OKC Thunder 2022-23 Regular Season Discussion

[mr570]

Poku potentiality not being a bust just blows my mind.

You all were so out on him immediately. I couldn't tell who was more anti-Poku between this board and the Thunder reddit...

He still has some of his weird quirks that just seem to be him. But he looks so much more natural now. I was expecting a huge jump playing with Chet from him. That he's doing what he's doing now... basically trying to fit into a position that he shouldn't play? It's going to be fun to watch next year, especially if he starts knocking shots down

[ThunderBolt]

Poku potentiality not being a bust just blows my mind.

You all were so out on him immediately. I couldn't tell who was more anti-Poku between this board and the Thunder reddit...

He still has some of his weird quirks that just seem to be him. But he looks so much more natural now. I was expecting a huge jump playing with Chet from him. That he's doing what he's doing now... basically trying to fit into a position that he shouldn't play? It's going to be fun to watch next year, especially if he starts knocking shots down

I was never out on him in year one. Most young guys are bad but Poku’s was a different kind of bad. The kind of bad that gets you on shaqtin a fool. I’m glad he’s made improvement. As has been mentioned here by others, the boom or bust label he was given wasn’t really correct.

[Dadouv47]

I want Jalen to lead our second unit every game...he's so smart and unselfish.

[ThunderBolt]

shai with giddey: 29% usage, 59% ts, 100.0pp100
shai w/o giddey: 33% usage, 63% ts, 118.6pp100

We need to trade him.

And you were saying people didn't give Poku enough of a chance?

[Dadouv47]

There is a world in which a Chet/Poku line up is effective and I'm all in for it (I know they can both be busts as well).

No Bazley, no Muscala and less Kenrich/Dort is great for our team development. I like Kenrich and Muscala but they should play less.

I know Presti won't trade Dort but if he can get rid of Bazley for a 2nd or neutral trade value, that's all I ask from him this season.

[ThunderBolt]

BTW, Wiggins is a guy that I like more than most.

[slick_watts]

poku is improving, which was likely to happen considering where he was coming from. will he be a good player before his rookie contract expires? who knows. right now his 3pt% for the season is 33% and his FTr has climbed to .150, so, that's way better than where it was at but still not good. if he's still at those numbers or better at the all-star break i think it would be smart to think about an extension this summer.

[Dadouv47]

Given his age, history and lack of experience before coming to the NBA, it's almost like Poku is a rookie. This and next season are huge to know if he will be able to be an NBA player. Can't make any conclusion before that.

I'm more confident about his ability to put some weight after last offseason but still worried about his shooting (well that's a concern for almost every Thunder player, we badly need some "Engeland effect" on our team).
Also happy to see that he's playing team first kind of game unlike his first season in the NBA when he was trying some crazy stuff that could be either genious or ridiculous.

[bbms]

on giddey: i think sample size for this season is too low, but i think you guys are being too gloomy on him. he already has two elite traits with his passing and reading defenses, those are hard to come by. the thunder needs to keep amassing talents with elite traits, there's no way the Thunder should move giddey if there's no equal talent in return.

is there a way to extend Poku on a cheap deal by the end of this season?

[bbms]

Given his age, history and lack of experience before coming to the NBA, it's almost like Poku is a rookie. This and next season are huge to know if he will be able to be an NBA player. Can't make any conclusion before that.

I'm more confident about his ability to put some weight after last offseason but still worried about his shooting (well that's a concern for almost every Thunder player, we badly need some "Engeland effect" on our team).
Also happy to see that he's playing team first kind of game unlike his first season in the NBA when he was trying some crazy stuff that could be either genious or ridiculous.

i don't agree poku should be treated as a rookie.

i think this board in general failed to see how much he overachieved as a defender in his first two seasons. if his shooting wasn't incredibly bad, this board would see his past two seasons as successes for how raw he was coming in the league.

kevin durant physical comps were always overblown since he never had the same level of quickness on ball and explosion on the first step. ceiling is a rotation dynamic combo forward on a championship level team.

[slick_watts]

on giddey: i think sample size for this season is too low, but i think you guys are being too gloomy on him. he already has two elite traits with his passing and reading defenses, those are hard to come by. the thunder needs to keep amassing talents with elite traits, there's no way the Thunder should move giddey if there's no equal talent in return.

is there a way to extend Poku on a cheap deal by the end of this season?

he'll be eligible for an extension this summer.

