OKC Thunder Offseason 2015

[bbms]

Well I agree with Chuck in the sense that OKC is, when healthy, probably the most talented team in the NBA (and probably has been in the past 2-4 years). However everything with this team is so unpredictable. Offensively, even without Durant, this team was like, top tier. Defensively, if Donovan can get us back to being top 7, we are likely to be top contenders.

Would you guys consider Kanter an off the ball player?


That's what makes him so lethal with KD and Russ. Majority of the times he scores is off PnRs and offensive putbacks. Kanter being a great post up big is huge bonus to his offensive skillset.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsCWmSsLugk[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85wgz7NlCNU[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tDisUbXJHw[/youtube]

Definitely. His ability to generate offensive pressure by getting offensive boards is a major part to what makes him a borderline elite offensive big. Westbrook improved in every statistical category with him up front setting picks, spacing the floor, opening lanes, passing out of the post... I think we owe a lot of this to Kanter's ability to read and put pressure on defenses. Can't wait to see Westbrook, Durant, Ibaka and Kanter on court.

I think his defensive issues are overblown. Ibaka missed a lot of playing time last season which hurt our defensive scheme a lot and exposed him to an extent. Kanter has never been a good defender, but I think his defense will come along in a competitive environment. He understands positioning and he can fight for position. He's reasonably smart and very strong. He also looks willing to play good defense. Usually these types of players don't become defensive liabilities for so long, under proper coaching.

Even DeMarcus Cousins who used to be oblivious to defense, not to mention dumb as ****, became a plus DPM player.

[KD35Brah]

I think Dion was a bigger problem than Kanter's defense. For the last month Dion had a DRTG of 115.

Kanter was still bad at 111.

Westbrook not playing any defense landed him a 109 Drtg.

[bbms]

I think while Waiters' stats are worse (I don't like DRTG anyway), bigs don't get spared when the team is not playing great/consistent defense. Westbrook has always been gambler-ish with stellar crunch time defense ever since Ron Adams left in 2010.

Although no doubt that we won't ever be a consistent defensive team again unless all of our bigman rotation can play solid defense.

[Zagor]

I think his defensive issues are overblown. Ibaka missed a lot of playing time last season which hurt our defensive scheme a lot and exposed him to an extent.

I watched every game with him and Ibaka on the court. Things were very bad. Ibaka always was Scottie's guy who covered random mistakes by guards and KD. But with Kanter, he needs to help to many players.

He understands positioning

No,he doesn't. And that is his second greatest flaw.

He's reasonably smart and very strong. He also looks willing to play good defense.

Offensively he is smart, because on that side of floor you don't need to think whole the time. He uses his instinct. He makes a screen, rolls to the paint, grab a O-rebound. These things he learned in the practice. It is automatism.

But in defense, you need to be aware about everything whole the time. And that is the key. He doesn't think. Guy scored 25 point on him and I didn't see his anger or that he cares.

I think he is soft(his greatest flaw) and with very low defense IQ. Number of blocks speaks for himself.
Only Bargnani and Stoudemire are worse than him in defense....if we speak about big players.

I hope Mo will pressure him hard.

[Thunderhead]

Offensive rebounding is bittersweet, it keeps possessions alive but it also means not getting back on defense and allowing easy baskets in transition.

I think the value of off rebounding is questionable.

[Pillendreher]

It's funny that both RJ and EK haven't reached an agreement yet. I'm especially happy for Reggie

[Balkman32]

It's funny that both RJ and EK haven't reached an agreement yet. I'm especially happy for Reggie

This probably means they will both sign Max offer sheets.

[Pillendreher]

How come? I think they're waiting for max offers but aren't getting any.

[tleikheen]

How come? I think they're waiting for max offers but aren't getting any.

According to two people with knowledge of the upcoming negotiations, the Pistons are seeking a five-year commitment from Jackson so that they'll be able lock in his percentage of the salary cap for the next five seasons.

If that's the case, Jackson could seek a deal approaching Dragic's.

If the sides can't find a number that works over five years, Jackson is amenable to less money and fewer years with an option to hit the open market sooner.

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2015/07/03/detroit-pistons-reggie-jackson-pistons/29668931/

i don't think it's a case of striking out on max offers ,both Kanter and jackson will be at max offers ,but how many years ,kanter just turned 23 and jackson is 25,the years/length matters....for kanter a 3 yr deal means he's only 26 with his best yrs ahead

[Grolgar]

With the Lakers supposedly getting Hibbert, what teams wouod even be in the market for Kanter?

I also wonder if there's been more discussion about his role. With KD, Serge, and Russ back, maybe they're seeing if he'd be willing to come off the bench to provide scoring where it's needed. Kanter's ego worries me...

[Marcus50]

If he is testing free agency it will be on the basis that Presti has offered somewhat less. Potential problem for Kanter is that the teams looking for centers are all filling their rosters and the likelihood of a max offer looks a bit more remote

[Bravenewworld]

If he is testing free agency it will be on the basis that Presti has offered somewhat less. Potential problem for Kanter is that the teams looking for centers are all filling their rosters and the likelihood of a max offer looks a bit more remote

Im betting the years are an issue. Presti probably wants him to sign for 5 but Kanter wants 3. A lot of players seem to want to sign shorter contracts so they can try to cash in, in a couple of years.

