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I think we can all agree that OKC represents the most shameless franchise in the NBA today when it comes to tanking. They have whipped up dubious injury reports, played laughable rosters, and done their very best to be as bad as possible despite having a budding star.

So my question is not whether OKC will be bad next year, but whether they will once again go into the season intentionally trying to lose now that they have the #2 pick. Personally I hope that they will take this pick and move forward in building a solid young team. I think another year of tanking and they will seal themselves into the fate that befell Philly - cultivating a losing culture in the FO and coaching staff, and signalling to your players on your team that it’s okay to suck.

So what do you think? Will OKC continue the Process? Do you think they should?

There are gonna be at least 10 Western Conference teams ahead of them and they don't have a lot of open cap space this off-season.

There will be 1 more year of the Process, but the intentional losing will be delayed more than it was last season.

No, they will tank forever.

I think that teams tank until they identify a projected superstar on their roster. OKC doesn't have one yet.

Poku isn't even in his final form yet

I think they are waiting for one of their picks to turn out, and then the sell all their remaining draft picks for 2 superstars like what the Clippers did with Kawhi and Paul George. Instant contender!

GSWFan1994 wrote:No, they will tank forever.

Exactly, and they will aquire an infinite amount of draft picks!!

Maybe one year the whole board will just be OKC picks??

SelfishPlayer wrote:I think that teams tank until they identify a projected superstar on their roster. OKC doesn't have one yet.

Seems to be what they're going for

Gasolina wrote:I think we can all agree that OKC represents the most shameless franchise in the NBA today when it comes to tanking. They have whipped up dubious injury reports, played laughable rosters, and done their very best to be as bad as possible despite having a budding star.

So my question is not whether OKC will be bad next year, but whether they will once again go into the season intentionally trying to lose now that they have the #2 pick. Personally I hope that they will take this pick and move forward in building a solid young team. I think another year of tanking and they will seal themselves into the fate that befell Philly - cultivating a losing culture in the FO and coaching staff, and signalling to your players on your team that it’s okay to suck.

So what do you think? Will OKC continue the Process? Do you think they should?

Quick couple of questions:

1) in the past 3 seasons which year did “shameless” OKC have the worst record?

2) who has won the most games in the past 2 combined seasons: OKC, DET, HOU or ORL?

They have everybody's picks for the next few years so it's about time they try to establish a winning culture. That's not to say they make the playoffs next year but they should try

ConSarnit wrote:

Gasolina wrote:I think we can all agree that OKC represents the most shameless franchise in the NBA today when it comes to tanking. They have whipped up dubious injury reports, played laughable rosters, and done their very best to be as bad as possible despite having a budding star.

So my question is not whether OKC will be bad next year, but whether they will once again go into the season intentionally trying to lose now that they have the #2 pick. Personally I hope that they will take this pick and move forward in building a solid young team. I think another year of tanking and they will seal themselves into the fate that befell Philly - cultivating a losing culture in the FO and coaching staff, and signalling to your players on your team that it’s okay to suck.

So what do you think? Will OKC continue the Process? Do you think they should?

Quick couple of questions:

1) in the past 3 seasons which year did “shameless” OKC have the worst record?

2) who has won the most games in the past 2 combined seasons: OKC, DET, HOU or ORL?

Getting the worst record =\= going into the season intentionally trying to lose.

Do you dispute that OKC has actively tried to construct the worst roster they can over the past two seasons?

Statlanta wrote:There are gonna be at least 10 Western Conference teams ahead of them and they don't have a lot of open cap space this off-season.

There will be 1 more year of the Process, but the intentional losing will be delayed more than it was last season.

This. They have almost $40 million committed to Kemba and Fsvors this season. I think they’ll try to establish a winning culture but get one more lotto pick. They’ll go into the summer of ‘23 with the current rosters, #2, next years pick, mega cap space and enough picks to load up via trade if desired.

OKC is in a great spot.

Haldi wrote:Exactly, and they will aquire an infinite amount of draft picks!!

Maybe one year the whole board will just be OKC picks??

What do you mean by "maybe"?

At what point does Shai get tired of being on a team that doesnt really want to win?
His tolerance for losing has to enter into the equation at some point, unless they plan to move him for even more draft picks.

OKC still doesn't have super star level player as of now. Hard to make real championship caliber run without one.

Gasolina wrote:

ConSarnit wrote:

Gasolina wrote:I think we can all agree that OKC represents the most shameless franchise in the NBA today when it comes to tanking. They have whipped up dubious injury reports, played laughable rosters, and done their very best to be as bad as possible despite having a budding star.

So my question is not whether OKC will be bad next year, but whether they will once again go into the season intentionally trying to lose now that they have the #2 pick. Personally I hope that they will take this pick and move forward in building a solid young team. I think another year of tanking and they will seal themselves into the fate that befell Philly - cultivating a losing culture in the FO and coaching staff, and signalling to your players on your team that it’s okay to suck.

So what do you think? Will OKC continue the Process? Do you think they should?

Quick couple of questions:

1) in the past 3 seasons which year did “shameless” OKC have the worst record?

2) who has won the most games in the past 2 combined seasons: OKC, DET, HOU or ORL?

Getting the worst record =\= going into the season intentionally trying to lose.

Do you dispute that OKC has actively tried to construct the worst roster they can over the past two seasons?

ORL and HOU both traded away all-star players in the past 2 seasons. Jonathan Isaac has sat out 2 years for a 9 month injury. Do you think ORL and HOU let the Jalen’s chuck because they thought it would give them the most wins? Tanking isn’t just sending guys home early.

OKC has an active strategy of tanking. Yes, they are trying to lose but that’s the goal. Why aren’t you calling out dreadful franchises like SAC who attempt to win yet still end up lottery bound (for 15 straight years). SAC is far more shameful than OKC. I’d rather be an OKC fan 100 times over than be a fan of a team that’s just flat out incompetent. The “shameful” 76er’s have made the playoffs multiple years in a row. How are the “play to win” Kings doing?

I think OKC will build a very young and pro tank roster. But If they have a good first half of the season they can try to compete until the end.

Giddey/Maledon
Shai/Mann
Dort/KWliiamns
Banchero/Poku
Duren(MarkWiliams)/Earl

CIN-C-STAR wrote:At what point does Shai get tired of being on a team that doesnt really want to win?
His tolerance for losing has to enter into the equation at some point, unless they plan to move him for even more draft picks.

This is the big thing. As extreme as 'the process' was, they never had any key high-value guys playing more than a year (or maybe 1.5 years) in tank conditions.

SGA has already played through two full seasons under full tank conditions. That's bad for both player development and player satisfaction with their team. For SGA they really need to start trying (not extreme win-now mode, but at least trying to win).

They will tank more so that they can draft a player who one day will hopefully be as good as prime Paul George, Westbrook, or CP3. If only they could get a guy like that on their roster...