2024-2025 OKC Thunder Games Thread

[lethalizer]

JDub is averaging 8 FTA/g during the past four games is a very encorugaing sign for him.

He may get some poor whistles at times but the core of the problem for him usually lies within himself, he does more of those short fadeaways instead of actually trying to draw contract on his drives.

Thunder is now 23-2 I believe when Isaiah Hartenstein plays, which is frankly ridiculous.

I know the trades and transactions thread is very much active, and everywhere I look(DT, reddit, RealGM) I see fans aiming for trades, but this team when even with one of their main bigs healthy is actually playing like a historic team.

The Hartenstein-Caruso lineups (116 minutes for the season) currently have a 90.4 defensive rating, which is, uh, just eye popping.

For reference, the Holmgren-Caruso lineups also had 76.8 defensive rating, which is uh, lol(They only had a sample size of 52 minutes but still).

Unless something happens to Shai, Thunder will cruise to the #1 seed anyway. And if we're talking about playoffs we need two things really:

1) Getting Chet, Hartenstein and Caruso healthy for the playoffs.

2) Increasing Caruso's minutes to 28-29 range up from his usual 20 with the Thunder(he's at 19.7 mpg for the season currently).

I don't think the team will have enough holes in the defensive side to be exploited upon if the above 2 happens. As for the offensive side, Hartenstein I think will help more in a playoff setting compared to the regular season, as he's basically the release valve for the Thunder when the jump shooting dries up a bit.

All in all, I'm optimistic. As long as Chet can get back on the court around March, I think we should be the favorites to come out of the West. If not I still like our chances actually, but obviously not as much.

[Devilanche]

I think there’s nothing much we can do about the over-reliance on shai this season already.
We do have the chance to do something about our backup big position. Someone to absorb some minutes here and there and keep our only 2 bigs healthier come the playoff.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I think there’s nothing much we can do about the over-reliance on shai this season already.
We do have the chance to do something about our backup big position. Someone to absorb some minutes here and there and keep our only 2 bigs healthier come the playoff.

I'm going to keep throwing the same name out there. Olynyk. He can play center and PF. He can provide spacing and rebounding. He's a solid player that could give you quality minutes during the regular season and you can choose between him and Jaylin based on playoff matchups as the 3rd big IF you can get Chet and IH healthy for your playoff run. He would help against certain matchups, like Dallas, more than others, like Memphis or Houston.

If I had my ideal acquisitions, OKC would add CP3 and Olynyk to round out the roster with another playmaker and another solid big man. Then you get Topic as your playmaker off the bench next season. CP3 would be a rental as he is a FA after the season so no salary added after this year. Olynyk is under contract next year at $13M, which wouldn't be an issue. The issue I have is coming up with salary matching to acquire both since Presti didn't sign anyone to a MLE.

[Devilanche]

I think there’s nothing much we can do about the over-reliance on shai this season already.
We do have the chance to do something about our backup big position. Someone to absorb some minutes here and there and keep our only 2 bigs healthier come the playoff.

I'm going to keep throwing the same name out there. Olynyk. He can play center and PF. He can provide spacing and rebounding. He's a solid player that could give you quality minutes during the regular season and you can choose between him and Jaylin based on playoff matchups as the 3rd big IF you can get Chet and IH healthy for your playoff run. He would help against certain matchups, like Dallas, more than others, like Memphis or Houston.

If I had my ideal acquisitions, OKC would add CP3 and Olynyk to round out the roster with another playmaker and another solid big man. Then you get Topic as your playmaker off the bench next season. CP3 would be a rental as he is a FA after the season so no salary added after this year. Olynyk is under contract next year at $13M, which wouldn't be an issue. The issue I have is coming up with salary matching to acquire both since Presti didn't sign anyone to a MLE.

Who’s your outgoing together with Dieng ?

I’m talking myself into boucher , toppin etc so won’t really get me to say no to pretty much a lot .
I just need someone who’s at least 6’7” or 6’8” or can pass off as that .

[Kizz Fastfists]

Who’s your outgoing together with Dieng ?

I’m talking myself into boucher , toppin etc so won’t really get me to say no to pretty much a lot .
I just need someone who’s at least 6’7” or 6’8” or can pass off as that .

