Offseason competition

[m23uza1hem36]

I don't really have a set of rules or guidelines or anything...but what would you do if you were the GM of the Thunder, what trades would you make, who would you sign, what would you do on draft day. Nothing surreal, keep it realistic.

I'll post what I'd do later on...

Who ever has the best idea wins

[sonic-ben]

Draft C Thambeet
Draft SG Ellington

FA Sign Millsap 15 million a 3 yr deal

Lineup

Westbrook
Ellington
Durant
Millsap
Thambeet

6th man Green
Collison
Sefolosha
Weaver
Krstic

[Clangus]

Ok Realistically? I'll do my best

3rd pick: Draft Harden
25th Draft: Terrence Williams (Depending on the mock draft he could fall this far or even further)

Sign Gortat in off season 3 year 18 million front loaded to make it difficult for Orlando to match.

Trade Jeff Green and second rounder for Kevin Love (they prolly not shopping him, but its worth a try)


get rid of Watson for ANYTHING


lineup

Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Love
Gortat

Weaver/ Livingston
Terrence Williams
Thabo /
Collison/ DJ White
Krystic


Rebounding, Scoring, Shot blocker, outside shooting and a low post presence (Love - still developing though). We have Krystic, Wiliams off the bench for scoring and DJ White, and Thabo for Defensive toughness.

*most of these ideas we though up on the fly. Some further thought on my part and I may need to change a few things.

[m23uza1hem36]

Ok Realistically? I'll do my best

3rd pick: Draft Harden
25th Draft: Terrence Williams (Depending on the mock draft he could fall this far or even further)

Sign Gortat in off season 3 year 18 million front loaded to make it difficult for Orlando to match.

Trade Jeff Green and second rounder for Kevin Love (they prolly not shopping him, but its worth a try)


get rid of Watson for ANYTHING


lineup

Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Love
Gortat

Weaver/ Livingston
Terrence Williams
Thabo /
Collison/ DJ White
Krystic


Rebounding, Scoring, Shot blocker, outside shooting and a low post presence (Love - still developing though). We have Krystic, Wiliams off the bench for scoring and DJ White, and Thabo for Defensive toughness.

*most of these ideas we though up on the fly. Some further thought on my part and I may need to change a few things.

That is realistic and would be a nice young core, I wouldn't really want to over pay for Gortat though, hes still a borderline starter in my mind, he does have potential though.

[m23uza1hem36]

I also doubt Kevin Love is traded

[Hiphophead101]

My draft day choices:
Trade 3rd overall pick with wizards for 5th overall pick + McGee
draft Gerald Henderson with 5th pick.
Add Trevor Ariza for depth at the 3.
Trade Earl Watson for James Posey.
trade 25th pick + next years 2nd rounder for 15th pick with pistons.
Draft BJ Mullens.

Lineup is as follows:

Westbrook/Livingston
Henderson/Posey
Durant/Ariza
Green/Collison/White
McGee/Mullens/Kristic

Call me crazy but im a big believer in Hendersons game.

[Durantist]

-Trade 3rd pick with the Pistons for a sign and trade deal with Iverson and the 15th pick
-Draft Austin Daye
-Trade Green and Watson for Boris Diaw
-Trade Durant and Thabo for Greg Oden and Nick Batum
-Trade Westbrook and Collison for Manu Ginobili
The Outcome:
PG: #0 Westbr... i mean Iverson
SG: #13 Hard... i mean Ginobili
SF: #35 Dura...i mean Austin Daye
PF: #22 Gree...i mean Boris Diaw
C: The shoulda woulda coulda been #2 pick GREG ODEN

[mnkinga23]

Trade:
#3, #25, and Earl Watson to DET for Rip Hamilton, Kwame Brown (if he exercises player option) or Amir Johnson, and the #15.
The Thunder gets that perimeter shooting threat and championship level veteran leadership. Kwame Brown, for as limited as he is offensively, can defend both one-on-one and help, and he can rebound a little. Amir Johnson is a young player with some promise. Either way, they are both on one year contracts, so if they work its great and if they don't no loss. The Pistons get the third pick (would make sense with Rubio or Thabeet) and save either 7 million (Johnson) or 8 million (Brown) for their free agent pursuits in '09.
Draft:
#15- Earl Clark. He has the ability to play multiple positions (3/4), is very long and athletic, and comes from a good program in college (Rick Pitino). He has the skills of a Boris Diaw, Lamar Odom type.
Free Agency:
If we get Kwame Brown, we should get a three point specialist- Steve Novak (42% from 3).
PG- Westbrook/Livingston/Weaver/Atkins (Buyout Candidate)
SG- Hamilton/Sefolosha/Weaver
SF- Durant/Clark/Novak
PF- Green/Collison/White
C- Kristic/Brown
If we get Amir Johnson, attempt to get either Chris Andersen or Marcin Gortat
PG- Westbrook/Livingston/Weaver/Atkins (Buyout Candidate)
SG- Hamilton/Sefolosha/Weaver
SF- Durant/Clark/Sefolosha
PF- Green/Collison/Johnson/White
C- Kristic/(Gortat or Andersen)

[slick_watts]

i think i'd play it conservative this offseason, and unless confronted with a deal to upgrade the front court, i think sam presti will as well. here's my take on something:

- draft james harden @ #3. harden imo is the kind of sg i think would fit best with the roster that is being put together.

