Free Agents to look for

BIG EDDIE · Post #1 » by **BIG EDDIE** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:43 pm

If we want to add a free agent this summer, then here are my 4 suggestions:

Mickael Pietrus - can play backup SF, very good defender, smart player, good 3pt shooter. Has player option for next year I think for 5.3 million.

Jason Kapono - good 3pt shooter, can play backup SF, last salary was 6.6 million, I think we could get him for like 4/year

Carl Landry - Could be a very good scoring option off the bench, play either SF or PF, very good inside scorer. Last salary was I think around 3 million.

Anthony Parker - probably my favorite FA this year, experienced player, very good defender and 3pt shooter, could play backup SF and SG, also a very good passer. Last salary was around 3 million.

wiff · Post #2 » by **wiff** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:21 pm

I have to say, in all my years of being a fan of the Sonics/Thunder I have never gone into an off season not feeling like management needs to make a move to fill a gaping hole in the line up.

I actually feel the team is fine just where it is personnel wise. They just need maturity/development and maybe a tweak in the line up a smige.

PG Westbrook, Maynor Maybe the best one two punch in the league at PG. Westbrook needs to play wiser and value the rock more. Maynor could work on his strength and creating his own shot.

SG Harden, Cook, Nate Rob. I think this is the biggest adjustment that this Brooks/team needs to make. Start Harden have Cook and Nate provide a scoring punch off the bench. Move Thabo to back up SF.

SF Durant, Thabo. Durant needs to work on his body, come back with a better handle and at least one go to post move. Thabo needs to keep working on his 3ball.

PF Ibaka, Collison. Ibaka as good as he is has sooooo much room for improvement. He needs to keep working on his post game. The Pete Newell Big Man Camp would be ideal for the kid.
http://www.petenewellbigmancamp.net/
Ibaka needs to keep working on his J but he really needs a couple solid post moves. Collison is pretty much a finished product. What you see is what you get and I LOVE IT! He did an amazing job in the playoffs on ZBO. If the Thunder were without Collison they lose that series to Memphis. Collison is a freaking stud, a team player, and as humble as they get. And his contract only makes him more valuable.

C Perkins, Aldrich, Mullens, Pleiss. I know Perkins gets a lot of hate on these boards for his lack of offense but he plays really solid D and there is two side of the floor. Plus Ibaka's blocks went up one Perkins started playing C. He just eats up space. He could shed a few pounds and work on his free throws and conditioning. Aldrich and Mullens both need to get in the gym and do what it takes to see if they belong in the league because last year I saw very little from either one of them that said they were more than a 14th man on a roster in this league. But my man Tibor Peiss! He should be over here this coming camp wouldn't surprise me at all if he ended up being the back up to Perkins.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78STT_Xt6WI[/youtube]
Really I just say that because both Aldrich and Mullens have been pretty underwhelming. Chances are Peiss is going to be just as bad but at least he is an unknown.

Not to totally hi-jack your thread Eddie but like I said I really don't think team needs a free agent. I wouldn't be surprised to see Presti stash another Euro draft pick over seas either.

This team just needs maturity and development. This team has the talent top to bottom to win a title. Obviously they need to good fortune of health to do it but they have the talent. I think this team wins 60 games next season.

Lastly Scott Brooks. He's not a very good coach, maybe this off season he hires better assistant coaches but lets get real for a second. He's not going to get fired this year. We have all pulled our hair out watching late game play calls with this team and lack defensive and offensive continuity. BUT lets try to remember how bad this team was when he took it over. They were like 3 and 17 or something heinous like that. The next season they made the playoffs and this year they made the Western Conf Finals. That is called progression. You don't fire a coach when the team keeps getting better. Now if the Thunder don't make it to the Western Conf Finals next year then Presti has a reason to fire him. But just stop with the Brooks needs to get fired stuff because you are just wasting your time if you think there is any "real" validity to the notion of Presti canning Brooks.

My 2 cents.....see you guys on draft night.