Kenrich. He won't be in the playoff rotation. If you move Dieng and Kenrich for more optimal piece then you can give AJay a NBA contract when he returns.

[Woerzboerg]

You could get both if you send out JWill, Jones, Dieng and Kwill in a three teamer.

[Dadouv47]

No thanks on Olynyk. The gap between him and Kenrich is way too small for me to want to go for it (and I'm low on Kenrich too). Olynyk is too small if we need a back up big and he isn't fast enough anymore for our current playing style. Would rather get John Collins if we need to trade for a Kizz's favorite

[Dadouv47]

well maybe we should trade for Cam Johnson after all. No clue but we are struggling a lot lately. Caruso can't stay healthy either

[Xatticus]

well maybe we should trade for Cam Johnson after all. No clue but we are struggling a lot lately. Caruso can't stay healthy either

GSW was aggressive defensively and we didn’t respond. We relied on iso ball from Shai and Jalen and we went a really long stretch without being able to hit a shot. Our ball movement was poor. Passes were getting out late and pressured, so the timing/accuracy was fubar and yielded poor looks.

At the other end, GSW was hitting some ridiculous shots. You expect it from Curry, but you don’t expect it from Anderson or Podziemski.

This loss doesn’t concern me. I do believe that our roster could be improved, but I’m not convinced that Cam Johnson makes us better if we are sending out Joe or Wiggins. I still lament that we didn’t get Avdija when he was available, but that ship has sailed. I think Anderson could help out our 2nd unit, so perhaps if GSW falls adrift, but that seems unlikely. I’d like to add someone with some size that can exploit mismatches. They were doubling Shai and we couldn’t take advantage of it at all. I like Jalen a lot, but he still needs to build out his offensive repertoire. He gets an advantage and almost always settles for a mid-range jumper.

[Kizz Fastfists]

well maybe we should trade for Cam Johnson after all. No clue but we are struggling a lot lately. Caruso can't stay healthy either

Caruso has always had problems staying healthy. Last season was the first time in his career he had played 70 games.

[ThunderBolt]

By the way, all I have to say is Aaron freaking Wiggins. Most underrated player we’ve ever had, imo.

[Dadouv47]

By the way, all I have to say is Aaron freaking Wiggins. Most underrated player we’ve ever had, imo.

He's finally getting some national recognition though

I have no clue how he felt to pick 55 in the draft because he was already good year 1.

It's always tempting to take 2-3 good players and trade for a better one but you can't afford losing a guy like Wiggins and his great contract.

[Dadouv47]

That 2028 Mavs swap is intruiging now.

[Xatticus]

By the way, all I have to say is Aaron freaking Wiggins. Most underrated player we’ve ever had, imo.

It's odd to me that people float his name in trade offers as often as they do.

[Dadouv47]

I'm thankful to root for a functional organization after seeing what the Mavs and Kings did. Yeah we still need a title and we aren't perfect but we would never allow a player to diminish his trade value like Fox did for a while now and get some terrible FRPs and Zach Lavine in return. I'm likely gonna be pissed thursday though because we won't make any move but our roster is awesome if we can stay healthy.

[Thabo Sefolosha]

Thunder Up!

[dlughie]

I'm watching Raptors vs OKC right now and can't help but be surprised at Topic's height. He was listed at 6'6. And looking at him beside SGA he looks considerably taller than 6'6 SGA. When standing beside Chet he looked slightly shorter than Chet. By eye test Topic looks to be 6'8.

[Zagor]

Maybe he grew 1-2 inches in last 6 months.

[cjmcallist]

CHET! He really does add a whole new dimension to this team. Even with the rust, you can see how he will help. Oh baby.

Also, Chet is really easy to root for.

[Xatticus]

CHET! He really does add a whole new dimension to this team. Even with the rust, you can see how he will help. Oh baby.

Also, Chet is really easy to root for.

I don't use social media, so him playing last night was a complete surprise to me. I have to admit I was pretty fired up. He was obviously rusty, but he was so impactful at the defensive end. If we are healthy and humming by the time the playoffs roll around, I think we have as good a chance as anyone of winning the title.