OKC Thunder Trades and Transaction Thread

[Woerzboerg]

And that - in the time the team started Perkins next to Ibaka and KD - was one of the mistakes that prevented us from getting a championship. Should have started KD and Ibaka without Perkins.

I'm not going to disagree with the theory, but who would have started in his place? Nick Collison? Presti committed himself to Perkins AFTER he had a serious knee injury. Perkins was the never the same after that and Presti choosing Perkins over Tyson Chandler was one of many mistakes. Then again, it might be part of Presti's plan to get Dallas as many championships as possible. If Dallas wins this year we can point directly at the trades with OKC as being what got it done.

Any Wing/guard on these rosters would have been a better choice as a starter than Perkins.

[cjmcallist]

I like to try and predict what Presti is thinking. I've been processing some things that he said during the press conference that we shouldn't overlook.

-We're bad on the boards, but great defensively.
-Anything we do to help rebounding can't change the way we play defense.
-In the playoffs, our defense was still great.
-In the playoffs, rebounding was still not great.
-In the playoffs, our offense locked up and this was surprising.

After thinking a bit, I think what he's saying is that the first priority is to improve the playoff offense without hurting how we play defense.

Maybe improving rebounding comes later, but I'm convinced that's not priority #1.

I'm also still pissed that he moved the goalposts on 'appearance' vs. 'arrival'. This team definitely arrived last year.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I'm also still pissed that he moved the goalposts on 'appearance' vs. 'arrival'. This team definitely arrived last year.

Arrival means to make an appearance. Did he change the goalposts or just admit his illiteracy? I'm actually less concerned about him being illiterate than him saying he thought trading for Haward was improving the team and admitting that he is still learning how to be a GM, is incompetent at evaluate his teams and incompetent at evaluating established NBA veterans.

[Clav]

I'm also still pissed that he moved the goalposts on 'appearance' vs. 'arrival'. This team definitely arrived last year.

Arrival means to make an appearance. Did he change the goalposts or just admit his illiteracy? I'm actually less concerned about him being illiterate than him saying he thought trading for Haward was improving the team and admitting that he is still learning how to be a GM, is incompetent at evaluate his teams and incompetent at evaluating established NBA veterans.

It's not illiteracy, it's spin. There's a major difference. He's painting with words and not all of it is pretty.

Just so, when he is talking about arrival/appearance he is using it not literally. I hope we're all on the same page here. It's the creative narrative he's spinning. (an appearance equating to a single playoff appearance, and an arrival equates to long-term playoffs staying power) However as explicitly defined in our English it doesn't quite work out that way.

I'm not defending his diction, but yeah, he wants team/franchise consistently getting to the playoffs. Then he can objectively say "we've arrived" (in his opinion, mind you, this isn't my opinion.) I'd say, like Cj, that we arrived last season (22-23).

His admission of guilt on the Hayward thing seems interesting to me because I also think he pushed back at Hayward's public commentary from GH's post-season press conference.

It's a bit weird that one of the longest-tenured GMs in the NBA would say he's 'learning', so my way of reading between the lines here see it as a shot at Hayward. GH said what he said in his post-season presser and Presti said he missed 'on that one' and is 'still learning'. I mean, that's basically Presti saying 'I thought that Hayward was an NBA player but actually he's not', but without actually saying it. I see a deflection basically.

If this is a situation where Presti is actually demonstrating a truthful, on-face, statement, I'd be just as worried as you Kizz but this feels like a low-blow from Sam. The Hayward move, as we pretty much know, was to free future salary up. There was no defensible basketball reason that GH should have been on our team at all.

[Bremzi]

The more I think about it, the more I see a deal being made for Deni Avdija, no matter the FA success. He’s 23, hes 206 cm tall, he’s a good defender and a capable rebounder, his field goal % is solid and he has good iq. To top it off, he is signed for 4 more years and at 13 and 11.7 mil in the years where Chet and Jalen get extended and Avdija will be 25 aka in his prime years.

I see a deal circulating with a Giddey and possibly a player + a pick or 2 first round picks. It’s rough to spend picks, but that’s a trade that would be very solid building wise for the next 4 years via salary cap management. I also always though that Avdija had the higher ceiling than Giddey and he is definitely a better fit in OKC.

