Which position do you think the thunder will address?

bumblebee · Post #1 » by **bumblebee** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:52 am

Which position do you think the thunder will address in the draft assuming you don't have the chance to draft Rubio, or Griffen?

Post #2 » by **wizkid27** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:52 am

All depends upon where we end up picking. I think if we're at 3rd, with Thabeet on the board, we can't pass him up. Center, especially one like Thabeet, is a huge need. After that, I think we'd just take the best player available as long as they could play a non-forward position (maybe even if they were a forward, but it'd have to just be too good to pass on).

Big_Mac79 · Post #3 » by **Big_Mac79** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:52 pm

wizkid27 wrote:All depends upon where we end up picking. I think if we're at 3rd, with Thabeet on the board, we can't pass him up. Center, especially one like Thabeet, is a huge need. After that, I think we'd just take the best player available as long as they could play a non-forward position (maybe even if they were a forward, but it'd have to just be too good to pass on).

Ditto

Post #4 » by **Foshan** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:21 pm

As an 'outsider' I think on paper Thabeet looks like a good pick, but I've seen him play a lot, and I'm afraid he has bust written all over his game.

If I'm OKC i decide if I want Westbrook at PG or SG, and then pick the best guard that compliments that decision. I think their will be a lot of talent at the C position NEXT draft, that OKC will have the tools to move up and get.

I think a trade for/ a FA signing of a big man who is on a short contract would do nice to fill the whole till they get their long term guy next year.

Canomad · Post #5 » by **Canomad** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:09 am

i wouldnt go after thabeet i would go best player available even if he is still on the board. i see him being sent down to the d league mutliple times in his rookie year. the thunder need a guy to make an impact and help them to win games thabeet ceiling i think is dalembert but maybe not for 3 years do you wanna wait that long? i would go harden with him and westbrook in the backcourt with livingston being the 6th man. i would give jeff green a little more time at pf based on how much he improved in teh offseason. if he improves a little more he could be the longterm solution at pf for you guys.

Post #6 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:40 pm

See, I feel like taking best player available and Thabeet will be about the same thing after Griffin is off of the board. To me, Delembert is Thabeet's floor, not his ceiling. I think that he's probably already a better shot blocker than Sam. He's taller and just avoids some of the stupid situations that Daly seems to get himself into.

I'm not going to be mad if we don't end up with him, but I think that he's our biggest chance to hit a home run and really start completing the puzzle.

TheNewEra · Post #7 » by **TheNewEra** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:58 am

^Bingo I can't see a way the thunder don''t get Thabeet either trade down or package two picks and trade up. To be a fellow low tier team the Thunder are a very deep team they have role players that know their role and play it well. it's all a matter of case of adding a SG or PG (which pushes Thabo to the bench adding depth) and C (which pushes Krystic to the becnch adding great depth) to maximize the starting line-up.

mcmokken · Post #8 » by **mcmokken** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:55 am

canomad wrote:i wouldnt go after thabeet i would go best player available even if he is still on the board. i see him being sent down to the d league mutliple times in his rookie year. the thunder need a guy to make an impact and help them to win games thabeet ceiling i think is dalembert but maybe not for 3 years do you wanna wait that long? i would go harden with him and westbrook in the backcourt with livingston being the 6th man. i would give jeff green a little more time at pf based on how much he improved in teh offseason. if he improves a little more he could be the longterm solution at pf for you guys.

I agree with taking Harden at 3 over Thabeet, though I would take Thabeet at 4. I like the potential of a Harden/Westbrook combo. I am also slightly fearful of Thabeet's bust potential / long development time before solid results (the Sonics had horrible luck drafting big men). Add that to the fact that the C position can be upgraded later on in future drafts/trades/FA signings, I think I could live with Krstic/Collison for at least another year while locking up the SG position with Harden.

Joel Embust · Post #9 » by **Joel Embust** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:05 am

Draft Harden.

Sign Gortat.

Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Green
Gortat

Post #10 » by **wizkid27** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:53 pm

I haven't seen that much of Gortat this year... what I have seen, he's looked alright. But I don't think he's played well enough to come in and start over Krstic or Collison. I'm not saying either one of them is ideal either, but it seems like with Gortat we're just continue to pile on mediocre post players and never acquire a truly gifted one to put with Green and Durant.

sonic-ben · Post #11 » by **sonic-ben** » Sat May 2, 2009 4:28 pm

Harden is a bust ... I have watch the boy play ... not impressed

wiff · Post #12 » by **wiff** » Sat May 2, 2009 7:29 pm

I am thoroughly not impressed with Harden either. Sure he has a nice all around game, but the guy had two games in the NCAA tournament to show up and he vanished in both.

I think his inferior athleticism is going to be exposed at this level too.

Out of all the guys in the top 7 I want him the least.

Post #13 » by **slick_watts** » Sun May 3, 2009 4:04 am

people are saying the same things about harden that people said about brandon roy when he came out. i think harden could be a good all around player.. though i think okc should address SG in free agency or trade since it's the easiest position to fill.

wiff · Post #14 » by **wiff** » Sun May 3, 2009 4:12 am

Brandon Roy is a far better athlete compared to Harden.

Roy's hops are deceiving, then out of no where his head is floating around the rim.

Hardens hops are ok but compared to other SG's in the league he's not very impressive.

Post #15 » by **wizkid27** » Sun May 3, 2009 2:46 pm

slick_watts wrote:though i think okc should address SG in free agency or trade since it's the easiest position to fill.

I definitely agree with you about that. If we can address another need in the draft (whether it be a point guard if you see Westbrook at the 2 or a center), then that would be a big win.

Clangus · Post #16 » by **Clangus** » Mon May 4, 2009 3:27 am

wizkid27 wrote:I haven't seen that much of Gortat this year... what I have seen, he's looked alright. But I don't think he's played well enough to come in and start over Krstic or Collison. I'm not saying either one of them is ideal either, but it seems like with Gortat we're just continue to pile on mediocre post players and never acquire a truly gifted one to put with Green and Durant.

He's good!
I'd take him in a heartbeat!
-Great shot blocker
-great rebounder
-who cardes what else - we have a scoring centre. We need that inside Defensve prescense. Gortat now, Thabeet can be his understudy until he gets better.

Post #17 » by **wizkid27** » Tue May 5, 2009 2:51 am

Is Gortat really that far ahead of where Thabeet is right now? Like I said, I haven't really seen much of the guy... but we have a lot of big guys in that "good enough to be a bench role player on a good team" mold.