[bbms]

on giddey: i think sample size for this season is too low, but i think you guys are being too gloomy on him. he already has two elite traits with his passing and reading defenses, those are hard to come by. the thunder needs to keep amassing talents with elite traits, there's no way the Thunder should move giddey if there's no equal talent in return.

is there a way to extend Poku on a cheap deal by the end of this season?

he'll be eligible for an extension this summer.

i think it would be smart by Presti if he mirrorred some of the NFL deals by John Schneider with these borderline talents. give a shorter second contract w/ more guarantees in line with solid high level vets in their position, even though Poku is not quite there yet. 20 mil for 2 years and buy him more time to play for a bigger paycheck.

[mr570]

shai with giddey: 29% usage, 59% ts, 100.0pp100
shai w/o giddey: 33% usage, 63% ts, 118.6pp100

We need to trade him.

And you were saying people didn't give Poku enough of a chance?

This is more about fit with the current team. Giddey and Shai occupy some of the same space. It's just awkward.

It's a little different to say this than it is to say Poku is an irredeemable player :shrug:

[ThunderBolt]

We need to trade him.

And you were saying people didn't give Poku enough of a chance?

This is more about fit with the current team. Giddey and Shai occupy some of the same space. It's just awkward.

It's a little different to say this than it is to say Poku is an irredeemable player :shrug:

First of all I feel like you’re putting words in my mouth. I never said he was irredeemable.

Second, I think it’s reasonable to think if a person gives poku a chance to quit slamming layups off the backboard that maybe Giddey needs more time to prove if he can adjust his play to fit more alongside shai. That’s just my opinion. You’re certainly entitled to yours. We ultimately just want good players in okc.

[Devilanche]

Yeap. So far none of us have said trade so and so , less minutes for so and so ….


But I think more or less , we will all be leaning towards trading Bazely by the trade deadline, more so if he’s not going to be extended at a number that’s reasonable .

[mr570]

And you were saying people didn't give Poku enough of a chance?

This is more about fit with the current team. Giddey and Shai occupy some of the same space. It's just awkward.

It's a little different to say this than it is to say Poku is an irredeemable player :shrug:

First of all I feel like you’re putting words in my mouth. I never said he was irredeemable.

Second, I think it’s reasonable to think if a person gives poku a chance to quit slamming layups off the backboard that maybe Giddey needs more time to prove if he can adjust his play to fit more alongside shai. That’s just my opinion. You’re certainly entitled to yours. We ultimately just want good players in okc.

To your first response, that really felt like the sentiment here. I mean i could go dig up posts but that seems petty. But I originally said "this board" - you were just the only person responding. So I'm not putting any words in *your* mouth man. I was speaking to the board as a whole.

But the Giddey thing is pretty clear to me. He's very good at being the engine of an offense. Like that is his clear, undeniable skill as an NBA player right now. But we have SGA. So something has to give.

[Old Man Game]

I can't get over how much better Poku looks. He and Chet together could've been nice.

[Dadouv47]

I can't get over how much better Poku looks. He and Chet together could've been nice.

Hopefully next season. No reason not to start both if we can't get Victor (some high PF's prospects in this draft but I would rather pick a good SF/SG that can shoot and bench Dort)

[Devilanche]

This is more about fit with the current team. Giddey and Shai occupy some of the same space. It's just awkward.

It's a little different to say this than it is to say Poku is an irredeemable player :shrug:

First of all I feel like you’re putting words in my mouth. I never said he was irredeemable.

Second, I think it’s reasonable to think if a person gives poku a chance to quit slamming layups off the backboard that maybe Giddey needs more time to prove if he can adjust his play to fit more alongside shai. That’s just my opinion. You’re certainly entitled to yours. We ultimately just want good players in okc.

To your first response, that really felt like the sentiment here. I mean i could go dig up posts but that seems petty. But I originally said "this board" - you were just the only person responding. So I'm not putting any words in *your* mouth man. I was speaking to the board as a whole.

But the Giddey thing is pretty clear to me. He's very good at being the engine of an offense. Like that is his clear, undeniable skill as an NBA player right now. But we have SGA. So something has to give.

To your first part , this board is pretty much dead compared to the Reddit forum. Pretty sure any frustration here is from time to time rather than every single game that he played last season .

The giddey part is not clear to me. Let them try to play it out this season and if the fit still isn’t there, we can always try to trade him at the draft.
Note - I don’t think it’s wise to trade as we probably need more than 1 ball handler and I like the way his 3 ball is progressing.

[Devilanche]

I can't get over how much better Poku looks. He and Chet together could've been nice.

Hopefully next season. No reason not to start both if we can't get Victor (some high PF's prospects in this draft but I would rather pick a good SF/SG that can shoot and bench Dort)

A victor/Chet/Poku would be such a good frontline without much bulk .