- trade nick collison, earl watson, #25 to philly for samuel dalembert.

i think the trade scenarios for guys like okafor and stoudemire are ok but dalembert imo is a more realistic target. he's a guy that can probably benefit from a change of scenery and is only on the books for two more years. this trade only costs the thunder 5-6M in 2010 (difference between collison and dalembert's contract) and the team will still have some cap space to target a 2010 free agent if they desire. dalembert is only a year removed from 10-10-2, has played every game the last three seasons, and still has good athleticism and height. i'd take a chance.

minutes breakdown:

PG westbrook 36 / livingston 8 / weaver 4
SG harden 33 / weaver 7 / sefolosha 8
SF durant 36 / green 6 / sefolosha 6
PF green 33 / white 10 / durant 5
C dalembert 24 / krstic 24

depending on how well westbrook improves, how harden does, and most importantly how they play defense, this team would probably miss the playoffs again and get another lotto pick. i think next offseason is the one where a lot of moves will be made and the roster will begin to take shape.

[wiff]

OK I've got it!!!!!

This coming season simply stay the course. I know it's dull but we are thinking long term.

Hang on to all the pieces. I would draft Harden(I know, I know, I have been a big Thabeet supporter, would still be fine with it) because of less bust potential and he will be more attractive to play with for the long term with what I am thinking.

So basically we are looking at this coming season,

PG Westbrook
SG Harden
SF Durant
PF Green
C Krystic

Bench Thabo, Collison, Weaver, Livvy, DJ WHite, Ibaka, #25, Watson, Wilkins, Atkins.

Hang on to the cap space let the kids mature on more year.

Then enter the 2010 Free agent Bonanza with all the cap they have available. With two targets in mind. Amare(1) or Bosh(1a).

PG Westbrook
SG Harden
SF Durant
PF Amare or Bosh
C Krystic

6th Man Green
Bench Collison, Thabo, DJ White, Weaver, Livvy, Ibaka, #25, OKC's 2010 1st, PHX 2010 1st.

That's 15 players. And that roster is deep, deep, deep.

I know OKC is going to have a hard time attracting free agents unless they are in a great position to win, and to win for a long time.

San Antonio isn't the greatest city but they have been competitive because vets want to win a ring.

This would legitimately give OKC a roster to compete for a ring.

[theokie]

The only way Bosh and Amare would come here via free agency is if they knew they could win a championship here. The problem is after next year we won't be close to that level.

[wiff]

The only way Bosh and Amare would come here via free agency is if they knew they could win a championship here. The problem is after next year we won't be close to that level.

Ya I can see your point clear as day.

I do think the Thunder have a chance to chase the 8th seed next season. Or they can win 35 games and possibly get lucky with one of their two lotto picks. I don't see the Suns making the playoffs next year. Especially if they have the fire sale that seems to be brewing.

I'd like to think though that as a player you can see a good situation with a teams roster.

If OKC can offer up a boatload of money and they look to have a stacked roster who is young and is looking to compete for the next 10 years that they would take that into consideration.

Sure I can fully get why everyone wants to go to Miami or LA but at the same time being on a team that is poised to win for a long time isn't too shabby either.

That is going to be the only positive OKC can offer free agents. We are poised to start winning a lot of games.

Somehow I don't think their winters will be a good selling point.

[theokie]

The problem is that New York could end up with 1 or hell even both of those guys. There are still plenty of people in 2010 that are/could be free agents the Thunder could acquire after all the big names are off the board. Really we need one good free agent signing, because (and I know I am getting way ahead of myself here) a free agent signing of an all-star or sometimes trading for an all-star is usually the last step into really competing for a championship. Usually the trade is for draft picks or young talents.
Examples - Boston getting KG and Ray Allen. LA getting Pau Gasol. Shaq for Odom and Butler and a pick in 2004. Detroit getting Rasheed wallace in 2004 for players and picks.... ect

The trade route is something i think Presti will avoid. While it can get a team into a championship picture for a few years, they eventually have to blow it up soon after, (Detroit now, Boston in a few years).

Thats why I see are team going the FA route, but I dont think it will be someone as elite as Bosh or Amare free agent signing. We are going to follow the model of drafting a star (Durant) developing a young core (Westbrook, Green, this years #3), then finally adding some good Free Agents to fill in the necessary gaps.

