Biggest need going forward

dream_catcher_9 · Post #1 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:30 pm

We have a pretty complete team going forward, with most of the improvements we need to make to take that next step is internally.

Assuming James Harden moves into the starting 2 next year, is our biggest need a bench scorer, someone like Gary Neal? Or should we go with a bigger guy who can score but also play defense on bigger guys?

fallacy · Post #2 » by **fallacy** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:32 pm

Bench scorer. Preferably a backup for Durant that can also play the 2. Jimmer would be perfect :lol:

Post #3 » by **slick_watts** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:43 pm

Backup center may be a need unless the re-sign Nazr. I don't have much confidence in Cole Aldrich.

If Harden starts, then that makes Thabo Durant's ipso facto backup and we'd need a decent guard to be able to come in with the second unit for offense.

I think he's playing himself out of our price range, but I'd be intrigued by Josh McRoberts. He can swing between the 4 and the 3, hit some jumpers, rebound a little bit. Re-sign Nazr for another year, let Cook walk:

Perkins / Nazr
Ibaka / Collison
Durant / McRoberts
Harden / Sefolosha
Westbrook / Maynor

You can go small with the second unit as well, pushing McRoberts to PF and squeezing in another guard like Harden with the second group or a drafted shooter.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #4 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:00 pm

Josh McRoberts isn't much of a 3 point shooter and I think our bench scorer has to have that trait.

I think Presti resigns Nazr. He has said numerous times on his twitter that he still loves playing and will continue to play as long as his body feels good.

I'm looking at some wing scorers in the draft, and there are decent ones in our draft range. 2 guys I have a eye on are from Ohio State, William Buford, and David Lighty. Both are around 6'4'-6'6". Buford is a bit better scorer, while Lighty is a bit more all-around.

Post #5 » by **slick_watts** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:23 pm

He's over 38% on the season, albeit on only 60 attempts. He can shoot the ball.

bbms · Post #6 » by **bbms** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:43 pm

I like the mid-late first round draft wing scorers like Jordan Hamilton and Kyle Singler.

I'd maneuver this way: make a package of Thabo, Cole Aldrich, Nate Robinson, BJ Mullens and go to market trying to sign some new guys or some draft picks.

Westbrook / Maynor
Harden / Hamilton
Durant / Singler
Ibaka / Collison
Perkins / Nazr

Then you sign some guys to fill the roster. Maybe some guys like Latavious Williams, Tibor Pleiss, Daequan Cook...

Do you think Knicks would bite Thabo + Cole Aldrich for Landry Fields? I like him, he is a high BBIQ rebounding swingmin who can drop open 3s. I think he could be along with Cook two good shooting options for Eric Maynor. I think they could find their niche at Knicks.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #7 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:57 pm

I like Singler but he is more of a spot up shooter not a create your own offense type of guy. When we move Harden to the starting spot we will need a creator with the second unit.

Another guy that intrigues me is Brandon Knight. He is an excellent scorer and has great intangibles, but is not a very good passer and is a bit undersized for a SG, so he has a chance to fall in the draft. I wouldn't mind trading up to grab him.

Sinant · Post #8 » by **Sinant** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:12 am

A Gary Neal player would be perfect.

Harden should be starting next season, which means Thabo will slide into backup SF/SG hybrid, so a scoring SF/SG hybrid to play with Thabo and Maynor would be great.

ThundaHead2 · Post #9 » by **ThundaHead2** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:36 am

Does anyone think that Latavious will get his shot next yr?then again,i wouldn't mind seeing this team as is next season with a training camp under their belts.

bbms · Post #10 » by **bbms** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:18 am

dream_catcher_9 wrote:Another guy that intrigues me is Brandon Knight. He is an excellent scorer and has great intangibles, but is not a very good passer and is a bit undersized for a SG, so he has a chance to fall in the draft. I wouldn't mind trading up to grab him.

It'd be a steal.

HeartSouloma · Post #11 » by **HeartSouloma** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:25 am

Here are some options.

RFA

1. Arron Afflalo-Good fit for this team.
2. Wilson Chandler
3. Jamal Crawford
4. Al Thornton
5. James Jones
6. Sam Young
7. Marco Belinelli
8. Marcus Thornton
9. Josh Howard
10. Shannon Brown

We caan sign two of thoses guys and re-sign Cook for less.

wiff · Post #12 » by **wiff** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:57 am

I'd like to see cook return.

Tibor Pleiss should be coming over this year. Between Collison, Mullens, Aldrich, Pleiss is Mohammad really needed? I know he is a nice back up but one of these kids should be getting some minutes.

At this point the Thunder only have their first round pick. I'm perfectly fine with best player available.

Devilanche · Post #13 » by **Devilanche** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:06 am

wiff wrote:
Tibor Pleiss should be coming over this year. Between Collison, Mullens, Aldrich, Pleiss is Mohammad really needed? I know he is a nice back up but one of these kids should be getting some minutes.

At this point the Thunder only have their first round pick. I'm perfectly fine with best player available.

Why should Pleiss come over? He'll be fighting for rotation minutes with Collision,Mullens, Aldrich. He's much better off staying there for another season to develop. Mohammad is really only needed if they don't think Aldrich has improved enough. I don't see mullens getting much playing time under brooks but that's another body for practise and at the end of the line, so no reason to bring over Pleiss unless they can move mullens.

