wrote:
Yup +1

A great response really. However, do u really think Green would be happy in Oak as a 6th man? He is pretty damn good. +, he's the incumbant starter. Perhaps Griffen would be the 6th man. Either way, long term, Durant and Griff makes sense right?

GS I think would be fairly open to trading for Green especially with some of our personel. We have Crawford, Maggette, Jackson, Wright, Ellis, Wright, Biedrins and Azubukie all potentially available. (Notice no Randolph in there, Baby Jesus not for sale, lol)

Thunder need some starters and depth as well. As Dunrantist said, Durant needs to be in the playoffs and some better talent I think would be welcomed in Oak. I think Oak and GS could end up trading partners.

I don't know if Green would be happy as the 6th man? I guess the only way we will find out is if the Thunder win the draft lottery.

Biedrins is one of the few players in the league that I would have no problem trading Green for. Even without winning the lotto I'd be willing to trade Green for Biedrins

But try to convince your GSW buddies to let Biedrins go for Green.

Biedrins for Green would be alright with me too... definitely if we won the lottery. If not, I wouldn't be quite as quick to pull the trigger, but it's still a solid enough deal.

Ultimately it comes down to a 90% chance that we don't win the lottery and therefore end up drafting someone who ultimately isn't a forward (off the top of my head, Hill is about the only other top 7 guy who needs to be a forward long-term).

i don't think the green / durant combination at forward is going to work long term defensively. both of them seem a lot more comfortable defending on the perimeter, and that's fine if you're defending a small forward usually. but one of them will have to defend the pf position and they are both horrible at it. durant probably has a higher ceiling in this regard due to his length. jeff green really doesn't seem capable of staying with the bigger pf's in the league one on one.

If we were to get Blake Griffin in the draft, I think that it is not out of the realm of possibliity to move Durant back to the SG spot at least initially. I think that one of the reasons that playing KD at the 2 didn't work was because P.J. Carliesmo didn't play him close enough to the basket and made him play on the perimeter most of the time. It wouldn't hurt to give Coach Brooks some time to manipulate the offense to get Durant some more oppurtunites to post up the small guards that he would be facing and isolate him on the wings were he can just shoot over people. It would also give management a chance to see if Durant, Green, and Griffin could play well together. If it doesn't work, you try to move Green for an upgrade at the five and you move Thabo back to the starting lineup. It doesn't cost you much to see if you might have something special in those three.

Clangus wrote:

wizkid27 wrote:I see Green a lot like David West. He doesn't have the exact same game or anything, but could fill the same role on a team. The Hornets have Chandler next to West, and on the off-chance that he's healthy, he does a great job covering up West's deficiencies. The Hornets big problem with this combo is that Peja doesn't offer the versatility at the 3 that Durant was to further mask the PF's weaknesses while further allowing to exploit the mismatches.

With the right center, this is THE forward combo I want long term.

Bang on. Took the word out of my mouth!

Very good comparison