Official Draft and Offseason Thread

[sonictecture]

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/11/28/1176542/media-row-report-blazers-96

Thabeet's performance was all the more impressive in light of his pregame warm-up routine which had courtside observers gawking at how misguided the drills he was participating in were. Thabeet was shooting 15 footers, 18 footers, turnaround 18 footers, 15 footers off the pick and roll, jab step 15 footers, 18 footers off the glass. It was a wonder he wasn't shooting three pointers. Please remember he's 7'3". The only time he practiced any shots at the rim came after he was instructed to pump-fake from the top of the free throw circle and dribble twice down the key before making a layup. You think I'm exaggerating; I'm not.

Grizzlies Coach Lionel Hollins on rookie center Hasheem Thabeet, "We're teaching him how to play the game of basketball like you would a 7th or 8th grader." Wow.

Not sure how the 2 comment fits? i'm not basketball trained so idk if all 7th/8th grader learnt was shooting jumper.

The disconnect between the two comments comes from a lack of a developmental plan put into place from the time Thabeet was drafted. Hollins had a year left on his contract when Thabeet was drafted, rather than put resources to develop Thabeet he focused on winning games.

There have been many players to have a decent game here or there, but if players want to get regular minutes they have to show consistency in practice and carry that over to games.

[sonictecture]

Westbrook - Maynor
Thabo - Harden - Cook
Durant - Jones III
Ibaka - Collison - Jones III
Perkins - Aldrich - Thabeet

I'm thinking the above will be our 12 man roster to open up the season.

I imagine the active roster will have some flux depending upon minor injuries or match ups, I'm much more interested in the playing rotation.

I'm hopeful Reggie Jackson has a good summer and supplants Cook for rotation minutes next season.

Who would be a bigger surprise to get minutes next season, Lazar or Hasheem?

[Devilanche]

The disconnect between the two comments comes from a lack of a developmental plan put into place from the time Thabeet was drafted. Hollins had a year left on his contract when Thabeet was drafted, rather than put resources to develop Thabeet he focused on winning games.

There have been many players to have a decent game here or there, but if players want to get regular minutes they have to show consistency in practice and carry that over to games.

I just find it weird that he is aware that thabeet lacks some basics but during pregame he's doing jumper. At least get him to shoot closer to the hoops or something. It's kinda weird to me.

[Devilanche]

Summer league

2012 THUNDER SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER
PLAYER POS. Ht. Wt.
Cole Aldrich C 6-11 240
Gary McGhee C 6-10 250
Perry Jones III F 6-11 235
Ryan Reid F 6-8 235
Darnell Jackson F 6-8 240
Latavious Williams F 6-8 225
Lazar Hayward F 6-6 225
Morris Almond G 6-6 220
John Holland G 6-5 205
Kent Bazemore G/F 6-5 195
Garrett Temple G 6-5 200
Reggie Jackson G 6-3 208
Dwight Buycks G 6-3 190

http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings ... ue-roster/

[HeartSouloma]

Hasheem Thabeet Could Still Play For OKC Thunder's Summer League Roster
Jul
07
10:01a
by Matt Conner

READ MORE: Hasheem Thabeet (C - POR), Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder have released their summer league roster already, but that doesn’t mean that their newest addition will not also show up in a Thunder uniform when the team goes to play in Orlando next week.

Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman had a great reminder that teams cannot sign players yet, which means the Thunder cannot include Hasheem Thabeet officially in anything they do despite word that they’ve agreed to a deal with the center.

"Yes, noticeably absent is a 7-foot-3 center with whom the Thunder recently agreed to terms," writes Mayberry. "That’s because Hasheem Thabeet isn’t officially a member of the Thunder yet. He can’t sign his contract until July 11, when the league’s free agent moratorium is lifted. But that doesn’t mean Thabeet will not compete in Orlando next week. He could sign his contract Wednesday morning and suit up for the Thunder’s noon showdown against ninth overall pick Andre Drummond and Detroit. I suspect he will be in Orlando and he will play later in the week. So don’t rule out that possibility."

Thabeet joined the Thunder a few days ago unofficially after frustrating stints with three other teams. Sam Presti is hoping the culture of the Thunder will help Thabeet turn the corner in the NBA.

Btw are the Thunder's going to sign any one else besides Perry/Thabeet? Cause this team need's another guy to come off the bench to score.

[Devilanche]

Btw are the Thunder's going to sign any one else besides Perry/Thabeet? Cause this team need's another guy to come off the bench to score.

I don't think we're seeing anything like a scorer to come into the team as the 12th/13th/14th man.

Right now the roster is at
PG: Westbrook / Maynor / Reggie
SG: Thabo / Harden / Cook
SF: Durant / PJ III / Lazar
PF: Ibaka / Collison /
C: Perkins / Aldrich / Thabeet

Seemingly, Lazar ( or PJ III) and Thabeet at the end of the bench and so the incoming guy would be able to leap ahead of Cook and/or Reggie at best. Pretty sure that Presti will want to see more of Reggie in case we can't resign maynor and Durant/PJ III seems able to play smallball 4 a fair bit.

Amongst all the speculation we had, seems most likely is either Ebanks or Mason the most likely.

[Devilanche]

http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/06/30/1 ... edID=10140

Olajuwon also said he'll try to get Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka in for a summer session

[HeartSouloma]

http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/06/30/12/Players-turn-to-Olajuwon-in-offseason/landing_heat.html?blockID=754488&feedID=10140

Olajuwon also said he'll try to get Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka in for a summer session

That's very good, hope we can send KP too lol...

[BirdmanPresents]

Anyway OKC can pick up Scola??

