OKC Thunder 2022-23 Regular Season Discussion

[SunsRback4Good]

We are to good to tank now I would like a top 5 pick this year but I don't think it will happen. With that said bear with me here I can maybe see 3 Allstars on this team in the future. We all know sga is one I can see giddy becoming one I can see jdub becoming one and who knows chet might become one. I know I am being optimistic but it could happen. So maybe not getting a top 5 pick might not be so bad.

A top five pick would be great but it’s not necessary. Of the guys above you named, only Chet was picked in the top five. As long as we don’t pick a player that’s a bust, we should be good.

Looking forward to next season how do you see OKC starting five playing out? forgive me if I am wrong, but the starting 5 will likely be Chet, Poku, Dort, Giddy, & SGA. That’s one terrific starting 5; although very young team but could compete for top 5 seed in the west. Do you see those five players starting together or will the lineup be a bit different?

[jake_swivel]

Looking forward to next season how do you see OKC starting five playing out? forgive me if I am wrong, but the starting 5 will likely be Chet, Poku, Dort, Giddy, & SGA. That’s one terrific starting 5; although very young team but could compete for top 5 seed in the west. Do you see those five players starting together or will the lineup be a bit different?

Jalen should be starting over Dort in that lineup. I’m hopeful Poku continues progressing, but who knows how he looks coming back from a broken leg. The 4 spot is likely up for grabs. They could start a JRE or Jaylin or play small and go with Kenrich. Or make a move for a decent PF. PJ Washington or somesuch.

[ThunderBolt]

We are to good to tank now I would like a top 5 pick this year but I don't think it will happen. With that said bear with me here I can maybe see 3 Allstars on this team in the future. We all know sga is one I can see giddy becoming one I can see jdub becoming one and who knows chet might become one. I know I am being optimistic but it could happen. So maybe not getting a top 5 pick might not be so bad.

A top five pick would be great but it’s not necessary. Of the guys above you named, only Chet was picked in the top five. As long as we don’t pick a player that’s a bust, we should be good.

Looking forward to next season how do you see OKC starting five playing out? forgive me if I am wrong, but the starting 5 will likely be Chet, Poku, Dort, Giddy, & SGA. That’s one terrific starting 5; although very young team but could compete for top 5 seed in the west. Do you see those five players starting together or will the lineup be a bit different?

Right now Daigneault throws out so many different lineups, it’s hard to say. Shai, Chet, Giddey and Jalen Williams are the only untouchables on the roster for me. That doesn’t mean I don’t like any of the other guys but at some point assets will need to be consolidated. Shai’s growth necessitates some acceleration this offseason. For me, I hope Dort is the odd man out. He’s best skill is being Shai’s bff. I’d love to trade Dort for an upgrade at 4, and add that to Shai, Giddey, Chet and Jalen. I don’t know what the front office will do since they seem to like Dort. However Jalen Williams is the 3rd or 4th most important piece on this roster.

[Dadouv47]

Chet's health is gonna define the trajectory of our rebuild. He's the kind of talent we can't add via trade (even more in a small market team).

[ThunderBolt]

Chet's health is gonna define the trajectory of our rebuild. He's the kind of talent we can't add via trade (even more in a small market team).

As long as he’s healthy, even if he’s nothing more than a 3 and D lob threat, that’s huge.

[slick_watts]

mark daigneault shouted out ezra van negri after the dallas game, w/r/t keeping josh giddey in the game while he was in foul trouble. ezra is a data analyst on the thunder. i thought this was interesting for a couple reasons. the first is i don't think any thunder coach has ever directly given a shout out to an analytics guy, especially not without some backhandedness to it. the second was what mark daigneault said the analytics team tells him- that points scored in the 2nd quarter are equivalent to points scored in the 4th quarter. one of those dispassionate-but-true statistical axioms that most professional coaches would not even countenance.

as i thought about this some more, it might be considered a linear progression among thunder coaches from least analytics leaning to most from carlesimo -> brooks -> donovan -> daigneault. this interaction was one of the most promising things i've heard daigneault say during his tenure.

[BlazersBroncos]

Blazer fan here but OKC is my #2 - what would you pay in FRP to turn Dort into Simons.

I think Simons on a team w/ 2 primary handlers like SGA / Josh would bring out all his best traits as a shooter. His fit seems ideal and with the size of SGA you can slide Ant up to guarding PG and SGA down to SG. Give him 10 3PT per game off the drives of SGA and Josh. Move doesnt cut OKC out of being a FA player in 2023 either. Then try to snag a role playing PF like PJ or Grant in FA

G - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander / Vet PG / Tre Mann
G - Anfernee Simons / Jalen Williams / Isaiah Joe
F - Josh Giddey / Kenrich Williams / Aaron Wiggins
F - PJ Washington or Grant Williams / Aleksej Pokusevski / Osumane Dieng
C - Chet Holmgren / Jeremiah Robinson-Earl / Mike Muscala

[slick_watts]

not a terrible idea, but i wouldn't consider it until the summer. in terms of on-court impact i think dort-simons are fairly close, but dort may be less necessary with chet (and obv. simons less necessary for portland with simons).

[Devilanche]

Absolutely nothing . If i want a trade , I’m trading for an SF or PF/C . Not another guard . Simons is good though .

[ThunderBolt]

No one will ever replace my love for Shai but J Dub is stirring feelings.

[jake_swivel]

Man, shai has always been smooth with control and decisiveness, but he seems like he has another gear this year when he’s going to the hoop. He turns the corner and pops to the basket.

[slick_watts]

Man, shai has always been smooth with control and decisiveness, but he seems like he has another gear this year when he’s going to the hoop. He turns the corner and pops to the basket.

he glides to the rim in an inhuman way. like a demon.

[Dadouv47]

No one will ever replace my love for Shai but J Dub is stirring feelings.

I thought it was Chet but J Dub is my favorite Thunder rookie since...Westbrook I think (and yes I was pissed at draft night that we didn't pick Duren or Aj Griffin)

[Dadouv47]

We can't make a slow rebuild with Shai. I really hope this isn't just a crazy good season and he keeps playing at this level for the next years but it's time to make 1 or 2 big move in the offseason.

[Ellington]

Giddey playing at an absurd level right now

[Ellington]

Why don’t you guys do game threads?

[ThunderBolt]

Kudos to bazley but he didn’t deserve player of the game over J Dub.

[Dadouv47]

J Dub was so confident tonight. He looked amazing.

[ThunderBolt]

Why don’t you guys do game threads?

Because it’s me and Dadouv47 talking to each other.

[jake_swivel]

Kudos to bazley but he didn’t deserve player of the game over J Dub.

The Bazley that was on the floor tonight made a strong case to be back in the rotation. He’s been pretty ass in the other recent games. Defense on point and his offensive choices weren’t as bad as they generally are. He has value in the league if he could get his head out of his ass thinking he’s an impact offensive player.