thunder's next draft

[Jimmy76]

The Thunder need to fill out their core specifically at the 4 and 5 position since Jeff Green can not (imo) be a long term 4 and the only possible future starter is Ibaka and he's still a big unknown at this point and I think this years draft is a good place to look for long term solutions at the 4 and 5 for the Thunder.

If the Thunder are able to move up (combining the picks and/or packaging green):

Aldrich-6'11 with incredible length he's a smart, hard working, dedicated player who eats boards, plays smart defense, and blocks shots at a high level. His outlet passing is pretty good already most bigs even at the nba level tend to just coddle the ball until the point can pick it up from them but Aldrich almost always immediately after a rebound looks down court and gets it to the wings/guards in stride. Could easily be a Bogut at the NBA level and its unlikely he's anything less than a solid starter. Low risk medium reward type of pick. UGLY but effective mid-range game though he doesn't use it in volume.

Monroe-My gut is telling me this is who Presti really covets since he seems to be a big fan of versitle players. As wide and versitle a skill set as they come and right now he's relatively far down the draft boards compared to expectations (13th on draftexpress considering a possible top 5 pick before the season). Able to play the 4 or 5 but he's likely a 5 at the NBA level imo. Able to operate in high post or low post but his effectiveness in the post at the NBA level is open to questioning considering his lack of domination at the college level. Has some ability to drive, handle the ball, and face up though nothing spectacular at this point.

One of the best big passing prospects in a long long time (3.6 assists in college as a big with an ast/to ratio over 1 is very rare) his unique passing ability is probably his biggest asset though at times he defers too much. Decent shot blocker at the college level and an exceptional ball thief for a big man. Was widely criticized last year for being a terrible rebounder for a big and someone his size at the college level he's stepped up on that count this year going from 6.5 rpg in 31 minutes to 9.4 rpg in 34 minutes.

At the same time his shooting percentage has fallen drastically his second year along with his ft% and 3 point shooting percentage. Will at least be able to hit a short mid-range at the nba level and its not out of the realm of possibility that he extends his range to the 3 point line though his decline in shooting this year indicates its unlikely. Something of an enigma as a prospect its unclear how he will look in nba offenses and whether it will be for good or bad. Very inconsistent but has flashes of brilliance. Has average athleticism and is 6-10 (listed 6-11).

edit:ill do a couple of big prospects more in the thunders current range later but they all sound a lot like Ibaka as prospects

[london sonic]

Have liked Monroe since seeing him school Thabeet when Georgetown played Conn last season. He would be a great addition to this young team. Would like to see us package our two 1sts to get him.Also like Aldrich but he will definately be gone in the first 5-7 picks and could be more expensive.

[slick_watts]

It'd be a big mistake to package Green for a higher pick, IMO. Green might not be a starting PF for a championship team but he has enough value to get a proven talent if we throw in picks, expirings (Collison), etc.

[Jimmy76]

It'd be a big mistake to package Green for a higher pick, IMO. Green might not be a starting PF for a championship team but he has enough value to get a proven talent if we throw in picks, expirings (Collison), etc.

who do you have in mind?

i think Green needs to be traded before he gets paid he's going to get more money than he's worth and the thunder owner is willing to spend only so much so we're talking a limited time frame and I dont see anyone significant hitting the market next year

Biedrins maybe? He can rebound and block shots but his defense is overrated (maybe it would imrpove on the Thunder) but i wouldnt count on anyone hitting the market if we can move up pretty high I think its best to make a move while its available

I think the Thunder need a big man who can score inside

[slick_watts]

I definitely agree with your premise.. aside from turnovers, our two main problems are scoring efficiency and defensive rebound which obviously a decent big man would solve.

My problem with trading up in this draft is that aside from Demarcus Cousins and maybe Greg Monroe I don't think any of the big man prospects offer more than what we have. Cousins will be out of reach, and Monroe is a complete wild card. If we trade Green and our picks for the right to draft him, well, that seems like too big a risk.

This offseason the team with have ample cap room and tradable assets. Even on draft day something could be worked out in a trade for an established big man. Biedrins would be great, but there are others out there that can fill the role for us..

[Jimmy76]

I definitely agree with your premise.. aside from turnovers, our two main problems are scoring efficiency and defensive rebound which obviously a decent big man would solve.

