Tank World Order (XIV) Here we go, The Final Stretch of the 2025 Tank Season!!!

[Coco Costanza]

The tank has commenced. Mods... shut this down!

commenced or concluded?

As Vince would say - it's over!

We have secured a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Unless we're going to talk about the draft lottery and what pick we're going to get for the next month, what is the point of this thread staying open now that we've secured our draft lottery position and our tanking efforts have been successful?

To piss people like you off.

[bballsparkin]

OKC showed some serious trouble against the Lakers and will probably run into other problems in the playoffs. At some point they’re going to need to make a big trade and Presti has never shown an ability to consolidate when required. We’ll see what happens. IMO SGA, JDub and Chet isn’t a championship team.

Presti has been a great talent evaluator but can’t seem to close - he’s very risk averse and you won’t get anywhere like that.

Well, I don't see how you can trade Chet. He's the unicorn you have to hold onto especially with bigs like Wembey, Mobley and others. So IMHO they would have to trade JDub. Who would they realistically look to trade for him? Unless you trade both together for an imminent upgrade like Giannis.

[tecumseh18]

OKC showed some serious trouble against the Lakers and will probably run into other problems in the playoffs. At some point they’re going to need to make a big trade and Presti has never shown an ability to consolidate when required. We’ll see what happens. IMO SGA, JDub and Chet isn’t a championship team.

Presti has been a great talent evaluator but can’t seem to close - he’s very risk averse and you won’t get anywhere like that.

Well, I don't see how you can trade Chet. He's the unicorn you have to hold onto especially with bigs like Wembey, Mobley and others. So IMHO they would have to trade JDub. Who would they realistically look to trade for him? Unless you trade both together for an imminent upgrade like Giannis.

I think OKC can keep those three. Don't they still have an endless supply of other team's draft picks (including the Sixers' if they fall in the lottery like we did last season)? Combine that with picks with some big contracts - e.g. Dort - and they can bring back a big piece.

[bballsparkin]

^^probably. I don't know the math for them cap wise moving forward or if that trio can suffice as a viable championship core. I'll be judging a lot based on the playoffs. SGA is obviously a keeper. I think Chet is too. Only concern is health and can he get bigger? It's a good situation for OKC to be in for sure. Lots of options.

[mdenny]

OKC showed some serious trouble against the Lakers and will probably run into other problems in the playoffs. At some point they’re going to need to make a big trade and Presti has never shown an ability to consolidate when required. We’ll see what happens. IMO SGA, JDub and Chet isn’t a championship team.

Presti has been a great talent evaluator but can’t seem to close - he’s very risk averse and you won’t get anywhere like that.

Well, I don't see how you can trade Chet. He's the unicorn you have to hold onto especially with bigs like Wembey, Mobley and others. So IMHO they would have to trade JDub. Who would they realistically look to trade for him? Unless you trade both together for an imminent upgrade like Giannis.

Do you think there's any possibility they could get giannis without giving Chet back? They have a billion picks. Jdubs plus hartestein plus 7 picks or something like that?

Because I think a Chet/Giannis front court could be dominant.

But I'm guessing the Bucks insist on Chet.

[Los_29]

There are some big concerns on Chet’s durability. He’s missed more games than he’s played the past three years.

If you can package him along with picks for Giannis, you do it in a heartbeat.

We will find out whether or not they need Giannis based on this playoff run. If they struggle and get eliminated then Presti is going to need to make a move. Trading for a washed Hayward aren’t the moves that they need to make.

Best GM’s in the league aren’t afraid to make a big splash (Riley, Masai, Buford).

[bballsparkin]

Do you think there's any possibility they could get giannis without giving Chet back? They have a billion picks. Jdubs plus hartestein plus 7 picks or something like that?

Because I think a Chet/Giannis front court could be dominant.

But I'm guessing the Bucks insist on Chet.

I think it would be hard to walk away from that trade without Chet. That would be a crazy fun front court agreed. Maybe if the 76ers lose their pick that helps. JDubs, #8 pick 2025, plus stuff is a pretty nice start. Who knows after the Luka trade.

[DelAbbot]

There are some big concerns on Chet’s durability. He’s missed more games than he’s played the past three years.

If you can package him along with picks for Giannis, you do it in a heartbeat.

We will find out whether or not they need Giannis based on this playoff run. If they struggle and get eliminated then Presti is going to need to make a move. Trading for a washed Hayward aren’t the moves that they need to make.

Best GM’s in the league aren’t afraid to make a big splash (Riley, Masai, Buford).

