Thunder sign Butler

[Bravenewworld]

No one gave him a shot.
This is the thing we tend to see with these NBA sons.
No matter how talented they are, they all seem to have high IQs and good fundamentals. So much so that at the very worst they can be 2nd, 3rd stringers. That being said, given how well Wiggins fits the OKC mold, i think he is worth the risk.



Its not a name. Its a DNA and advanced training throughout someone's life that you are buying into.

Nobody gave him a shot because he's not an NBA player. Basketball is not genetics, it speaks volumes when you have an NBA player coaching you throughout your entire life and you aren't a successful college player. Wiggins is not good enough to play in the NBA, end of story. Ron Baker is an NBA caliber 2nd/3rd stringer, Wiggins is nowhere near his level. Hell, why don't we just draft Stockton, sign Seth Curry, see if Luke Walton will come play for us and make a play for Daniel Ewing? All of them are better than Nick Wiggins anyway.

If we sign Seth, you think he could convince Steph to sign after his contract is up?

That would be fantastic if we could.

[Bravenewworld]

No one gave him a shot.
This is the thing we tend to see with these NBA sons.
No matter how talented they are, they all seem to have high IQs and good fundamentals. So much so that at the very worst they can be 2nd, 3rd stringers. That being said, given how well Wiggins fits the OKC mold, i think he is worth the risk.

If that's the only logic as well, he had another older brother that didn't play. Family name has nothing to do w/ it. Again, if he's the 60th pick, whatever, but its crazy to blow a first on the guy.

Its not a name. Its a DNA and advanced training throughout someone's life that you are buying into.

Nobody gave him a shot because he's not an NBA player. Basketball is not genetics, it speaks volumes when you have an NBA player coaching you throughout your entire life and you aren't a successful college player. Wiggins is not good enough to play in the NBA, end of story. Ron Baker is an NBA caliber 2nd/3rd stringer, Wiggins is nowhere near his level. Hell, why don't we just draft Stockton, sign Seth Curry, see if Luke Walton will come play for us and make a play for Daniel Ewing? All of them are better than Nick Wiggins anyway.

Last i knew Curry was given shots on NBA teams.
Walton played a role in the Lakers 2 title team and as untalented as that guy was, his high IQ and great fundamentals helped them win.
Ewing was drafted and given a shot and still plays professional ball over-sea's.
You know what the thing these people have in common is? They were all drafted or signed to NBA teams.
Im suggesting, we should be that team for Wiggins.

[spearsy23]

Seth Curry- 17.5 ppg on 49% shooting
Luke Walton- 15 ppg 7 reb on 47% shooting
Daniel Ewing- actually not related to Patrick, my bad. Still scored 15 ppg on 50% shooting
Nick wiggins- 5 points on 44% shooting

What is it about Wiggins that makes him a pro prospect? His average athleticism? His underwhelming shooting? His lack of ball handling? His bench role on a college team? His age (23 already)? His lack of developmental upside? His negative assist:turnover ratio? The amount of scouts raving about his potential (hint: there's exactly 0)? Tell me what makes Nick Wiggins an NBA prospect. His dad played in the NBA? That has nothing to do with Nick, neither does his brother being an amazing prospect. Tell me why he was a bench player in college. Tell me what he does at an NBA level. And most of all, tell me why the hell we would spend a draft pick, ANY draft pick, on a guy who isn't even going to be invited to an NBA summer league roster?

Edit: And did you know here's another Wiggins brother! Mitch Jr, he plays NAIA ball and was a senior this year. Why don't we go ahead and use the 2nd first rounder on him?

[bondom34]

Spearsy, I think I mentioned the third brother above, but this is a bizarre topic in general.

OK, a few rambling points...

1. Still not completely giving up on Lamb, only trade him if there is a really good return.

2. I like the idea of getting a PF and guard in this draft assuming both picks are still OKC's, if not PF if probably slightly more important to me as Collison's getting older and will need a replacement (unless that's gonna be PJ). I really want to trade one pick w/ Perk, gain a TPE, and get a real starting C to have for a couple years, keep Adams w/ the bench mob another season or 2, then let him start. It proves to KD/Russ that they are committed to winning and willing to make moves to do so.

