Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLVII "Training Camp" Ed.)

AdamTheGreek · Post #701 » by **AdamTheGreek** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 7:52 pm

He looks about even with how he ended last season. If he plans on playing some center, he needs to stay that weight. Plus, light Baby didn't exactly gain much vertical than heavier Baby.

Post #702 » by **Bensational** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 7:54 pm

Blue_and_Whte wrote:
ChildishGambino wrote:Big Baby from another angle.....In Shape? same as last year? worst than last year? what do you think?

IDK man....in some pictures he's looking worse than last year but imo this pic makes him look a bit slimmer...IDK
Same... Problem is people keep looking for him to be slimmer.

exactly. BBD doesn't need to slim down that much. so long as his cardio is good, then he's fine. we actually need him with the extra weight, it's what helps him get positioning inside for rebounds.

Post #703 » by **Bensational** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 7:56 pm

man, Presti has really done a job on those OKC players if he's got them believing they don't need MAX contracts. they love being there, they're saving their team money... he's put a hell of a team together.

once Harden signs on long term with them, that will be my last thread of hope for this team making a quick turnaround.

RYgoBOOM · Post #704 » by **RYgoBOOM** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 8:05 pm

Bensational wrote:man, Presti has really done a job on those OKC players if he's got them believing they don't need MAX contracts. they love being there, they're saving their team money... he's put a hell of a team together.

once Harden signs on long term with them, that will be my last thread of hope for this team making a quick turnaround.

agreed

plus they snuck in and got PJIII

Must be nice lol

rcklsscognition · Post #705 » by **rcklsscognition** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 8:10 pm

It's important to build that culture and a large part of that is selecting the right character of men and making sure you keep them happy and help them mature within the organization.

j_n · Post #706 » by **j_n** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 8:32 pm

Bensational wrote:man, Presti has really done a job on those OKC players if he's got them believing they don't need MAX contracts. they love being there, they're saving their team money... he's put a hell of a team together.

once Harden signs on long term with them, that will be my last thread of hope for this team making a quick turnaround.

Lets not pretend that James harden can sign a max contract if he simply demands it.
He knows that if he play this season and get seriously injured he would lose a lot more than the diffrence between a max contract and what he would get which would probably be very close to a max.

Add the fact that he is on a young team that could become a dynasty and its really not a big deal if he ends up "giving up" a few millions to stay with the thunder.

Nyce_1 · Post #707 » by **Nyce_1** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 8:48 pm

Denton article on Vaughn's first practice. More coach-focused piece.

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/denton-fi ... asm_100212

BadMofoPimp · Post #708 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 9:01 pm

Put it this way. If the Thunder ever did win a championship, those guys are set financially via endorsements. But, even if they all signed to stay on and the team doesn't win a Ship in the next 2 years, I guarantee one or two will be gone by the 3rd year. And, as an owner, I would take that cap hit risk. Devos did with horrible managment and at least made it to the finals like the Thunder did.

thelead · Post #709 » by **thelead** » Tue Oct 2, 2012 11:51 pm

Bensational wrote:man, Presti has really done a job on those OKC players if he's got them believing they don't need MAX contracts. they love being there, they're saving their team money... he's put a hell of a team together.

once Harden signs on long term with them, that will be my last thread of hope for this team making a quick turnaround.

There will not be a quick turnaround. It will be all about the draft. I doubt we make the playoffs before 2017 at the earliest. Let that sink in.

mhectorgato · Post #710 » by **mhectorgato** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 12:40 am

thelead wrote:
Bensational wrote:man, Presti has really done a job on those OKC players if he's got them believing they don't need MAX contracts. they love being there, they're saving their team money... he's put a hell of a team together.

once Harden signs on long term with them, that will be my last thread of hope for this team making a quick turnaround.

There will not be a quick turnaround. It will be all about the draft. I doubt we make the playoffs before 2017 at the earliest. Let that sink in.

Tell me why I would want your opinion to "sink in"?

J the Drafter · Post #711 » by **J the Drafter** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 1:04 am

BadMofoPimp wrote:Put it this way. If the Thunder ever did win a championship, those guys are set financially via endorsements. But, even if they all signed to stay on and the team doesn't win a Ship in the next 2 years, I guarantee one or two will be gone by the 3rd year. And, as an owner, I would take that cap hit risk. Devos did with horrible managment and at least made it to the finals like the Thunder did.

Meh. People are too quick to look at Otis' last trade and his smaller, earlier mistakes and forget the good he did for this team.

Cigamodnalro · Post #712 » by **Cigamodnalro** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 1:07 am

J the Drafter wrote:People are too quick to look at Otis' last trade and his smaller, earlier mistakes and forget the good he did for this team.

BaunceyChillups · Post #713 » by **BaunceyChillups** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 1:36 am

thelead wrote:
Bensational wrote:man, Presti has really done a job on those OKC players if he's got them believing they don't need MAX contracts. they love being there, they're saving their team money... he's put a hell of a team together.

once Harden signs on long term with them, that will be my last thread of hope for this team making a quick turnaround.