Chet + picks for Giannis is as beautiful a trade for Presti as our deal for Kawhi

[DelAbbot]

OKC showed some serious trouble against the Lakers and will probably run into other problems in the playoffs. At some point they’re going to need to make a big trade and Presti has never shown an ability to consolidate when required. We’ll see what happens. IMO SGA, JDub and Chet isn’t a championship team.

Presti has been a great talent evaluator but can’t seem to close - he’s very risk averse and you won’t get anywhere like that.

Well, I don't see how you can trade Chet. He's the unicorn you have to hold onto especially with bigs like Wembey, Mobley and others. So IMHO they would have to trade JDub. Who would they realistically look to trade for him? Unless you trade both together for an imminent upgrade like Giannis.

Do you think there's any possibility they could get giannis without giving Chet back? They have a billion picks. Jdubs plus hartestein plus 7 picks or something like that?

Because I think a Chet/Giannis front court could be dominant.

But I'm guessing the Bucks insist on Chet.

Give them Chet. Late prime Giannis is still higher than Chet's ceiling (not to mention Chet's body prone to injury)

[Raps in 4]

OKC showed some serious trouble against the Lakers and will probably run into other problems in the playoffs. At some point they’re going to need to make a big trade and Presti has never shown an ability to consolidate when required. We’ll see what happens. IMO SGA, JDub and Chet isn’t a championship team.

Presti has been a great talent evaluator but can’t seem to close - he’s very risk averse and you won’t get anywhere like that.

Well, I don't see how you can trade Chet. He's the unicorn you have to hold onto especially with bigs like Wembey, Mobley and others. So IMHO they would have to trade JDub. Who would they realistically look to trade for him? Unless you trade both together for an imminent upgrade like Giannis.

Do you think there's any possibility they could get giannis without giving Chet back? They have a billion picks. Jdubs plus hartestein plus 7 picks or something like that?

Because I think a Chet/Giannis front court could be dominant.

But I'm guessing the Bucks insist on Chet.

I'd rather trade Chet than JDub (if they have a choice). Chet is going to have an Embiid-esque career arc I fear. JDub would also be a better fit alongside Giannis.

If Chet + multiple FRPs gets you Giannis, you do it.

If Chet + JDub + multiple FRPs gets you Jokic, you do it.

[Pointgod]

Well, I don't see how you can trade Chet. He's the unicorn you have to hold onto especially with bigs like Wembey, Mobley and others. So IMHO they would have to trade JDub. Who would they realistically look to trade for him? Unless you trade both together for an imminent upgrade like Giannis.

Do you think there's any possibility they could get giannis without giving Chet back? They have a billion picks. Jdubs plus hartestein plus 7 picks or something like that?

Because I think a Chet/Giannis front court could be dominant.

But I'm guessing the Bucks insist on Chet.

I'd rather trade Chet than JDub (if they have a choice). Chet is going to have an Embiid-esque career arc I fear. JDub would also be a better fit alongside Giannis.

If Chet + multiple FRPs gets you Giannis, you do it.

If Chet + JDub + multiple FRPs gets you Jokic, you do it.

The fact that Presti built a championship level team while still having the assets to trade for Giannis just shows how he’s running laps around every GM.

[Raps in 4]

Do you think there's any possibility they could get giannis without giving Chet back? They have a billion picks. Jdubs plus hartestein plus 7 picks or something like that?

Because I think a Chet/Giannis front court could be dominant.

But I'm guessing the Bucks insist on Chet.

I'd rather trade Chet than JDub (if they have a choice). Chet is going to have an Embiid-esque career arc I fear. JDub would also be a better fit alongside Giannis.

If Chet + multiple FRPs gets you Giannis, you do it.

If Chet + JDub + multiple FRPs gets you Jokic, you do it.

The fact that Presti built a championship level team while still having the assets to trade for Giannis just shows how he’s running laps around every GM.

He's done a masterful job of setting that team up for success. He's easily the best GM in the league.

If OKC doesn't win the title this year, I expect to see a big consolidation trade in the off-season. If he becomes too attached to his "war chest" like Ainge was in Boston, it'll be a blemish on his resume. I'd still rank him as the best GM in the league even then since no one else can build up an asset base like he can, but I do think he needs to show he can make difficult trades too.

[mdenny]

I don't think ppl realize that the OKC window is closing.

They will need to add 85 milly to their annual cap next summer for Chet and Jdub. SGA will make 38.

That's a total of 123 for those 3 players. The cap is 140.

The summer after that they need to resign SGA. So he'll make 60.

