Offseason Thread

Post #1 » by **slick_watts** » Mon May 3, 2010 3:05 pm

A bunch of picks.. a bunch of cap space.. a bunch of young players on cheap contracts..

Should be an exciting offseason. Will they spend? Will they be cheap? Will we keep the picks?

Rah Fentons · Post #2 » by **Rah Fentons** » Mon May 3, 2010 3:58 pm

Will they be cheap ?

Just watch the price of natural gas and/or what the general consensus for the future price. This ownership group is more than Clay Bennett.

And OKC's economy will be impacted by the prosperity of Chesapeake Energy, Sandridge Energy, and Devon Energy and all three are tied heavily into nat gas.

Its not a matter of a " cheap " ownership group, its more a matter of whether the local economy can support a certain payroll level.

Presti has shown an ability to find bargains, but I don't think that's an indication of the willingness of the ownership group to spend. I think its part of what Presti calls building a " sustainable " level of success.

Jimmy76 · Post #3 » by **Jimmy76** » Mon May 3, 2010 11:57 pm

yeah im skeptical of the willingness of the organization to spend but maybe how much they made off playoffs will encourage them

trade out jeff green for a center and ill be happy with the off season

Post #4 » by **slick_watts** » Tue May 4, 2010 12:54 am

I think Jeff Green still has a place on this team. He fits the mold of the athletic, versatile type of thing Sam Presti is envisioning. Our problem, is our coach hasn't used our versatile players much outside of their pigeonholed roles. He came out of his shell a bit in the Lakers series.

I think his minutes have to be reduced, and he should be put into a bench role, where we can plug him in anywhere to make use of his versatility.

I think we need another big body, an active center type so we can operate in situations where Krstic is sucking without needing to play Ibaka or Collison at center all the time. Dalembert is one type, Gortat would be another (though I’m not high on him). Or even a vet minumum type like Ben Wallace or Erick Dampier to keep on the bench.

If we’re going to keep Jeff Green, he’s going to have to play more small forward. For him to do that, Durant is going to have to play more SG. For Durant to do that, Thabo’s basically eliminated from the picture. I don’t think Durant playing at SG is a catastrophe in a second unit situation. So to me, Thabo is the odd man out in the equation, if we keep Green.

Baddy Chuck · Post #5 » by **Baddy Chuck** » Tue May 4, 2010 1:38 am

Would you guys consider #15 for #21 and #26? Maybe I'm just a homer but I really think you would.

Post #6 » by **slick_watts** » Tue May 4, 2010 1:43 am

Baddy Chuck wrote:Would you guys consider #15 for #21 and #26? Maybe I'm just a homer but I really think you would.

That obviously depends on if there is anyone available at #15 that Presti covets. I could see him swinging that if he's excited about a big man that is available there. Larry Sanders, Ekpe Udoh, maybe Whiteside. He's also supposedly interested in Daniel Orton. I think it's a fair trade if Presti likes any of those guys and they are around.

Baddy Chuck · Post #7 » by **Baddy Chuck** » Tue May 4, 2010 2:30 am

slick_watts wrote:
Baddy Chuck wrote:Would you guys consider #15 for #21 and #26? Maybe I'm just a homer but I really think you would.

That obviously depends on if there is anyone available at #15 that Presti covets. I could see him swinging that if he's excited about a big man that is available there. Larry Sanders, Ekpe Udoh, maybe Whiteside. He's also supposedly interested in Daniel Orton. I think it's a fair trade if Presti likes any of those guys and they are around.

That was my thinking but the more I sat there thinking about it I really wasn't sure if it was too much to give up.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #8 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Tue May 4, 2010 3:38 am

Sam Presti end of season Press Conference
http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/prestip ... 00503.html

Post #9 » by **slick_watts** » Tue May 4, 2010 3:51 am

dream_catcher_9 wrote:Sam Presti end of season Press Conference
http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/prestip ... 00503.html

Sam Presti is the only human being that can talk for thirty minutes and say nothing. In fact, I gleaned a lot more from one of the questions than I did from anything Presti said:

Scott said you can win without a big man because the Bulls and other teams have done it. Where do you stand on maybe getting a big man?

Does Brooks really think that..? I sincerely hope Presti doesn't..

Thunderbones · Post #10 » by **Thunderbones** » Tue May 4, 2010 1:22 pm

solomon alabi 7 foot 1 athletic good character any opinions

MrToad · Post #11 » by **MrToad** » Tue May 4, 2010 2:26 pm

Thunderbones wrote:solomon alabi 7 foot 1 athletic good character any opinions

Another project center, might get lucky and have a player in 3-4 years but could easily have a bust. Not what this team needs at this point... they need help next season, not in 2013.

Balkman32 · Post #12 » by **Balkman32** » Tue May 4, 2010 4:38 pm

Collison is expendiable.

The Thunder need to replace Collison and Thomas with a Young Center and PF. Every one is going to want Yao, Bosh, Lee, Amare, Boozer, Scola, Tyrus Thomas, and Shaq. But, how about players like Ian Mahinmi 23 years old (probally a guy Presit drafted w/ the Spurs in 2005), Amir Johnson 22 years old (a defensive player, who is a libality shooting the ball, who can rebound, block shots, and has quick hands.).