3. This Wiggins thing is weird. If its a late 2nd, sure, otherwise he can be signed as a UDFA. I really don't see why in the world you're ready to give up on Lamb, who has at the least shown the ability to be a competent bench player at times in the NBA, for a guy who basically put up similar numbers at a relatively small college as a senior and isn't even on draft boards. The genetics arguement is odd as well. I'd be interested if a topic were posted on the draft board on the kid to see what they thought as well, but I doubt anyone would say draft him.

Just my ramblings.

[Podirk]

Just to expound on my thoughts on bondom34s points above.

1. Haven't given up on Lamb at all, I think if he can snap out of his bad confidence streak over the summer he will be really important next year.

2. I like the idea of a PF, if only one pick is used, but for a different reason. The Guard rotation needs improving...but a rookie isn't going to do it. Hoping Presti uses the Martin TPE and gets a starter caliber SG.
Your pick and Perk for a TPE and get a better C is interesting too. This team isn't known for a large quantity of changes but this might be the perfect summer to do it.

3. At the end of the second round Presti is known for buying one (especially if he doesn't have one to begin with), but he usually goes for defensive minded, hard working, upperclassmen...but a flyer on a big names relative can't hurt.

[laika]

Final tally for the Clipper series-

Without Butler- plus 45.
With Butler- minus 40.

Caron almost cost the Thunder the series, but couldn't quite manage it. Hopefully Brooks is finally starting to notice how much worse he is than Jackson and Sefolosha. More good news- Adams is playing the best he has all season, making it harder to mess up the Perkins/Collison/Adams decision.

[Space Dracula]

Final tally for the Clipper series-

Without Butler- plus 45.
With Butler- minus 40.

Caron almost cost the Thunder the series, but couldn't quite manage it. Hopefully Brooks is finally starting to notice how much worse he is than Jackson and Sefolosha. More good news- Adams is playing the best he has all season, making it harder to mess up the Perkins/Collison/Adams decision.

Butler was abjectly terrible. He cannot defend, and takes too many poor percentage 2pt shots. He's just a mess. There are scenarios in the SAS series where perhaps he could be useful but against the Clippers he was a train wreck. Presti made a startling miscalculation this offseason not replacing Kevin Martin, and we are getting the absolute dregs now in Butler.

[spearsy23]

Final tally for the Clipper series-

Without Butler- plus 45.
With Butler- minus 40.

Caron almost cost the Thunder the series, but couldn't quite manage it. Hopefully Brooks is finally starting to notice how much worse he is than Jackson and Sefolosha. More good news- Adams is playing the best he has all season, making it harder to mess up the Perkins/Collison/Adams decision.

Butler was abjectly terrible. He cannot defend, and takes too many poor percentage 2pt shots. He's just a mess. There are scenarios in the SAS series where perhaps he could be useful but against the Clippers he was a train wreck. Presti made a startling miscalculation this offseason not replacing Kevin Martin, and we are getting the absolute dregs now in Butler.

You're about the only OKC fan that was expecting more, he was supposed to be he 8th or 9th man and that's what he's played like. Brooks overplayed him after he was serviceable in the first round but quickly adjusted.

[Space Dracula]

Final tally for the Clipper series-

Without Butler- plus 45.
With Butler- minus 40.

Caron almost cost the Thunder the series, but couldn't quite manage it. Hopefully Brooks is finally starting to notice how much worse he is than Jackson and Sefolosha. More good news- Adams is playing the best he has all season, making it harder to mess up the Perkins/Collison/Adams decision.

Butler was abjectly terrible. He cannot defend, and takes too many poor percentage 2pt shots. He's just a mess. There are scenarios in the SAS series where perhaps he could be useful but against the Clippers he was a train wreck. Presti made a startling miscalculation this offseason not replacing Kevin Martin, and we are getting the absolute dregs now in Butler.

You're about the only OKC fan that was expecting more, he was supposed to be he 8th or 9th man and that's what he's played like. Brooks overplayed him after he was serviceable in the first round but quickly adjusted.

I disagree. I think it's likely even that Butler was promised minutes as a condition of signing with the Thunder since he'll be looking for one more contract over the summer (maybe a Vince-like 3 years, $8mm from a contender).

[Grolgar]

Well, it turned out that Butler totally flamed out in the playoffs AND Lamb lost valuable experience. Sucks how Butler faded in the playoffs.