With that said, I say if we draft Harden, go for Marcus Camby in 2010 if he is still productive. Or if we draft Thabeet go for Michael Redd or Joe Johnson. After that there are still guys like Jamal Crawford, Ilgauskas, Richard Jefferson, Luis Scola, Rafer Alston and plenty more.

Heres something realistic I would like to see happen.

2009-2010 roster
PG: Westbrook - Livingston
SG: Thabo - Weaver
SF: Durant
PF: Green - White - Collison
C: Krstic - Thabeet

2010-2011 roster
PG: Westbrook - Livingston
SG: Michael Redd - Weaver
SF: Durant - Thabo
PF: Green - White - Collison
C: Thabeet - Krstic

[Radiohead311]

A:
Draft Rubio #3

B:
Collison, Watson, Jeff Green, Atkins, #25
for
J Crawful, Andris Biedrins, Belinelli, B Wright

C:
Agree to a deal with ATL to take on Speedy Claxton in July along with the #19 pick in return for a newly created Trade Exception. They get 5.2 million off their payroll in order to resign Bibby & Williams and insurance will pay 80% of that 5.2 mill for us. They draft Earl Clark for us at #19. Deal gets completed mid July.

D:
Buy the #21 pick from NOLA for $3 million cash and draft Omri Casspi, keep him stashed in Europe for a year or 2.

E:
Agree to a deal with the Pistons to take on Amir Johnson in July along with the #35 & #44 pick in return for a newly created Trade Exception. They cut 3.7 million from their payroll giving them more than 25 million in cap space. Earlier rumors had them giving up the #15 in a deal similar to this but they've made a promise to BJ Mullens at #15 and they will keep him. We draft Rodrigue Beubois #35, and Vyacheslav Kravtsov #44 and stash them both in Europe.

F:
Buyout Damien Wilkins and resign Malik Rose to be a vet presence with a championship ring in the locker room


No need to make long term FA signings, use that cap space to acquire young assets but keep the cap flexibility for next summer or the year after, let the youngin's grow and see who fits. When it's all said and done the 09-10 team is:

Rubio/Livingston/Claxton(exp 80% paid by insurance)
Westbrook/Crawford/Belinelli(TO)
Durant/Sefolosha(TO)/Earl Clark
Kristic/Brandon Wright/DJ White/M Rose(exp)
Biedrins/Amir Johnson(exp)

That looks like a playoff team to me, especially if Kristic can get back to where he was in 05-06. This is a versitile team as Kristic can play some minutes at the 5 with Biedrins on the bench and Wright or White in at the 4. Westbrook can play a lot of 1 because Rubio won't be ready so that opens up minutes for Thabo, Crawful, & Belinelli at the 2.

And then stashed overseas Presti has:

Rodrigue Beaubois(France)
Yotem Halperin(Israel/Greece)
Omri Casspi(Israel)
Serge Ibaka(Spain)
Vyancheslav Kravtsov(Ukraine)

Thats like a potential Euroleague all-star team right there.

[Radiohead311]

Ohh and 3 years from now we're a championship contender with a lineup like this:

Rubio/Livingston/Beaubois
Westbrook/Sefolosha/Belinelli
Durant/E Clark/Casspi
Ibaka/Wright/White
Biedrins/Kristic/2010 Suns pick


Doin' it like the Spurs, but we'll get more than 4 championships in 10 years.

[Hiphophead101]

im going to be more realistic here and go with james harden with that 3rd pick.

[SIR_GunZo]

Try to trade Jeff Green for Kevin Love. Thunder have two SF (Durant and Green), Minnestoa have two PF (Love and Jefferson). If Minnesota Refuse, I would offer

Jeff Green and Pho next year first round pick for Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. If Minnesota refuse I would offer

Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook for Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. And if Minnesota would still refuse offer I would make a final offer off

Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Pho next year pick for Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and the right to Pekovice (spelling).

Then I would try to sign some vetran as SF and PF back up. Like Devean George, Juwan Howard. Georeg has NBA Finals experiance since his day with Lakers. Juwan Howard is all pro guy who would be great as twelft men on this team.

My dream depth chart
PG: Rubio and Livingston, Watson
SG: Harden and Westbrook, Sefelosha
SF: Durant, Devean Georeg
PF: Love, Dj White, Juwan Howard
C: Kristic, , Nick Collinson, Mullens

With Westbrook as sixth men, would mostly back up both Harden and Rubio. If Livingston would play as he played with Clippers he would gets alot of minutes. Kristic and Collinson would split times at C. If this team could get few years to learn and gel it could be very good team.

[slick_watts]

minnesota won't do any of those trades.

i'd consider trading jeff green and phoenix's #1 next year top 5 protected for love. he'd be a much better fit for us and green would probably be a better fit for min.