My problem with trading up in this draft is that aside from Demarcus Cousins and maybe Greg Monroe I don't think any of the big man prospects offer more than what we have. Cousins will be out of reach, and Monroe is a complete wild card. If we trade Green and our picks for the right to draft him, well, that seems like too big a risk.

This offseason the team with have ample cap room and tradable assets. Even on draft day something could be worked out in a trade for an established big man. Biedrins would be great, but there are others out there that can fill the role for us..

who else do you have in mind

and even if these draft guys dont end up seeing their ceiling its unlikely they arent at least good players

i guess it depends on how confident you are in your scouts and in any given prospect to pan out

Cousins I doubt Presti would touch even if he could even though hed be perfect for OKC

[wiff]

The only current players I would trade along with the picks on draft night is Nenad, White and Weaver. However I would like Weaver to find a spot on this team because he played at Washington State. I'd hate to see them move Nick Collison considering all the crap he has dealt with playing for this franchise.

The draft is such a crap shoot and Green as up and down as he has been this season he has proved that he belongs in the league.

I don't think he is a starting PF but he does have value. And I think a 6th man role would be ideal.

I hope Mullens get minutes in a blow out pretty soon. What is hard is that bigs don't tend to really hit their stride until they are 25 and this whole team is so young. Mullens could be exactly what the Thunder need but we just don'tknow yet. Same with Ibaka.

It's just so hard to land a ready to contribute big so late in the draft.

Presti is clever I'm sure h will find an answer before next season.

[Balkman32]

Green will not be delt! The Thunder have the assets to move up in the draft w/ Phoenix's 1 st round pick n' Minny's 2 nd round pick. The thunder will have 3 picks in the top 35. W/ only three open roster spots n' the avail cap room. I would have 2 think the Thunder will sign someone. That leaves 2 roster spots and 4 draft picks. If we could couple the three top 35 picks I think the thunder could get to about pick 6. Right there they could take their big. Ie. Cousins or Monroe.

[Jimmy76]

Green will not be delt! The Thunder have the assets to move up in the draft w/ Phoenix's 1 st round pick n' Minny's 2 nd round pick. The thunder will have 3 picks in the top 35. W/ only three open roster spots n' the avail cap room. I would have 2 think the Thunder will sign someone. That leaves 2 roster spots and 4 draft picks. If we could couple the three top 35 picks I think the thunder could get to about pick 6. Right there they could take their big. Ie. Cousins or Monroe.

presti likes the high character guys and is careful with chemistry he wouldnt touch cousins unless it were to trade him before he even gets into a thunder jersey regardless of how good he is and how good a fit he is

and Green needs to be dealt for something we cant afford to pay him for the production he gives us, he cant play PF on a contending team, and there arent enough SF minutes to make it worth having him

you cant get too attached to your own players and start overrating them or your franchise will get bogged down

whether through trade, the draft, whatever we need to use green to get a legit big

[slick_watts]

I'm not the biggest Green supporter, at least in his current role, but it seems clear to me that the team is commited to him. More important, Kevin Durant seems commited to him. His performance recently has been encouraging offensively; and defensively he really only struggles against brute power forwards. He did very well on Dirk Nowitzki and LaMarcus Aldrdige for example. Al Jefferson wasn't able to do much against us either.

Anyway, for now, the team is going to keep Jeff Green around and try to improve the center spot. Green starting at PF makes us weak on the defensive boards and our scoring efficiency suffers a bit. Both of these items can be remedied by acquiring a starting center and our backcourt guys (Harden, Westbrook) continuing to increase their efficiency from the field.

My dream scenario in the offseason is to get David Lee and trade Jeff Green for a center. That's not going to happen because Green probably isn't going anywhere. I'd look at centers such as Andris Biedrins, Brendan Haywood, mabye Jermaine O'neal who could supply some front court depth. Sam Dalembert? Any of those types can improve our defensive rebounding.

We'll probably know more as the season goes on.. the team's performance, specifically Green's, will be the key factor in what Presti does in the offseason IMO.

[slick_watts]

There are scenarios where Green can be extended cheaply. If I were Presti I'd explore a front loaded contract. If we extend Green, he'd really only be a problem a couple years after when Harden has to get an extension. A front loaded contract would ease the burden. I doubt Presti will overpay Green.. doesn't seem like something he'd do.

[wizkid27]

There are scenarios where Green can be extended cheaply. If I were Presti I'd explore a front loaded contract. If we extend Green, he'd really only be a problem a couple years after when Harden has to get an extension. A front loaded contract would ease the burden. I doubt Presti will overpay Green.. doesn't seem like something he'd do.