[cjmcallist]

The more I think about it, the more I see a deal being made for Deni Avdija, no matter the FA success. He’s 23, hes 206 cm tall, he’s a good defender and a capable rebounder, his field goal % is solid and he has good iq. To top it off, he is signed for 4 more years and at 13 and 11.7 mil in the years where Chet and Jalen get extended and Avdija will be 25 aka in his prime years.

I see a deal circulating with a Giddey and possibly a player + a pick or 2 first round picks. It’s rough to spend picks, but that’s a trade that would be very solid building wise for the next 4 years via salary cap management. I also always though that Avdija had the higher ceiling than Giddey and he is definitely a better fit in OKC.

It makes so much sense. Presti also has a record of completing deals with his former proteges.

I'd really prefer to keep Giddey. I think he's got a higher ceiling than Avdija and I feel like we could use picks to just add Deni. However, the price on the TnT board for him is insanely high.

I don't think he's the final piece though. We would still need to find an offensive engine behind Shai & JDub, if possible.

[Kizz Fastfists]

His admission of guilt on the Hayward thing seems interesting to me because I also think he pushed back at Hayward's public commentary from GH's post-season press conference.

It's a bit weird that one of the longest-tenured GMs in the NBA would say he's 'learning', so my way of reading between the lines here see it as a shot at Hayward. GH said what he said in his post-season presser and Presti said he missed 'on that one' and is 'still learning'. I mean, that's basically Presti saying 'I thought that Hayward was an NBA player but actually he's not', but without actually saying it. I see a deflection basically.

If this is a situation where Presti is actually demonstrating a truthful, on-face, statement, I'd be just as worried as you Kizz but this feels like a low-blow from Sam. The Hayward move, as we pretty much know, was to free future salary up. There was no defensible basketball reason that GH should have been on our team at all.

We'll take your view that he is saying he thought Hayward was still a positive NBA player. Isn't that an admission of incompetence in itself? Did anyone, outside of Presti, think that was a move to help the team? On this board people were upset that a tanking move was the big deadline move. It was justified as setting up the off-season, but no one saw it as improving the team. In order for Presti to have thought it would work he has to be dumber than almost every poster here when it comes to NBA player evaluation. Let that sink in.

[Clav]

His admission of guilt on the Hayward thing seems interesting to me because I also think he pushed back at Hayward's public commentary from GH's post-season press conference.

It's a bit weird that one of the longest-tenured GMs in the NBA would say he's 'learning', so my way of reading between the lines here see it as a shot at Hayward. GH said what he said in his post-season presser and Presti said he missed 'on that one' and is 'still learning'. I mean, that's basically Presti saying 'I thought that Hayward was an NBA player but actually he's not', but without actually saying it. I see a deflection basically.

If this is a situation where Presti is actually demonstrating a truthful, on-face, statement, I'd be just as worried as you Kizz but this feels like a low-blow from Sam. The Hayward move, as we pretty much know, was to free future salary up. There was no defensible basketball reason that GH should have been on our team at all.

We'll take your view that he is saying he thought Hayward was still a positive NBA player. Isn't that an admission of incompetence in itself? Did anyone, outside of Presti, think that was a move to help the team? On this board people were upset that a tanking move was the big deadline move. It was justified as setting up the off-season, but no one saw it as improving the team. In order for Presti to have thought it would work he has to be dumber than almost every poster here when it comes to NBA player evaluation. Let that sink in.

Yeah, I was not happy with the decision to bring in Hayward, I'm on your side here, and I think most of us here agree it was a bad target. So... he's using a red herring on the fanbase with his position that he's just 'learning', right ?

At least we here can parse through the bull and see the distraction, fun times... The margins for error are thin and this was absolutely a gaffe.

[Clav]

The more I think about it, the more I see a deal being made for Deni Avdija, no matter the FA success. He’s 23, hes 206 cm tall, he’s a good defender and a capable rebounder, his field goal % is solid and he has good iq. To top it off, he is signed for 4 more years and at 13 and 11.7 mil in the years where Chet and Jalen get extended and Avdija will be 25 aka in his prime years.

I see a deal circulating with a Giddey and possibly a player + a pick or 2 first round picks. It’s rough to spend picks, but that’s a trade that would be very solid building wise for the next 4 years via salary cap management. I also always though that Avdija had the higher ceiling than Giddey and he is definitely a better fit in OKC.