I think they'll choose either an SG/SF or an SF/PF. Lucky there isn't alot of PG or C center prospect this draft though. Though they might select the one with good 3 pt shooting and decent offence.

Balkman32 · Post #14 » by **Balkman32** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:04 pm

Pleiss will not be comming over next year.

This team is built for now! Win now! Nazr and Cook are both playing for contracts.

Perk/ Aldrich
Ibaka/ Collison
Durant
Thabo/ Harden
Westbrook/ Maynor

Mullens & Nate round out the players under contract.

Singler IMO would be a great fit, because he can really backup Durant. Since we traded Jeff Green we dont have a true backup to Durant.

I do think Aldrich will be given all oppertunities to back up Perk next season.

Balkman32 · Post #15 » by **Balkman32** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:06 pm

KDfan35 wrote:Here are some options.

RFA

1. Arron Afflalo-Good fit for this team.
2. Wilson Chandler
3. Jamal Crawford
4. Al Thornton
5. James Jones
6. Sam Young
7. Marco Belinelli
8. Marcus Thornton
9. Josh Howard
10. Shannon Brown

We caan sign two of thoses guys and re-sign Cook for less.

I dont see us giving any of these guys enough money to make their respective team not match the deal.

Devilanche · Post #16 » by **Devilanche** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:11 pm

Balkman32 wrote:
KDfan35 wrote:Here are some options.

RFA

1. Arron Afflalo-Good fit for this team.
2. Wilson Chandler
3. Jamal Crawford
4. Al Thornton
5. James Jones
6. Sam Young
7. Marco Belinelli
8. Marcus Thornton
9. Josh Howard
10. Shannon Brown

We caan sign two of thoses guys and re-sign Cook for less.

I dont see us giving any of these guys enough money to make their respective team not match the deal.

I think there's a better chance we're going to buy a pick in a weak draft than sign any RFA. The veterans are probably too expensive before we lock up Harden + Ibaka.

wiff · Post #17 » by **wiff** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:18 am

Devilanche wrote:
wiff wrote:
Tibor Pleiss should be coming over this year. Between Collison, Mullens, Aldrich, Pleiss is Mohammad really needed? I know he is a nice back up but one of these kids should be getting some minutes.

At this point the Thunder only have their first round pick. I'm perfectly fine with best player available.

Why should Pleiss come over? He'll be fighting for rotation minutes with Collision,Mullens, Aldrich. He's much better off staying there for another season to develop. Mohammad is really only needed if they don't think Aldrich has improved enough. I don't see mullens getting much playing time under brooks but that's another body for practise and at the end of the line, so no reason to bring over Pleiss unless they can move mullens.

I think they'll choose either an SG/SF or an SF/PF. Lucky there isn't alot of PG or C center prospect this draft though. Though they might select the one with good 3 pt shooting and decent offence.

Why would Pleiss come over?

Well how many minutes are Mullens and Aldrich playing? Not very many the way I see it.

Maybe because he'd be better than either one of those two guys? Or at least he'd think so.

Secondly money. Just going on a hunch but I bet he'd make more here than over seas.

If the Thunder did draft a wing player I'd like to see them pick up Klay Thompson. Doesn't get a lot of pub playing at Washington State but he is the best player to go through that program since Craig Ehlo. He has pro range, pro hops, solid D, really nice handle, decent vision. 8th leading scorer in the nation and lead the pac 10 this past year in scoring.

Devilanche · Post #18 » by **Devilanche** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 5:03 am

Good point about the salary. His salary over here is probably higher.

I'm just not sold that at this point in time, 1 year removed from the draft he has improved drastically over aldrich. Take note that Aldrich was supposed to be NBA ready and he still hasn't adjusted fully (or given the opportunity to).

Having someone like Nazr will probably take away their developmental minutes though. Not sure if that's wise.

Even those center drafted around him hasn't shown anything much yet. Orton, Whiteside, Pittman. Having 3 center on rookie contract behind your current starter isn't ideal if we are going to start challenging.

Thunder4 · Post #19 » by **Thunder4** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 4:53 pm

I think that the thunder have a good team ready to compete now. I think that Nazr would love to come back and play for the thunder and I think that he will do that. Cole , mullens and Pleiss are not ready to compete on a championship level yet but in 1 more year , one of them will be. Most likely Cole or Pleiss.

I would like for the thunder to bring back cook but I think it will come down to if the thunder want to play Robinson or Cook because I can't see both of them returning and Nate has 1 year more remaining on his contract after this year. Will be interesting to see how the roster fills out next year.

HeartSouloma · Post #20 » by **HeartSouloma** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:26 pm

Thunder4 wrote:I think that the thunder have a good team ready to compete now. I think that Nazr would love to come back and play for the thunder and I think that he will do that. Cole , mullens and Pleiss are not ready to compete on a championship level yet but in 1 more year , one of them will be. Most likely Cole or Pleiss.

I would like for the thunder to bring back cook but I think it will come down to if the thunder want to play Robinson or Cook because I can't see both of them returning and Nate has 1 year more remaining on his contract after this year. Will be interesting to see how the roster fills out next year.

You know OKC can trade Nate for picks/players when is contract is over right? Would be cool to see who would we trade him for.