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... Luis_Scola

He might have a higher price tag than OKC can afford and they may need to cut someone, but I think he could be a great asset to have off the bench.

[sonictecture]

The roster is currently full with 15 guaranteed contracts. OKC would have to waive a player to sign Scola or any other player.

Teams under the cap can bid on Scola once he is amnestied, but have to sign him to a three year contract with the minimum amount at approximately $3.4M a year based on his salary number. If he clears this process without a bid then he becomes an unrestricted free agent and could go to any team.

None of the above is really the issue with OKC signing Scola though. The main issue is that historically Presti doesn't draft or sign players like Scola. Not long enough, not athletic enough, probably not cheap enough and doesn't represent the sustainable approach.

[Devilanche]

Isn't Dallas under the cap? Though they might not want a multi year deal.

I can see Pacers or Philly picking him up(i think they're under the cap) or any other team under cap but expected to go to playoff and getting knocked out in 1st or 2nd round.

At 3m ish i do think he represent good value but i doubt we got the minutes at PF for him.

[sonictecture]

Dallas is only interested in one years deals, which is why they put a bid on Elton Brand. A bid for Scola would have to be for 3 years, equaling the remainder on his amnestied contract.

In other news Aldrich was disgustingly bad in 2012 summer league. It's only summer league and is typically dominated by guards and wings, but this just adds to a resume of not being able to make a difference when given an opportunity.

I imagine Aldrich will be given an opportunity for rotation minutes, but I have little confidence he will be able to capitalize on the opportunity. It was easy to assume that Brooks went with Mohammed last season because Brooks wanted some veteran experience on the floor, but it is also just as easy to assume that Aldrich never showed enough to warrant giving him an expanded role.

The question is can anyone take those minutes from Aldrich? Does Brooks finally play Ibaka 30 minutes or more a game?

[Devilanche]

Dallas seems only down for 1 year deal but at 3m a year for 3 years it's good value regardless that doesnt restrict their future move much more than 10m multiyear contract. but either way i don't see scola clearing waiver.

I didn't really read anything positive regarding aldrich and some even says he look better in garbage time than in summer league. I guess we'll wait until midseason to know. Worst case, we play small with Perkins/Ibaka/Collison all can play Cs. There's only so many Dwight/Bynum/Hibbert in the league.

[sonictecture]

I don't think the Mavs were looking for value, I think they want to maintain flexibility. If Scola's $3M a year contract prevented them from signing a max contract next summer it would have been a bad value in the big picture.

Aldrich played poorly his first season in Tulsa, when expectations were that he would dominate. He played better after 20 some odd games, but I wonder if he'll be given the opportunity to get comfortable, of if PJ3 will start to steel playing time?

Following the offseason theme, there hasn't been much word regarding extensions for Harden and or Ibaka since July 11, 2012. Thoughts?

[Devilanche]

With 15 man set, i think Presti is concentrating on the extension of Harden/Ibaka.
I don't think it'll come fast though.

Does Aldrich seems to be the guy that need to break in into a regular role before he get up to speed? Seems that way for now but i can see PJ3 stealing some time if he impresses cause we can always slide Ibaka/Collison to man some C minutes. BUT if the idea is that perkins has to be moved eventually, we probably seeing Aldrich playing time until midseason at least.

edit: what would be sad if Thabeet beat Aldrich for playing time.


Mavs big contract now seems to be Dirk + Marion, rest all should be below 4m. Would be interesting to see what Cuban does next offseason. I do think they already have cap for 1 max next season and doubt they can make room for another. As it is, their draft night trade down can be seen as either they needed more youth/role player, or they didn't want the high draft pick guaranteed salary.

[CKRT]

Does Brooks finally play Ibaka 30 minutes or more a game?

Less Ibaka, more Nick. I'm okay with this until Ibaka has picked up his weak fundamentals, and Nick has started to decline.

[Bravely Done]

Does Brooks finally play Ibaka 30 minutes or more a game?

Less Ibaka, more Nick. I'm okay with this until Ibaka has picked up his weak fundamentals, and Nick has started to decline.

Ibaka is better than Collison.

[sonictecture]

Does Brooks finally play Ibaka 30 minutes or more a game?

Less Ibaka, more Nick. I'm okay with this until Ibaka has picked up his weak fundamentals, and Nick has started to decline.

Giving Collison more playing time during the regular season does little for Ibaka's development. Ibaka needs minutes to improve on his weaknesses. If Ibaka hasn't made strides during the regular season Brooks has Collison to lean on during the playoffs.

This regular season should be all about preparing for the challenges of the playoffs. Developing an more lethal small ball lineup, tightening the team defense, inputing additional offensive sets, further development by Ibaka, Harden, Westbrook and Durant are all important.

[CKRT]

Does Brooks finally play Ibaka 30 minutes or more a game?

Less Ibaka, more Nick. I'm okay with this until Ibaka has picked up his weak fundamentals, and Nick has started to decline.

Giving Collison more playing time during the regular season does little for Ibaka's development. Ibaka needs minutes to improve on his weaknesses. If Ibaka hasn't made strides during the regular season Brooks has Collison to lean on during the playoffs.

This regular season should be all about preparing for the challenges of the playoffs. Developing an more lethal small ball lineup, tightening the team defense, inputing additional offensive sets, further development by Ibaka, Harden, Westbrook and Durant are all important.

Oh I agree, Ibaka should be getting more time during the regular season.

Ibaka is better than Collison.

well, that's a nice statement and all, but every quantifiable statistic disagrees with you. His potential is higher, but that doesn't mean anything until that potential becomes real. Nick is the better basketball player as of now, and certainly the past few years.

[Devilanche]

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/g ... nba_b71746

seems like a nice hire. Really like what he did with his blog.