2017 OKC Thunder Trade Discussion

[Balkman32]

I would look @ players like TJ Warren and Stanley Johnson as primary targets for the Thunder.


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[Pillendreher]

We absolutely have to make a move. We might not even have the assets to make a splashy one, but at the very least presti owes it to Russ to use that 7 million to bring in someone. Even if it's a mclemore type that you're just hoping breaks out, at least gotta give it a try. And I'd honestly be happy with ANY acquisition that shoots 37% or more from three that Billy will play, even if it's Joe Harris, or mclemore, or Anthony tolliver. Just give me someone that's gonna make me think the ball is going in when they shoot an open three.

What assets are they going to give up? Teams are not interested in 2022, or later, draft pick. The Thunder have no assets they can trade without making the team worse. There is no move to make. OKC made their moves. They brought in Waiters, Kanter and Grant. Those are the players Presti acquired with the first round picks.

You want a move? Morrow and Roberson to NOLA for Asik and their 2019 first. This is a team that is sellers not buyers. They owe it to Russ to trade him to a contender for a package of picks and prospects instead of trying to keep him here on a rebuilding team.

Cam/morrow/2nd for mclemore/tolliver for example doesn't make the team worse.

Is this really tho what we have come to? McLemore and Tolliver?

[spearsy23]

What assets are they going to give up? Teams are not interested in 2022, or later, draft pick. The Thunder have no assets they can trade without making the team worse. There is no move to make. OKC made their moves. They brought in Waiters, Kanter and Grant. Those are the players Presti acquired with the first round picks.

You want a move? Morrow and Roberson to NOLA for Asik and their 2019 first. This is a team that is sellers not buyers. They owe it to Russ to trade him to a contender for a package of picks and prospects instead of trying to keep him here on a rebuilding team.

Cam/morrow/2nd for mclemore/tolliver for example doesn't make the team worse.

Is this really tho what we have come to? McLemore and Tolliver?

Buddy hield got demarcus cousins so you never really know, but it is telling that I'd do that trade...

[NaturalThunder]

On the Rockets trade...

It's actually a trade that I like for both teams. Magic netted the Lakers, who are in rebuild mode, a 1st for a good player, but not a franchise cornerstone caliber player. And the Rockets just netted another near 40% 3P shooting super-sub to add to their offensive arsenal. I hate it because i can't stand Harden, but Morey has built a near perfect "One Man Band" supporting cast for today's NBA. The Rockets still aren't winning a championship, but if their shooters get hot in the playoffs, they very well could make the WCF and maybe even put a mild scare into the Warriors by taking them six games.

More is GM'ing circles around Presti and, as a result, Harden is going to get an MVP that Westbrook is probably more deserving of if he leads the Thunder to 45-50 wins and the playoffs.

[bondom34]

That said, if there's no good moves, no worries, it's been a bridge year and no need to rush.

It is a bridge year from contending to rebuilding. It didn't have to a bridge year. They could have gone into rebuilding right away instead of wasting a year. Next year could be completely wasted year #2 and then Russ walks.

Russ isn't walking. Sorry to break it man, but $40 million and he's staying put. Cousins was staying too, Russ certainly is.

Playoffs isn't a wasted year, there's nothing wrong with being a 50ish win team every year.

[bondom34]

On the Rockets trade...

It's actually a trade that I like for both teams. Magic netted the Lakers, who are in rebuild mode, a 1st for a good player, but not a franchise cornerstone caliber player. And the Rockets just netted another near 40% 3P shooting super-sub to add to their offensive arsenal. I hate it because i can't stand Harden, but Morey has built a near perfect "One Man Band" supporting cast for today's NBA. The Rockets still aren't winning a championship, but if their shooters get hot in the playoffs, they very well could make the WCF and maybe even put a mild scare into the Warriors by taking them six games.

More is GM'ing circles around Presti and, as a result, Harden is going to get an MVP that Westbrook is probably more deserving of if he leads the Thunder to 45-50 wins and the playoffs.

He's doing fine, but he's now had 4 years to put this around Harden. Presti's on 7 months.

[Balkman32]

Who do you want to see the Thunder get in the next 30 hours...

[spearsy23]

On the Rockets trade...