[Balkman32]

I don't think RFA's can sign deals until FA actually starts on the 9th.

With it being so quiet I think that is what will happen.

[Soonerule]

If he is testing free agency it will be on the basis that Presti has offered somewhat less. Potential problem for Kanter is that the teams looking for centers are all filling their rosters and the likelihood of a max offer looks a bit more remote

Im betting the years are an issue. Presti probably wants him to sign for 5 but Kanter wants 3. A lot of players seem to want to sign shorter contracts so they can try to cash in, in a couple of years.

Could be the other way around.

[Thunderhead]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25233925/best-of-the-rest-the-top-20-remaining-free-agents

9. Enes Kanter, C, RFA: OK, so I need to talk about Enes Kanter for a little bit. Kanter is unquestionably a talented post scorer. His raw production is very good. He's a nice piece and still very young. What's more, the Thunder have no cap space so they need to keep all the talent they can retain; they don't really have much choice other than to get a deal for Kanter.

However, there are big men that are "not good" at defense. Al Jefferson. Aldridge from time to time, honestly. Nikola Vucevic. But the effort is there. They are just physically limited. Kanter, on the other hand, is outright bad, to the point where teams literally targeted him in the first halves of games over and over last year. Yes, Serge Ibaka will help clean that up, but you can still stretch Ibaka to the corner with stretch four and put Kanter on an island. And that island is easier to raid than a Margaritaville resort.

So yes, Kanter has value. But you're likely paying him big money for a player that is a serious defensive liability and whose offense skill doesn't really improve your team's offensive efficiency; he just gets his own. How valuable is that in the modern NBA. Ask yourself this: what role would Kanter play with the Spurs or Warriors?

Best fits: The Thunder have to keep him, like I said, so it's a moot point. But if he were on the market, the Suns should take a long look at him with that cap space they cleared for Aldridge. Chandler could cover for him and he'd give them a good post presence.

[Soonerule]

With the Lakers supposedly getting Hibbert, what teams wouod even be in the market for Kanter?

I also wonder if there's been more discussion about his role. With KD, Serge, and Russ back, maybe they're seeing if he'd be willing to come off the bench to provide scoring where it's needed. Kanter's ego worries me...

Anybody know where Portland sits with cap space? They lost a ton of offense when Aldridge decided to go with the Spurs.

[Soonerule]

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Projected cap space: $8.8 million ($39 million without cap holds)

Max cap space possible: $46.6 million

Non-guaranteed deals: Chris Kaman ($5 million), Allen Crabbe ($947K), Tim Frazier ($845K)

Free agents: LaMarcus Aldridge , Wesley Matthews, Arron Afflalo , Robin Lopez, Dorell Wright, Alonzo Gee, Joel Freeland (r)

[Balkman32]

With the Lakers supposedly getting Hibbert, what teams wouod even be in the market for Kanter?

I also wonder if there's been more discussion about his role. With KD, Serge, and Russ back, maybe they're seeing if he'd be willing to come off the bench to provide scoring where it's needed. Kanter's ego worries me...

Anybody know where Portland sits with cap space? They lost a ton of offense when Aldridge decided to go with the Spurs.

24 million last time I saw. They have Plumlee, Lenard, Davis, and Voleah at the 4&5.

[Bravenewworld]

If he is testing free agency it will be on the basis that Presti has offered somewhat less. Potential problem for Kanter is that the teams looking for centers are all filling their rosters and the likelihood of a max offer looks a bit more remote

Im betting the years are an issue. Presti probably wants him to sign for 5 but Kanter wants 3. A lot of players seem to want to sign shorter contracts so they can try to cash in, in a couple of years.

Could be the other way around.

Eh, seriously doubt that one.
Presti generally likes signing players to long term contracts (this is going to be especially true now and probably next off season) but right now every player that has any kind of major value, has an agent who is trying to get them to be a FA in 2018, 2019. Right after the salary cap bump..... errr... mountain...increase due to the new tv deal.

But hey, anything is possible.

[tleikheen]

But you're likely paying him big money for a player that is a serious defensive liability and whose offense skill doesn't really improve your team's offensive efficiency;

This is all BS...........he's never even played with OKC's best player in Durant and Kanter played with an Ibaka who was masking and injury ,two of the big three of OKC's players.Funny how everywhere else it's thought that if Durant is healthy and Kanter is signed that OKC will be seen as a pre season favorite.
Also don't see anyone picking Adams as the starting Center except by the few in this forum.

I see where Kanter and Reggie Jackson were thought of as not getting max money because no one went after them as RFA....look at this

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/238628/Reggie-Jackson-Pistons-Agree-Upon-Five-Year-$80M-Deal

5 yrs at 16 million $$$$'s a year .......Kanter next ?????