Should OKC go after Blatche?

[gordito]

Assuming Blatche is amnestied in the offseason, do you guys think OKC would be a good fit for him? I think he can be a buy-low target if he ends up in the right situation next year. I'm not sure OKC would pursue him in a trade situation (given his contract). OKC desperately needs scoring in the post/more bench scoring, and I think Blatche is way more skilled than Ibaka and Perkins.

Thoughts?

[Devilanche]

i highly doubt that Presti like the guy mindset. I do think he needs a better situation that what he's having but considering the number of years he will have left on that amnestied contract... i dont think we can bid.

IIRC amnestied only those under salary cap can bid for them?

[gordito]

I think you are right in terms of teams under the salary cap being able to bid on amnestied players. I was under the impression that OKC was currently under the salary cap, and has been saving cap room for Harden/Ibaka. Also, can you explain the part where you mention the amount of years on his contract prohibiting OKC from bidding? I don't get that part.

With that said, I think taking a chance with a talent like Blatche is more than worth the character issues. He comes off as the type who would be on his best behavior in a winning environment. Even guys like Popovich have taken chances on guys with bad reputations. Look how much of a change Stephen Jackson has displayed since going to OKC. He's like a new person.

[Devilanche]

Blatche has 3 years remaining on his contract. Say a below salary cap team take him on, they'll be due his 3 years on contract left.

So if he pans out that's a great valued for an amnestied contract. If he doesn't and the "he just need a change of environment idea" seems broken, he'll be negative value then. Could be hard to find takers for him, though at 2-3.5m you probably only need a late first or second rounder to dump him then.

Amnestied players are usually risk either from salary point (overpaid) or mindset makeup. For the overpaid they usually will be able to fit in but the mindset guys are tougher to pick up if they are multi years. Teams like Boston/Spurs might be able to get them to change buy in but i dont think OKC has the leaders that those team has yet.

[gordito]

Maybe I'm not fully understanding how the amnestied contract works. Wouldn't the Wiz have to cover a majority of his contract (while it would not count against the cap)? I thought the team that picks the player up on covers a percentage of that contract.

[Devilanche]

Says i got amnestied and i got 3 years left at 5m/yr

A team bid for me and win at 2m. so they got me at 2m/yr for 3 years.

In Blatche case the worry isnt the 2m or so but rather the 3 years left. Whatever wizard is contributing doesnt really matter cause you only pay what you think he's worth. The worry is that if he's disruptive. We don't have strong leadership yet to make believers of those that don't want to buy in.

[Krodis]

No, they shouldn't.

[gordito]

Got it. That's what I thought. I guess I just didn't look at that type of contract as a risk, given the talent in Blatche they would be acquiring. Thanks for confirming that.

I really doubt that he would really be disruptive in that kind of environment. Not only are they a winning team with good role models as leaders, they are also in a small town, as opposed to Washington.

2012: $7,118,502
2013: $7,794,921
2014: 8,471,339

Say he is amnestied by WAS and OKC is able to grab him for $3m/year. Do you not see that as a steal? I think most losing teams will pass on Blatche due to the fear of what he will bring to the locker room.

I don't know. I'm sure Blatche is not even on Presti's mind. It was just a random thought I thought of when I saw Ibaka fumble a pass in the post.

Edit: After taking a look at the OKC salary cap for next year it appears they are infact over the cap by about $5m (as you said) once Westbrook's new contract kicks in, which makes this topic pointless (I think)

[wizkid27]

I don't see the Thunder taking on any even medium-sized contracts in the next year or two facing the Ibaka/Harden extension situations. They're essentially going to have to have a bare-bones (salary-wise) team around Harden, Ibaka, Durant, and Westbrook if they're really thinking about keeping all 4.

[OKCThunderUp35]

NO!

[Devilanche]

Like you said, he has talent but i doubt we can harness that. Maybe a better veteran ladden team like SAS could do it or a team which need a huge boost of talent and can afford the risk.

Right now his locker room > his potential on court. Seems we're going to play KD more and more at the 4 as he bulk up so i really won't take a high risk high return player as a PF. But if he was a C.....

[wizkid27]

Thunder up!!! Game 4

[wiff]

No!

[spearsy23]

He just wouldn't fit. He's not going to take Ibaka's minutes and he's not going to take Collison's minutes unless he proves to be a lot more than a good role player. Being the 2nd big off the bench would just create a bigger character issue.

EDIT: Also, we're at the point where we aren't just looking for talent anymore. Now we need guys who are great fits, so borderline starters aren't helpful, unless they're going to replace Perk if we amnesty him.

[drew_8730]

no one will pick up blatches contract, he will soon be out the nba, that guy is a cancer

[slick_watts]

Blatche is horrendous.

[Joel Embust]

Horribly inefficient on both ends and a bad presence off the floor. There's absolutely nothing positive he brings to the table. Absolutely NOTHING.

[Balkman32]

NO! Dude is a Coach and Team Killer!

[HeartSouloma]

I rather have Kwame Brown than Blatche...

[IMAN5]

Once Ibaka and Harden are locked up + west, KD and perkins' contract this team will have to heavily depend on amnestied/bought out players to build the bench.

I see Maynor being traded once he is healthy and a trade asset again, R Jackson as well, and Thabo and Nazr will sign else where.

Collison's contract is actually a steal for the kind of player and leader he has been for the team.