HeartSouloma · Post #3 » by **HeartSouloma** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:26 pm

^ I disagree with Wiff, I think we do need some scoring off the bench when Harden is starting. I think Carl Landry or Mickael Pietrus would be good for this team. I would rather go after Carl so he can play the SF, that would help this team out with scoring. And we can always trade Mullens/Cole for vet wings, and even re-sign Cook to a small contract so he can come off the bench.

Any ways yeah I agree on this team needs to Mature some more if they want to win some titles. And we also need a good offensive coach that can really help this team out with offense. Maybe Tex Winter?

wiff · Post #4 » by **wiff** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:05 am

KDfan35 wrote:^ I disagree with Wiff, I think we do need some scoring off the bench when Harden is starting. I think Carl Landry or Mickael Pietrus would be good for this team. I would rather go after Carl so he can play the SF, that would help this team out with scoring. And we can always trade Mullens/Cole for vet wings, and even re-sign Cook to a small contract so he can come off the bench.

Any ways yeah I agree on this team needs to Mature some more if they want to win some titles. And we also need a good offensive coach that can really help this team out with offense. Maybe Tex Winter?

Cook has a qualifying offer coming this summer. Plus I have him and and Nate Rob coming off the bench. Did you miss that?

Honestly I think Nate Rob can be a pretty solid 6th man coming off the bench. If JJ Barea can start in the finals Nate Rob can be a 6th man.

During the 08-09 season with the Knicks Nate Rob was dropping 17pts, 4 dimes and 4 rebs with 1 steal. He was also getting 30 minutes a night but he was shooting .437 from the field. He is a solid player just short and kind of a knuckle head off the court. I don't expect him to see those kind of minutes but the guy can light it up.

Also the Thunder have 13 players on the books next season once Cook gets his qualifying offer. A 1st rd draft pick makes 14 players on the roster. They are only allowed to carry 15 players max. I think they keep that spot open in case of the injury bug infects the team. Then again if Pleiss comes over that's a full boat no room for a free agent. Sure Royal Ivy could get the boot. But regardless there is very little room for free agents.

Krodis · Post #5 » by **Krodis** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:00 am

Landry is going to be way out of our price range I would think.

Devilanche · Post #6 » by **Devilanche** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:24 am

Pretty much about who replace Nazr/Cook if we make any FA signing. Nazr will be harder to fill considering we need to find an offensive minded PF/C. I think unless Cook get a crazy offer we're pretty much keeping him.

bbms · Post #7 » by **bbms** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:19 am

Sign Pietrus, draft Nolan Smith or Goudelock, get rid of Sefolosha, Nate, Mullens and Cole Aldrich for picks or something that can bring us Okur/Dalembert... Maybe Vucevic.

I'd be fine with this for regular season:

Westbrook (33) / Maynor (15)
Harden (33) / Nolan Smith (10) / Pietrus (5)
Durant (38) / Pietrus (10)
Ibaka (30) / Collison (18)
Perkins (28) / Okur (Vucevic) (20)

BadWolf · Post #8 » by **BadWolf** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:12 pm

You'd play Vucevic over Aldrich (or even mullens?)

bbms · Post #9 » by **bbms** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:34 pm

BadWolf wrote:You'd play Vucevic over Aldrich (or even mullens?)

Shooter, 3pt range, longer, heavier, good rebounder, good FT shooter, we don't need a defensive wonder to come off the bench when we have Collison, Ibaka and Perk, but imo, a perimeter oriented PF/C and a lot better three pt shooting.

Devilanche · Post #10 » by **Devilanche** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:05 pm

bbms wrote:
BadWolf wrote:You'd play Vucevic over Aldrich (or even mullens?)

Shooter, 3pt range, longer, heavier, good rebounder, good FT shooter, we don't need a defensive wonder to come off the bench when we have Collison, Ibaka and Perk, but imo, a perimeter oriented PF/C and a lot better three pt shooting.

But you need to consider he might not adjust straightaway. We're better off concentrating integrating harden into the starting lineup first and letting Ibaka improve on his mid range shooting.

Post #11 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:30 am

I'd only look for bargains in free agency. i.e. someone like Reggie Williams. Carl Landry, etc. will be too expensive.