It's actually a trade that I like for both teams. Magic netted the Lakers, who are in rebuild mode, a 1st for a good player, but not a franchise cornerstone caliber player. And the Rockets just netted another near 40% 3P shooting super-sub to add to their offensive arsenal. I hate it because i can't stand Harden, but Morey has built a near perfect "One Man Band" supporting cast for today's NBA. The Rockets still aren't winning a championship, but if their shooters get hot in the playoffs, they very well could make the WCF and maybe even put a mild scare into the Warriors by taking them six games.

More is GM'ing circles around Presti and, as a result, Harden is going to get an MVP that Westbrook is probably more deserving of if he leads the Thunder to 45-50 wins and the playoffs.

He's doing fine, but he's now had 4 years to put this around Harden. Presti's on 7 months.

If we're saying Morey has had 4 years then presti had had 8.

[spearsy23]

Who do you want to see the Thunder get in the next 30 hours...

Literally anyone that can shoot and isn't 35.

[NaturalThunder]

On the Rockets trade...

It's actually a trade that I like for both teams. Magic netted the Lakers, who are in rebuild mode, a 1st for a good player, but not a franchise cornerstone caliber player. And the Rockets just netted another near 40% 3P shooting super-sub to add to their offensive arsenal. I hate it because i can't stand Harden, but Morey has built a near perfect "One Man Band" supporting cast for today's NBA. The Rockets still aren't winning a championship, but if their shooters get hot in the playoffs, they very well could make the WCF and maybe even put a mild scare into the Warriors by taking them six games.

More is GM'ing circles around Presti and, as a result, Harden is going to get an MVP that Westbrook is probably more deserving of if he leads the Thunder to 45-50 wins and the playoffs.

He's doing fine, but he's now had 4 years to put this around Harden. Presti's on 7 months.

Fair enough. Unfortunately for us, Westbrook will be 32 and, most likely, in decline; it may be a sharp decline since his game is so heavily predicated on athleticism and explosiveness. Well, that, and an unparalleled desire and drive to humiliate every opponent in his path.

However, Presti's stubbornness has also kept him from willingly build a roster towards where the NBA has been headed for a few years now: "Pace and Space". He's always opted for one-way way, non-shooting players and/or washed up or borderline washed up veterans. Morey may have never cared much about defense, but he's known "space and pace" and three point shooting was the way to go for awhile now and has built accordingly.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Who do you want to see the Thunder get in the next 30 hours...

Trade Russ and Dipo for packages that get OKC headed in the right direction for their rebuild.

[Kizz Fastfists]

He's doing fine, but he's now had 4 years to put this around Harden. Presti's on 7 months.

Given the current state of the team Presti will need 4 years to rebuild around Russ. That means Russ will be 32 and declining before Presti can rebuild around him. That means at best you get a two year window that opens in four years then you are in another rebuild. The other option is to trade Russ and just rebuild once a decade. If Russ were 24 then you'd start building around him. He's 28 and you have no cap room and no assets to use to build anything around him. Are you going to waste his entire prime on being a fringe playoff team that is in the luxury tax or are you going to do what is best for not just him but the organization and trade him and rebuild?

[bondom34]

He's doing fine, but he's now had 4 years to put this around Harden. Presti's on 7 months.

Given the current state of the team Presti will need 4 years to rebuild around Russ. That means Russ will be 32 and declining before Presti can rebuild around him. That means at best you get a two year window that opens in four years then you are in another rebuild. The other option is to trade Russ and just rebuild once a decade. If Russ were 24 then you'd start building around him. He's 28 and you have no cap room and no assets to use to build anything around him. Are you going to waste his entire prime on being a fringe playoff team that is in the luxury tax or are you going to do what is best for not just him but the organization and trade him and rebuild?

Yes. Because that's not a waste and there's no timetable on when anyone declines. Remember when Russ wanted to be in OKC? Or would you rather trade the players that want to be there, because that's a surefire way to build really ill will among players and agents.

"Hey Russ, we know you wanted to play here, and we know this costs you $40 million, but we're trading you because it's better for you. No really it's better, trust us, we know."

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a perennial 50 win team and taking a year to get back to that level.

Edit: Oh and they have $7 mil in cap right now to facilitate trades.

[bondom34]

On the Rockets trade...

It's actually a trade that I like for both teams. Magic netted the Lakers, who are in rebuild mode, a 1st for a good player, but not a franchise cornerstone caliber player. And the Rockets just netted another near 40% 3P shooting super-sub to add to their offensive arsenal. I hate it because i can't stand Harden, but Morey has built a near perfect "One Man Band" supporting cast for today's NBA. The Rockets still aren't winning a championship, but if their shooters get hot in the playoffs, they very well could make the WCF and maybe even put a mild scare into the Warriors by taking them six games.

