A couple of things...

MrToad · Post #1 » by **MrToad** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 5:43 pm

1. Stop talking about how this team is young, and how great they are going to be in a few years. If you don't believe me, look at New Orleans circa 2007-08. How many people figured they'd be contending by now? There are plenty of other examples over the years. Players get hurt. Players get arrested. Players get suspended for violating league policy. There is no guarantee.
2. Stop talking about who to draft, especially a big. This team needs help now. They can't afford to get any younger and bet on a draft pick panning out. The drafts over the years are full of big man busts... if the Thunder think they can rely on drafting an answer to thier needs they run a real risk of missing their window.
3. Durant is a superstar NOW. Getting a player like him is a once in a decade (or three, four, etc.) shot. The only focus for the off-season has to be getting him the support he needs for next season, not 2,3,4 years from now. Mortgage the future for the present.

Post #2 » by **slick_watts** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 5:58 pm

New Orleans had a much worse financial / cap situation than we do... they couldn't add to their team, we can.

fallacy · Post #3 » by **fallacy** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:17 pm

We sure do have a bunch of over-paid older guys on our team like that hornet team did!

H00PDREAMS · Post #4 » by **H00PDREAMS** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:49 pm

Honestly, I think Durant learning from not necessarily the Lakers as a team but learning a lot from playing against Artest and Kobe. Similar to Magic first faced Bird and the Celtics. They all learned as a team what it took to win. The Lakers had a similar class with the Pierce and the Cletics. Those losses turned into motivation and started the fire in the belly. Some players always have it. Some players develop it. I think Thunder could develop into one of those teams that have that fire in the belly. The Mavs faked it and fell to the Heat. Just like I think the CAVs maybe faking it. Paul and the Hornets didn't have time to develop it. But this experience will fire up the thunder for a run in the future that is one thing for sure. First they must learn how to win.

MrToad · Post #5 » by **MrToad** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:35 pm

slick_watts wrote:New Orleans had a much worse financial / cap situation than we do... they couldn't add to their team, we can.

Yeah, but will they? There were moves they could have made this season that would be a big help now. Camby anyone?

BIG EDDIE · Post #6 » by **BIG EDDIE** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:54 pm

Who to get this summer?

If PF, Im saying David Lee.

If C, I go for Brook Lopez.

Actually, David Lee's contract just ended so he is a free agent this summer.
I Probably Lopez would be harder to get through a trade, we would have to give up too much.

BIG EDDIE · Post #7 » by **BIG EDDIE** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:59 pm

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/oklahoma_city.htm

If you take a look at this, you will see that 18M will be freed up next year, which means we can go spend some money!!

Clangus · Post #8 » by **Clangus** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:03 pm

who are you to tell us what to talk about? Piss off.

Big_Mac79 · Post #9 » by **Big_Mac79** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:40 am

MrToad wrote:1. Stop talking about how this team is young, and how great they are going to be in a few years. If you don't believe me, look at New Orleans circa 2007-08. How many people figured they'd be contending by now? There are plenty of other examples over the years. Players get hurt. Players get arrested. Players get suspended for violating league policy. There is no guarantee.

Presti tries to avoid the bad character guys for this reason

MrToad wrote:2. Stop talking about who to draft, especially a big. This team needs help now. They can't afford to get any younger and bet on a draft pick panning out. The drafts over the years are full of big man busts... if the Thunder think they can rely on drafting an answer to thier needs they run a real risk of missing their window.

We like to discuss who they will or should draft because of the picks they have
If they had zero picks then yes lets talk free agency

MrToad wrote:3. Durant is a superstar NOW. Getting a player like him is a once in a decade (or three, four, etc.) shot. The only focus for the off-season has to be getting him the support he needs for next season, not 2,3,4 years from now. Mortgage the future for the present.

You don't mortgage the future for now
You do you best to compete now without mortgaging your future

Clangus · Post #10 » by **Clangus** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:31 am

Big_Mac79 wrote:
MrToad wrote:
MrToad wrote:3. Durant is a superstar NOW. Getting a player like him is a once in a decade (or three, four, etc.) shot. The only focus for the off-season has to be getting him the support he needs for next season, not 2,3,4 years from now. Mortgage the future for the present.

You don't mortgage the future for now
You do you best to compete now without mortgaging your future

Not to mention that KD is just 21 - we have alot of time before he is even in his prime.