OKC Thunder Offseason 2015

[spearsy23]

I'm on the fence here, LMA doesn't suck, but he doesn't turn a non-playoff team (especially one that got worse at the deadline) into a contender either. Chandler... Well, he's not the same player he was three years ago. If Phoenix got both they make the playoffs easily, but they still aren't as good as us, GSW, Hou, LAC, or Memphis.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I'm not even sure it puts them in the playoffs. A healthy OKC team keeps Dallas out of the playoffs next year. I'm not sure these additions put Phoenix over the Pelicans or Blazers.

[spearsy23]

I'm not even sure it puts them in the playoffs. A healthy OKC team keeps Dallas out of the playoffs next year. I'm not sure these additions put Phoenix over the Pelicans or Blazers.

They weren't that far behind NOLA who isn't getting much better next year, and the Mavs and Portland are getting worse. SAS gets another year older and loses Splitter and Bellnelli, I'd say Phoenix can be on their level.

[bondom34]

So many good people on this team. I hope Kanter matures into one of them.

Guy who wrote it is a good guy too, though at times man I tell you what....

[Grolgar]

If PHX gets LMA, they've got a great team, legitimate contender to me.

6-8 seed

[bondom34]

If PHX gets LMA, they've got a great team, legitimate contender to me.

6-8 seed

Who'd scare the **** outta me in round 1.

[Grolgar]

If PHX gets LMA, they've got a great team, legitimate contender to me.

6-8 seed

Who'd scare the **** outta me in round 1.

Not me. I think we could sweep that team. I'm not sure what you see in the roster. They could definitely miss the playoffs WITH Aldridge.

[bondom34]

6-8 seed

Who'd scare the **** outta me in round 1.

Not me. I think we could sweep that team. I'm not sure what you see in the roster. They could definitely miss the playoffs WITH Aldridge.

Honestly Chandler is a huge get to me, he's still a top defender, gives them a great vet presence. Even no LMA I'd put them as in I think.

[Grolgar]

Who'd scare the **** outta me in round 1.

Not me. I think we could sweep that team. I'm not sure what you see in the roster. They could definitely miss the playoffs WITH Aldridge.

Honestly Chandler is a huge get to me, he's still a top defender, gives them a great vet presence. Even no LMA I'd put them as in I think.

Chandler now or 4 years ago?

[bondom34]

Not me. I think we could sweep that team. I'm not sure what you see in the roster. They could definitely miss the playoffs WITH Aldridge.

Honestly Chandler is a huge get to me, he's still a top defender, gives them a great vet presence. Even no LMA I'd put them as in I think.

Chandler now or 4 years ago?

Now, still puts up one of the best DRPMs of anyone in the league, he's 32, but still has at least 2-3 good years in him. Just averaged 10/12 too. Huge upgrade to Len and a great mentor, fits the team well enough.

[spearsy23]

For the Kanter situation, as a reminder the cap takes a huge jump next season (duh, we're all talking about that), but THEN it's supposed to take another large step forward the next year. So by the time Adams is due for an extension the cap should be ~110 million dollars. Kanter's current max will be equivalent to a 10 million per year contract right now. That's a pittance for a young big.

[bondom34]

Seems like his market is pretty dead though, should be a bit of a wakeup call.

[spearsy23]

Seems like his market is pretty dead though, should be a bit of a wakeup call.

Oh, I agree. I certainly wouldn't offer him the max. But I'd match it in a heartbeat.

[bondom34]

Seems like his market is pretty dead though, should be a bit of a wakeup call.

Oh, I agree. I certainly wouldn't offer him the max. But I'd match it in a heartbeat.

Yep, Slater wrote about it today, its turning me off of the kid. His ego's getting in the way again.

[Soonerule]

Seems like his market is pretty dead though, should be a bit of a wakeup call.

Oh, I agree. I certainly wouldn't offer him the max. But I'd match it in a heartbeat.

Yep, Slater wrote about it today, its turning me off of the kid. His ego's getting in the way again.

I am going to throw a hypothetical question out there and I am interested to hear the responses. The argument for Kanter, other than his offense, is that 'he can be taught to play defense".

OK, here is the hypothetical. You are Sam Presti and sitting across the negotiating table from you is Enes and his agent. You tell Kanter what is expected if you offer him a contract and one of those expectations is that he must focus on improving his defensive skills and Kanter looks you directly in the eye and says, "I don't care about defense, it is a waste of my time to learn it".

What do you do?

[bondom34]

Oh, I agree. I certainly wouldn't offer him the max. But I'd match it in a heartbeat.

Yep, Slater wrote about it today, its turning me off of the kid. His ego's getting in the way again.

I am going to throw a hypothetical question out there and I am interested to hear the responses. The argument for Kanter, other than his offense, is that 'he can be taught to play defense".

OK, here is the hypothetical. You are Sam Presti and sitting across the negotiating table from you is Enes and his agent. You tell Kanter what is expected if you offer him a contract and one of those expectations is that he must focus on improving his defensive skills and Kanter looks you directly in the eye and says, "I don't care about defense, it is a waste of my time to learn it".

What do you do?

Well, obviously a hypothetical, as I don't see anyone being that blunt about it. But with an attitude you may let him see if anyone gives him an offer and see if you can pull a sign and trade. Because the only other option is to go into the season with no backup C.

[bondom34]

I'm still not thrilled about a 15 mil a year deal either.

[Pillendreher]

I really hope someone can get that kid's head in the right place. Get him away from that idiotic agent of his and make it clear to him that without commitment and hard work, he's not going anywhere. Especially that apparently noone besides OKC has talked to him should make him think about his behavior in the past.

[spearsy23]

Yep, Slater wrote about it today, its turning me off of the kid. His ego's getting in the way again.

I am going to throw a hypothetical question out there and I am interested to hear the responses. The argument for Kanter, other than his offense, is that 'he can be taught to play defense".

OK, here is the hypothetical. You are Sam Presti and sitting across the negotiating table from you is Enes and his agent. You tell Kanter what is expected if you offer him a contract and one of those expectations is that he must focus on improving his defensive skills and Kanter looks you directly in the eye and says, "I don't care about defense, it is a waste of my time to learn it".

What do you do?

Well, obviously a hypothetical, as I don't see anyone being that blunt about it. But with an attitude you may let him see if anyone gives him an offer and see if you can pull a sign and trade. Because the only other option is to go into the season with no backup C.

I go straight to KD and Russ and ask them what they want done. I can't just let him walk without letting them know why. But if he was stupid enough to say that, I'm fine with Mitch playing backup C.

[Old Man Game]

I find myself conficted about re-signing Kanter. One the one hand his defense is objectively terrible and the prospect of giving him a huge contract in the hopes he'll improve on that end seems like a rather large risk. But on the other hand the guy is an extremely gifted scorer and he is only 23. If we lose him I think I'll be disappointed.