60 + 85 = 145. Or 3 million over the cap for those 3 players alone. So the rest of the roster is getting rinsed. They might be willing to go over the cap to some degree (history tells us they won't but let's suppose they make an exception). But certainly not over in keeping all the players like Dort/hartenstien/Caruso who's 3 contracts add another 55 million (and would also demand raises]. Or a total of 200 million per year for their top 6 players.

The party is over after next season.

There is no universe where they can resign/maintain all their current players. This spring and next season are their last chances for a legit chip run. Anything after that would only be because they made a major consolidation trade for a superstar player. They HAVE to make a trade unless you think SGA/chet/jdubs can contend as a big 3 with no depth.

[MessiahUjiri]

I don't think ppl realize that the OKC window is closing.

They will need to add 85 milly to their annual cap next summer for Chet and Jdub. SGA will make 38.

That's a total of 123 for those 3 players. The cap is 140.

The summer after that they need to resign SGA. So he'll make 60.

60 + 85 = 145. Or 3 million over the cap for those 3 players only. So the rest of the roster is getting dumped.

There is no universe where they can resign all maintain all their current players. This spring and next season are their last chances for a legit chip run. Anything after that would only be because they made a major consolidation trade for a superstar player.

No one thinks their window is closing.

The cap is blowing up thanks to the new TV deal. They have like a dozen picks coming (rookie scale labour).

They can also do trades.

OKC and SAS have the best 5 year setup coming up.

[mdenny]

I don't think ppl realize that the OKC window is closing.

They will need to add 85 milly to their annual cap next summer for Chet and Jdub. SGA will make 38.

That's a total of 123 for those 3 players. The cap is 140.

The summer after that they need to resign SGA. So he'll make 60.

60 + 85 = 145. Or 3 million over the cap for those 3 players only. So the rest of the roster is getting dumped.

There is no universe where they can resign all maintain all their current players. This spring and next season are their last chances for a legit chip run. Anything after that would only be because they made a major consolidation trade for a superstar player.

No one thinks their window is closing.

The cap is blowing up thanks to the new TV deal. They have like a dozen picks coming (rookie scale labour).

They can also do trades.

OKC and SAS have the best 5 year setup coming up.

The windows for teams that operate within the cap (ie small markets) are only like 2 seasons now with the new rules.

You can say this and say that....but the numbers can't be denied. SGA/chet/jdubs are not going to contend with 12 mid-level pick rookies and sophomores filling out the rest of the roster.

I think it was a huge mistake not to make a consolidating trade at the last deadline. They have 7 FRPs in the next 2 drafts. They don't have the roster spots to absorb them. And those picks lose alot of value after players are selected.

They are finding a new way to mismanage assets. Losing a player for nothing in free agency is the common way. OKC finna lose draft picks by not being able to sign them and then have to trade them at a huge discount or lose them for nothing in free agency at the age of 22.

There's a decent chance that in 6 years from now.....there will be 3 or 4 guys scattered across the league who are decent to good players that were drafted by OKC and never actually played for them or netted them anything in return.

And here's an additional problem: if I am a player agent....the worst possible outcome for any prospect right now is to be selected by OKC this summer or next. In fact....I wouldn't be surprised if agents inform OKC "don't select my guy...he doesn't want to go there".

It could derail an entire career to get selected by them this summer.

[DelAbbot]

I don't think ppl realize that the OKC window is closing.

They will need to add 85 milly to their annual cap next summer for Chet and Jdub. SGA will make 38.

That's a total of 123 for those 3 players. The cap is 140.

The summer after that they need to resign SGA. So he'll make 60.

60 + 85 = 145. Or 3 million over the cap for those 3 players alone. So the rest of the roster is getting rinsed. They might be willing to go over the cap to some degree (history tells us they won't but let's suppose they make an exception). But certainly not over in keeping all the players like Dort/hartenstien/Caruso who's 3 contracts add another 55 million (and would also demand raises]. Or a total of 200 million per year for their top 6 players.

The party is over after next season.

There is no universe where they can resign/maintain all their current players. This spring and next season are their last chances for a legit chip run. Anything after that would only be because they made a major consolidation trade for a superstar player. They HAVE to make a trade unless you think SGA/chet/jdubs can contend as a big 3 with no depth.

By this logic, our window with Scottie + BI + IQ already closed

[Pointgod]

I don't think ppl realize that the OKC window is closing.

They will need to add 85 milly to their annual cap next summer for Chet and Jdub. SGA will make 38.

That's a total of 123 for those 3 players. The cap is 140.

The summer after that they need to resign SGA. So he'll make 60.