There will not be a quick turnaround. It will be all about the draft. I doubt we make the playoffs before 2017 at the earliest. Let that sink in.

We'll be back in the playoffs by the 2014-2015 season. We'll assuredly have a top 3 pick this year and very likely a top 5 pick next year in a draft with Lebron caliber players plus we're set to have a ton of capspace that summer as well.

thelead · Post #714 » by **thelead** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 1:44 am

Lebron caliber players don't come around very often, let alone multiple Lebrons in one draft. Plus, this draft doesn't seem very promising. If we luck out with 1 superstar in one of the next 2 drafts it still won't be until 2016 at the earliest. And again, what game changer are we signing next summer?

thelead · Post #715 » by **thelead** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 1:47 am

mhectorgato wrote:
thelead wrote:
Bensational wrote:man, Presti has really done a job on those OKC players if he's got them believing they don't need MAX contracts. they love being there, they're saving their team money... he's put a hell of a team together.

once Harden signs on long term with them, that will be my last thread of hope for this team making a quick turnaround.

There will not be a quick turnaround. It will be all about the draft. I doubt we make the playoffs before 2017 at the earliest. Let that sink in.

Tell me why I would want your opinion to "sink in"?

Because its realistic and based on the norm for bad lottery teams. We "could" get there in a year or two if you think we have a realistic chance at Dwight, Lebron, CP3, or Wade in free agency :wink:

mhectorgato · Post #716 » by **mhectorgato** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 2:03 am

thelead wrote:
mhectorgato wrote:
thelead wrote:There will not be a quick turnaround. It will be all about the draft. I doubt we make the playoffs before 2017 at the earliest. Let that sink in.

Tell me why I would want your opinion to "sink in"?

Because its realistic and based on the norm for bad lottery teams. We "could" get there in a year or two if you think we have a realistic chance at Dwight, Lebron, CP3, or Wade in free agency

Realistic based on what ... your opinion?

I don't doubt that this your opinion, and you are certainly entitled to it. There may be a chance it comes about.

But again ... why do I want your opinion to "sink in"? Statements like that's are usually reserved for something just a wee bit more profound.

thelead · Post #717 » by **thelead** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 2:05 am

mhectorgato wrote:
Realistic based on what ... your opinion?

Based on history.

mhectorgato · Post #718 » by **mhectorgato** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 2:17 am

thelead wrote:
mhectorgato wrote:
Realistic based on what ... your opinion?

Based on history.

Still your opinion based on the team as it is currently assembled, which - as you know - has too many players, will likely make more moves prior to the deadline and have one ginormously large TPE in the backpocket.

thelead · Post #719 » by **thelead** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 2:57 am

mhectorgato wrote:
thelead wrote:
mhectorgato wrote:
Realistic based on what ... your opinion?

Based on history.

Still your opinion based on the team as it is currently assembled, which - as you know - has too many players, will likely make more moves prior to the deadline and have one ginormously large TPE in the backpocket.

I am actually hoping we don't make the playoffs until 2016 at the earliest. That means we rebuilt the right way. We are not a major market where top 10 players will colude to come and play for us. OKC is a good model but not the only way to build a great team. We still have an owner that's willing to spend and that's a great thing but we cannot fall into the same "Rashard" trap and give away money to third tier guys. This would be my "plan":

2012-2013: Trade some vets for future picks, miss the playoffs, draft a top 5 player (who probably won't be great)
2013-2014: Full tank mode, hope to draft Wiggins
2014-2015: Groom Wiggins while still sucking, draft another stud
2015-2016: Go all out for the playoffs (probably barely miss), sign an allstar to team up with your young superstars
2016-2017: Finally back in the playoffs

Of course, we could just sign 2nd/3rd tier talent and become what Atlanta was the last few years and make the playoffs sooner but I'm not sure why anyone would want that.

TheMagicOne · Post #720 » by **TheMagicOne** » Wed Oct 3, 2012 3:17 am

mhectorgato wrote:
thelead wrote:
mhectorgato wrote:
Realistic based on what ... your opinion?

Based on history.

Still your opinion based on the team as it is currently assembled, which - as you know - has too many players, will likely make more moves prior to the deadline and have one ginormously large TPE in the backpocket.

If we make the playoffs before 2014 then Rob did a crap job with our assets and we would be no better than a first round exit playoff team. Look the bottom line is you want a team that can win a championship, not just make the playoffs, if Rob is not making the team tank and trading off any veteran we have for future picks then he is not doing his job...Period, end of story. They need to develop our young guys and trade off the veterans to teams that get an injury during the season and are desperate for immediate help. They need to trade the TPE to a team that wants to get under the cap next season to sign a free agent.

If Rob does not follow this blue print as he pretty much said he would, i.e. copying the OKC model, then he should be fired and we rebuild AGAIN. We are not here trying to be Houston that is out of the playoffs every year in the first round or they are a late lottery pick.