I'm a huge fan of Avdija as a target as well but I believe Washington will not part with him easily (or at all). He's already on a great team-friendly contract and was a very solid defender and 3rd option scorer on their team. The Wiz want to hold onto one of the few good things they have.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Yeah, I was not happy with the decision to bring in Hayward, I'm on your side here, and I think most of us here agree it was a bad target. So... he's using a red herring on the fanbase with his position that he's just 'learning', right ?

At least we here can parse through the bull and see the distraction, fun times... The margins for error are thin and this was absolutely a gaffe.

If you want to see the difference between wanting a championship and just wanting to be in the playoffs just look at OKC and Dallas. Dallas was in the WCF two years ago. Last year Dallas could have made a play-in game, but instead they tanked down the stretch to the point the NBA fined fined them for tanking. They got their lottery pick and maximized it using it to dump salary so they could add what they needed to their roster. They then used that salary space to fill holes and made the moves needed at the deadline and are in the Finals. OKC used their cap space last off-season to absorb a bad contract while moving up two spots in the draft, for no reason, and then absorbs more bad contracts, Kevin Porter Jr., for SRPs and never makes a move to improve a roster that had won a play-in game and was ready to take the next step into being a contender.

As the season unfolds everyone can see OKC is one piece away from being a serious threat for winning a championship and OKC "adds" a washed up veteran which actually makes the team worse as Bertans was the only emergency stretch big on the roster and might have seen action against Dallas with a chance to swing the series. No Olynyk, P.J. Washington, who could have been signed as FA or traded for at the deadline, or other player that addressed the issues the team had. Just a washed up wing that was not deserving of playing time over the others already on the roster.

I don't believe Presti has learned anything during his time as GM. My position has been that he is incompetent and can't evaluate his team and NBA talent for a long time. The fact that he can admit it publicly and the fan base doesn't call for his head just goes to show that he doesn't have to be capable of anything more than hitting with obvious picks in the top 5 to keep his job. Tank for four years, make the playoffs without winning a championship for a decade and then tank for four years. Repeat that and fools remain happy claiming it is better than the most incompetent franchises, but ignore that when other franchises get their big 3 in place they almost always find a way to win a championship with them.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I'm a huge fan of Avdija as a target as well but I believe Washington will not part with him easily (or at all). He's already on a great team-friendly contract and was a very solid defender and 3rd option scorer on their team. The Wiz want to hold onto one of the few good things they have.

If I'm Washington Giddey isn't going to get me into talks for 23 year old Avdija. Kuzma, at 29, sure we can talk about that. Giddey and a pair of decent picks and you can have him. If I'm Washington I'm not moving Avdija or Coulibaly. At #2 I'm either going for the upside of Risacher or taking Clingan as my stud in the paint. I can give Giddey a shot at working out and have a group of four under the age of 24 that might grow into something. I also have options at 26 to maybe take a shot on Tyler Kolek, Kyshawn George or go for a crazy upside pick in Chomche.

I need someone to give me a reason why Washington would trade Avdija. They are a rebuilding team isn't a reason to trade a 23 year old that has already shown he can be a good NBA player. It is a reason to trade a 29 year old that is a good player, Kuzma, but is a role player and not a building block.

[Devilanche]

I'm also still pissed that he moved the goalposts on 'appearance' vs. 'arrival'. This team definitely arrived last year.

Yes . We made the playoff but if we didn’t get the impact he wanted … this offseason is when he suppose fill in the gap. No more excuses from him.

[Devilanche]

I'm also still pissed that he moved the goalposts on 'appearance' vs. 'arrival'. This team definitely arrived last year.

Arrival means to make an appearance. Did he change the goalposts or just admit his illiteracy? I'm actually less concerned about him being illiterate than him saying he thought trading for Haward was improving the team and admitting that he is still learning how to be a GM, is incompetent at evaluate his teams and incompetent at evaluating established NBA veterans.

That Hayward thing bothered be a fair bit.

Hayward response - nope not bothered
Hayward wife response - nope not bothered
Presti words saying he thought Hayward would improve the team - what is he on that he thought that Hayward will help ? He was supposedly a throw of the dice , maybe something there but generally shouldn’t expect anything.

[Devilanche]

His admission of guilt on the Hayward thing seems interesting to me because I also think he pushed back at Hayward's public commentary from GH's post-season press conference.