I agree. Presti definitely thus far has seemed to have a no-frills, low-risk mentality pretty much across the board.

[Big_Mac79]

Anyone else notice the pattern of Presti's first round picks?


No tattoos!!!!!! Don't look like thugs
So what big men fit that criteria?

[Big_Mac79]

I forget anyone?

[mcmokken]

I forget anyone?

Anyone is capable pulling a Robert Swift and getting all tatted up and growing their hair out once they start making millions. We'll see.

[Jimmy76]

I forget anyone?

Anyone is capable pulling a Robert Swift and getting all tatted up and growing their hair out once they start making millions. We'll see.

id love to see aldrich do that

be hilarious and destroy what he's perceived to be

I forget anyone?

nope Sanders has tats

[wiff]

Who's a big in the league you might take a flyer on?

I thought Aaron Gray a few years back was going to be a decent player. He really hasn't got many minutes. I wouldn't give up much for him but there has to be a guy in the league or D league or Europe where Presti can pay a league minimun or trade late first for someone who has some experience and can rebound and block shots.

Heck maybe I should heed my own advice and try to practice patients and wait another year for Ibaka.

It is possible that the future long term starting front line could be
C Ibaka
F Green
F Durant

All in all even if Harden ends up starting next year that is still a decent defensive team.

Green does effort on D and is good on the perimeter. It's just when he gets posted up.

Fortunately for Green there are fewer and fewer PF's in the league who have a true back to the basket game. But the one's that do abuse him.

It would help Green out tremendously if Durant would put on a few pounds and cover the PF defensively.

[Big_Mac79]

Who's a big in the league you might take a flyer on?

I thought Aaron Gray a few years back was going to be a decent player. He really hasn't got many minutes. I wouldn't give up much for him but there has to be a guy in the league or D league or Europe where Presti can pay a league minimun or trade late first for someone who has some experience and can rebound and block shots.

Hey Wiff how about Baynes?

[london sonic]

Well the Thunder would love to add any of the top bigs Aldrich,Davis,Favours,Davis,Monroe etc but the our picks on their own wont snare any of these withouts putting a deal together. Presti has proved he wont get ripped off so rather than overpaying for an unproven rookie which would he have to Presti will take best talent avaliable. A name that has fallen from grace this season Renardo Sidney still not playing at Miss due to money issues with his Father. I know he doesnt fit Presti high character profile but put in the right team and situation the kids young and talented. He definately fits the High risk/High reward category and could be great value with our 2nd round pick. I would like Presti to trade our two 1sts for Monroe or Aldrich and pick up Sidney with the 2nd, take a gamble sign him to small contract and see if the kid can develop/change in a great setup with OKC and if doesnt well we didnt lose anything of value. I have brought Sidney up before but have a look at what draft.net thinks of Sidney before shooting him and me down he has what OKC are missing.

NBA Player Review of Renardo Sidney

STRENGTHS: A multidimensional bigman with a great combination of size and skills He has a huge frame already (just a sophomore in high school) plus excellent agility Has great versatility with the ability to play inside, grabbing rebounds and patrolling the paint, as well as facing the basket and using the bounce to create shots for himself and others Extremely skilled with the ball, can even isolate and take smaller players off the dribble from the perimeter Has excellent vision and passing ability for a big man Very strong body, and thick, can easily end up carrying 270280 pounds or more, depending how tall he ends up, and maintain his excellent mobility Has a feathery stroke out to college three point Better conditioning and strength as his body matures will no doubt result in more agility and explosiveness His post skills are developing well, with tremendous hands and feet The skys the limit for him, but it all depends how bad he wants it, and what type of work ethic and drive he develops.

WEAKNESSES: Still has a long ways to go to reach his potential Right now hes very good, and can become great if he adds some key elements to his game He can do it all, but his consistency suffers at times Needs to gain better focus on both ends of the floor, when he becomes tired, his game suffers Needs to work on his stamina and build some of his body fat into muscle Shows good signs of competitiveness and toughness, but must work on developing a killer instinct Needs to become more patient with his post moves, incorporate more pump fakes and develop better moves.

[slick_watts]

I'm not sure Ibaka will be a guy you can start at center. He's ripped but I don't think he's really strong, his frame is a little slight. He's more muscular than Kevin Durant but when they are next to each other KD's frame looks bigger.

Ibaka just seems like a natural 4 to me.