60 + 85 = 145. Or 3 million over the cap for those 3 players alone. So the rest of the roster is getting rinsed. They might be willing to go over the cap to some degree (history tells us they won't but let's suppose they make an exception). But certainly not over in keeping all the players like Dort/hartenstien/Caruso who's 3 contracts add another 55 million (and would also demand raises]. Or a total of 200 million per year for their top 6 players.

The party is over after next season.

There is no universe where they can resign/maintain all their current players. This spring and next season are their last chances for a legit chip run. Anything after that would only be because they made a major consolidation trade for a superstar player. They HAVE to make a trade unless you think SGA/chet/jdubs can contend as a big 3 with no depth.

lol no. 27, 24 and 23 are the ages of the Thunder’s 3 best players. Barring major injuries they’ll have a long runway are are flush with picks over the next 7 years to pivot in literally any direction. Presti has set them up very nicely.

[CazOnReal]

OKC showed some serious trouble against the Lakers and will probably run into other problems in the playoffs. At some point they’re going to need to make a big trade and Presti has never shown an ability to consolidate when required. We’ll see what happens. IMO SGA, JDub and Chet isn’t a championship team.

Presti has been a great talent evaluator but can’t seem to close - he’s very risk averse and you won’t get anywhere like that.

Well, I don't see how you can trade Chet. He's the unicorn you have to hold onto especially with bigs like Wembey, Mobley and others. So IMHO they would have to trade JDub. Who would they realistically look to trade for him? Unless you trade both together for an imminent upgrade like Giannis.

Do you think there's any possibility they could get giannis without giving Chet back? They have a billion picks. Jdubs plus hartestein plus 7 picks or something like that?

Because I think a Chet/Giannis front court could be dominant.

But I'm guessing the Bucks insist on Chet.

Barring the Thunder managing to get the Bucks own picks back/cancel the owed swaps, they are going to ask for at least one of Chet or J-Dub. If I had to guess? Williams is the more likely to be considered because we've seen the template of Giannis + stretch 5 work out and unlike Chet there's a lot more areas of improvement and thus he's probably the less untouchable of the two.

That said, it really depends on what the Bucks want in any such deal as well as what they can get got Dame since you're not going to just run the Dame thing out with him and Jalen Williams as his new #2.

lol no. 27, 24 and 23 are the ages of the Thunder’s 3 best players. Barring major injuries they’ll have a long runway are are flush with picks over the next 7 years to pivot in literally any direction. Presti has set them up very nicely.

If I had a nickel for every time the Thunder were supposed to be a dynasty with 3 young upcoming stars...

Let's not ignore the second apron elephant in the room. If Jalen, Chet and Shai get extensions this offseason then they're going to be in financial hell as a small market team, and that's before you consider extensions for other players like the upcoming one for Cason Wallace. Young teams have a much shorter window to contend than they're often given and this new CBA is particularly brutal on teams in the tax even if they rebuilt the "right way" like the Thunder did i.e. through the draft (by tanking, which is how they got Chet...).

[Clutch0z24]

I don't think ppl realize that the OKC window is closing.

They will need to add 85 milly to their annual cap next summer for Chet and Jdub. SGA will make 38.

That's a total of 123 for those 3 players. The cap is 140.

The summer after that they need to resign SGA. So he'll make 60.

60 + 85 = 145. Or 3 million over the cap for those 3 players alone. So the rest of the roster is getting rinsed. They might be willing to go over the cap to some degree (history tells us they won't but let's suppose they make an exception). But certainly not over in keeping all the players like Dort/hartenstien/Caruso who's 3 contracts add another 55 million (and would also demand raises]. Or a total of 200 million per year for their top 6 players.

The party is over after next season.

There is no universe where they can resign/maintain all their current players. This spring and next season are their last chances for a legit chip run. Anything after that would only be because they made a major consolidation trade for a superstar player. They HAVE to make a trade unless you think SGA/chet/jdubs can contend as a big 3 with no depth.

lol no. 27, 24 and 23 are the ages of the Thunder’s 3 best players. Barring major injuries they’ll have a long runway are are flush with picks over the next 7 years to pivot in literally any direction. Presti has set them up very nicely.

Yeah other poster is pretty delusional if he thinks a 60+ win team with literally players in their young 20s and a MVP player on their team with a slew of draft picks and possibly high end draft picks window is closing than idk what team in the league has a window at all....Raptors would also be cooked cause we are a 30 win team with Barnes/Ingram/Quickley as the core...

[HumbleRen]

I would have traded Chet or J dub at the deadline for KD or that caliber of player. You don’t play around with championship windows, nothing in the future is guaranteed.