It's a bit weird that one of the longest-tenured GMs in the NBA would say he's 'learning', so my way of reading between the lines here see it as a shot at Hayward. GH said what he said in his post-season presser and Presti said he missed 'on that one' and is 'still learning'. I mean, that's basically Presti saying 'I thought that Hayward was an NBA player but actually he's not', but without actually saying it. I see a deflection basically.

If this is a situation where Presti is actually demonstrating a truthful, on-face, statement, I'd be just as worried as you Kizz but this feels like a low-blow from Sam. The Hayward move, as we pretty much know, was to free future salary up. There was no defensible basketball reason that GH should have been on our team at all.

We'll take your view that he is saying he thought Hayward was still a positive NBA player. Isn't that an admission of incompetence in itself? Did anyone, outside of Presti, think that was a move to help the team? On this board people were upset that a tanking move was the big deadline move. It was justified as setting up the off-season, but no one saw it as improving the team. In order for Presti to have thought it would work he has to be dumber than almost every poster here when it comes to NBA player evaluation. Let that sink in.

Presti is your Reddit user .

There were guys there that thought Hayward would have helped us.

I think if I wanted to see a positive then I would have preferred thinking that Joe or wiggins were ready for a bigger role instead .

[The Servant]

Read on Twitter

?
Yes, please.

6'7, and 4 rebounds a game. Seems like an OKC signing.

[Dn4sty]

Andrew has changed his tune on Giddey over the last few DTD pods.

He went from acting like it was absolutely certain that Giddey would return, to not implying he will be gone.

[Big nick]

I would be shocked if giddy was traded.

[Hoops Addict]

jazz fan here, coming in peace, what about this trade I saw on X.com

This is a trade suggested on x.com I like it a lot.

a OKC fan and a UTA fan hammered out this trade:

Thunder gets
-John Collins
-#10 pick
-#29 pick

Jazz get
-Josh Giddey
-#12 pick
-that protected pick back that they traded to OKC to take on Derrick Favors

just right? What do you think?

[Kizz Fastfists]

jazz fan here, coming in peace, what about this trade I saw on X.com

This is a trade suggested on x.com I like it a lot.

a OKC fan and a UTA fan hammered out this trade:

Thunder gets
-John Collins
-#10 pick
-#29 pick

Jazz get
-Josh Giddey
-#12 pick
-that protected pick back that they traded to OKC to take on Derrick Favors

just right? What do you think?

I give this zero consideration. I'm also the person that was upset that Presti didn't outbid Utah to get Collins last off-season. It's a terrible draft day trade because it caps OKC's off-season. OKC has enough cap space and assets they should be looking at much bigger fish than Collins. If OKC strikes out in FA and can't get someone better then something like Giddey and OKC's best 2025 FRP for Collins and Utah's best 2027 and 2029 FRPs would be something to consider. Collins has no long-term value to Utah. We know that 2025 is going to be good and deep while 2027 and 2029 are gambles. Maybe throw top 4 protection on the 2027 pick just in case Minny or Cleveland fall completely apart that fast.

To be clear, I am not arguing the value or the overall idea of the trade. I just don't think OKC should settle for Collins as the big off-season move on draft night.

[Dn4sty]

jazz fan here, coming in peace, what about this trade I saw on X.com

This is a trade suggested on x.com I like it a lot.

a OKC fan and a UTA fan hammered out this trade:

Thunder gets
-John Collins
-#10 pick
-#29 pick

Jazz get
-Josh Giddey
-#12 pick
-that protected pick back that they traded to OKC to take on Derrick Favors

just right? What do you think?

I give this zero consideration. I'm also the person that was upset that Presti didn't outbid Utah to get Collins last off-season. It's a terrible draft day trade because it caps OKC's off-season. OKC has enough cap space and assets they should be looking at much bigger fish than Collins. If OKC strikes out in FA and can't get someone better then something like Giddey and OKC's best 2025 FRP for Collins and Utah's best 2027 and 2029 FRPs would be something to consider. Collins has no long-term value to Utah. We know that 2025 is going to be good and deep while 2027 and 2029 are gambles. Maybe throw top 4 protection on the 2027 pick just in case Minny or Cleveland fall completely apart that fast.

To be clear, I am not arguing the value or the overall idea of the trade. I just don't think OKC should settle for Collins as the big off-season move on draft night.

OKC can’t even do this on draft night can they?

They won’t have the cap space until the next NBA calendar year starts.