I think the team could use a big guy with range. Mehmet Okur would be a nice get if he's healthy. I'm not sold on Aldrich. I'm confident Mullens will not be a factor. And Pleiss won't be either.

Not hot on Mickael Pietrus. Seriously overrated defensive player and too streaky a shooter. I'd rather just keep Cook.

Moving Harden into the starting unit is imperative, and the Thunder should look at acquisitions that fortify bench scoring. The best place to do that IMO is big man that can shoot or do other things offensively. Okur or Diaw are both expiring deals on teams going nowhere, shouldn't be tough to pry one of them away.

Balkman32 · Post #12 » by **Balkman32** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:34 am

I think the Thunder will be ok @ center. If Nazr doesn't return Aldrich or Mullens need to step up. When the Thunder drafted both of these guys, the thought had to b they can be able to play this upcoming season.

I really do not see the Thunder extending the q offer to Cook. He does not deserve 3.1 million. If he wants to return he is going to have to sign a brand new deal. At about 2 million per for 3-4 seasons.

If Cook does not return they need to add a guy who can score for the second unit because Aldrich, Mullens, Collison, Thabo and Maynor are not true scorers off the bench. & while Cook can stroke it he does not take it to the hole. Where the Thunder find this missing piece I do not know.

The draft maybe? A free agent is possible. A trade is more likley to find an impact 6th man who can stroke it and create on their own. But, let it be known that the Thunder won't break the bank unless they think it is a perfidy fit, and even then the bank does not have that much money in it.

bbms · Post #13 » by **bbms** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:49 am

I'd like to have Krstic back, but he's gone. I'd be comfortable if Diaw is our Ibaka replacement.

How's Okur health?

Balkman32 · Post #14 » by **Balkman32** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:53 am

Okur and Diaw are both very good players. But, in the NBA they over pay for big men.

Two great fits for what the Thunder need off the bench are Jamal Crawford and JR Smith. I do not think either are fits with the Thunder team though.

Azubuike (raised in OK) and Sonny Weems along with Williams are guys that can fit that are free agents this offseason who wont get HUGE contracts like a Berea. Don't forget Nate Robinson could get some serious burn next season, he just has to play some defense.

Compton_Killa10 · Post #15 » by **Compton_Killa10** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:04 pm

Can someone tell me why BJ Mullens was ranked #1 coming out of high school yet can't even get on the court. Is he basically a Robert Swift who will be gone after his contract.

bobcats55 · Post #16 » by **bobcats55** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:21 pm

Balkman32 wrote:Okur and Diaw are both very good players. But, in the NBA they over pay for big men.

Two great fits for what the Thunder need off the bench are Jamal Crawford and JR Smith. I do not think either are fits with the Thunder team though.

Azubuike (raised in OK) and Sonny Weems along with Williams are guys that can fit that are free agents this offseason who wont get HUGE contracts like a Berea. Don't forget Nate Robinson could get some serious burn next season, he just has to play some defense.

THIS

Azubuike showed some signs of being a real factor in Golden State. The injury set him back some and then the Knicks waving him did not help his stock much so he may be a steal if we are willing to risk it. Definitely no need to over pay but he may be able to return to pre-injury form and provide a spark off the bench.

Post #17 » by **slick_watts** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 2:15 pm

Azubuike has been out of basketball for almost two full seasons. I don't think he's worth a roster spot to a contending team right now.

NashtyNas · Post #18 » by **NashtyNas** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:52 am

I don't really think the Thunder need to add another guard, Nate Rob will be just fine as the off-guard playing next to Maynor for ~12-15 or so minutes a game. Sefelosha will be moved to backup SF duties for the rest of the backup wing minutes (another 15 or so). What the Thunder really need is to find a scoring big, someone like a Landry, for cheap. Diaw would be a good fit since he can hit the 3, but he's under contract, and he's a fat slob these days. With that in mind, there's some semi-decent options out there to pursue for a cheap, short term contract.

Leon Powe, Troy Murphy, Songaila, Yi, Wilcox - all these guys can be had for the LLE or lesser amounts and would be great additions as a 20min backup to Iblocka Wacka Flame!

I also see some ok trade options that can help OKC. Okur, Ilyasova, Blatche come to mind.