The Thunder also need a shooter (ie. Kyle Korver).

I would like to see the Thunder bring back Ollie either as an assistant coach or a backup PG.

Kristic/ __________/ Mullens
________/ Ibaka/ White
Durant/ Green/ __________
Harden/ Sefhlosha/ Weaver
Westbrook/ Maynor/ Ollie

The Tunder have 4 draft picks this season (2 first round picks, and 2 second round picks.) I would assume Presti would move some of the picks for Cash and future picks.

Fill the Roster....

Big_Mac79 · Post #13 » by **Big_Mac79** » Tue May 4, 2010 6:07 pm

When will we find out if Kristic exercises his option or not?

Balkman32 · Post #14 » by **Balkman32** » Tue May 4, 2010 6:15 pm

Big_Mac79 wrote:When will we find out if Kristic exercises his option or not?

I can't imagin him not excersing his option. He should probally be re-signed as well.

MrToad · Post #15 » by **MrToad** » Tue May 4, 2010 10:52 pm

Hmm. I totally hadn't considered the possibility that he might decline his option. However, maybe he is considering it? I'm not saying he's all that good, but if you look at the money that other centers are getting, even as backups, 5.8 seems pretty cheap.

Jimmy76 · Post #16 » by **Jimmy76** » Tue May 4, 2010 11:53 pm

slick_watts wrote:
dream_catcher_9 wrote:Sam Presti end of season Press Conference
http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/prestip ... 00503.html

Sam Presti is the only human being that can talk for thirty minutes and say nothing. In fact, I gleaned a lot more from one of the questions than I did from anything Presti said:

seriously I stopped reading halfway through he wasn't saying a damn thing :lol:

Balkman32 · Post #17 » by **Balkman32** » Wed May 5, 2010 12:42 am

Nenad Krstic, who started at center this year, told The Oklahoman he can see how he might come off the bench next season.

"All my career I've been a starter, so that's going to be something new for me," Krstic told the paper. "But definitely I can adjust."

So, I think he is going to pick up his option!

wiff · Post #18 » by **wiff** » Wed May 5, 2010 2:45 am

There is no way Krystic is walking away from his current contract.

And if Green ends up playing more SF I'd rather see Durant slide up to PF than down to SG. Of course I'd like to see the kid put on another 15 pounds this offseason.

If the Thunder use their picks and not make any trades, I'd like Alibi, Bledsoe in the first round and in the second round if Quincy Pondexter is still there at #32 I can see them drafting him because he is long, long, and long. And at #51 I'd take a flier on Omar Samhan.

He might not be the fleetest of foot but the kid has post move after post move and can get you buckets in the low post. Something this team doesn't have at all. He's a legit 7' and has a big frame.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #19 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Wed May 5, 2010 3:08 am

wiff wrote:There is no way Krystic is walking away from his current contract.

And if Green ends up playing more SF I'd rather see Durant slide up to PF than down to SG. Of course I'd like to see the kid put on another 15 pounds this offseason.

If the Thunder use their picks and not make any trades, I'd like Alibi, Bledsoe in the first round and in the second round if Quincy Pondexter is still there at #32 I can see them drafting him because he is long, long, and long. And at #51 I'd take a flier on Omar Samhan.

He might not be the fleetest of foot but the kid has post move after post move and can get you buckets in the low post. Something this team doesn't have at all. He's a legit 7' and has a big frame.

I love Pondexter and I'm sure Presti does as well, he is exactly what he looks for in a prospect. But if we are going to take him it will be with our 21st pick or 26th pick. I doubt he falls any lower then that. I also like Gordon Hayward...

dream_catcher_9 · Post #20 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Wed May 5, 2010 3:42 am

Balkman32 wrote:Collison is expendiable.

The Thunder need to replace Collison and Thomas with a Young Center and PF. Every one is going to want Yao, Bosh, Lee, Amare, Boozer, Scola, Tyrus Thomas, and Shaq. But, how about players like Ian Mahinmi 23 years old (probally a guy Presit drafted w/ the Spurs in 2005), Amir Johnson 22 years old (a defensive player, who is a libality shooting the ball, who can rebound, block shots, and has quick hands.).

The Thunder also need a shooter (ie. Kyle Korver).

I would like to see the Thunder bring back Ollie either as an assistant coach or a backup PG.

Kristic/ __________/ Mullens
________/ Ibaka/ White
Durant/ Green/ __________
Harden/ Sefhlosha/ Weaver
Westbrook/ Maynor/ Ollie

The Tunder have 4 draft picks this season (2 first round picks, and 2 second round picks.) I would assume Presti would move some of the picks for Cash and future picks.

Fill the Roster....

I could see Presti signing Mahinmi or Amir Johnson while drafting Gordon Hayward. That gives us a project Center, and a solid role player PF, and a 2/3/4 Shooter/High IQ guy in Hayward. His defense worries me though