More is GM'ing circles around Presti and, as a result, Harden is going to get an MVP that Westbrook is probably more deserving of if he leads the Thunder to 45-50 wins and the playoffs.

He's doing fine, but he's now had 4 years to put this around Harden. Presti's on 7 months.

If we're saying Morey has had 4 years then presti had had 8.

To build around a guy who left. In which time he had a year lost to him being injured, another to Russ, 2 more in the WCF, 1 in the finals, and a few early on not making it that far.

TBH that's better than what nearly any other team's done.

[Bergmaniac]

Who do you want to see the Thunder get in the next 30 hours...

Trade Russ and Dipo for packages that get OKC headed in the right direction for their rebuild.

Do you really think Presti and the owners would even consider trading Westbrook right now even if they think it's the best for the team long term? This would enrage the fan base. It is simply not an option so soon after losing Durant.

[ThunderBolt]

I'm going to be patient and hope that Presti can pull off multiple trades as good as the Orlando trade. It's very unrealistic but it's our only hope. If he's not, I'm torn. There is nothing wrong with being a good competitive basketball team in theory, but this is painful to watch. We aren't the Utah jazz or Indiana Pacers that have a variety of guys that make you think they COULD take the next step. Russ does EVERYTHING! As a thunder fan, I'm ok with being a competitive team that isn't good enough. As a fan of Russ and basketball in general, I'm not ok with watching one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history be wasted by a team that isn't better than Brooklyn if they didn't have a superstar.

[spearsy23]

He's doing fine, but he's now had 4 years to put this around Harden. Presti's on 7 months.

If we're saying Morey has had 4 years then presti had had 8.

To build around a guy who left. In which time he had a year lost to him being injured, another to Russ, 2 more in the WCF, 1 in the finals, and a few early on not making it that far.

TBH that's better than what nearly any other team's done.

Not really relevant to how good the team is now. My main point was that Morey also lost a max contract guy this off season and still managed to put a competent team around his star.

[bondom34]

If we're saying Morey has had 4 years then presti had had 8.

To build around a guy who left. In which time he had a year lost to him being injured, another to Russ, 2 more in the WCF, 1 in the finals, and a few early on not making it that far.

TBH that's better than what nearly any other team's done.

Not really relevant to how good the team is now. My main point was that Morey also lost a max contract guy this off season and still managed to put a competent team around his star.

Literally nothing was built around Dwight. Dwight was brought in to complement Harden, which actually didn't work.

[spearsy23]

To build around a guy who left. In which time he had a year lost to him being injured, another to Russ, 2 more in the WCF, 1 in the finals, and a few early on not making it that far.

TBH that's better than what nearly any other team's done.

Not really relevant to how good the team is now. My main point was that Morey also lost a max contract guy this off season and still managed to put a competent team around his star.

Literally nothing was built around Dwight. Dwight was brought in to complement Harden, which actually didn't work.

What? The entire team was built to work together, three point shooters surrounding a pair of stars that were supposed to compliment each other. It wasnt building around harden, it was collecting stars then building around them. But how is any of that relevant? Even with durant we'd still be lacking a starting pf, backup pg, backup sf, and be the second worst shooting team in the league. Excusing this collection of piss poor players because we lost durant makes no sense.

[bondom34]

Not really relevant to how good the team is now. My main point was that Morey also lost a max contract guy this off season and still managed to put a competent team around his star.

Literally nothing was built around Dwight. Dwight was brought in to complement Harden, which actually didn't work.

What? The entire team was built to work together, three point shooters surrounding a pair of stars that were supposed to compliment each other. It wasnt building around harden, it was collecting stars then building around them. But how is any of that relevant? Even with durant we'd still be lacking a starting pf, backup pg, backup sf, and be the second worst shooting team in the league. Excusing this collection of piss poor players because we lost durant makes no sense.

Wait they weren't building around Durant? What? I'm not saying the bench is good but the entire roster was built around the idea of having a sharpshooting 3 who could handle the ball and create. It now has Andre Roberson, who I like a lot but is....not that. If you put Durant on the team as constructed and bump VO to the bench, as it was meant to be, the construction looks a heckuva lot better than now and isn't missing much.

Houston wasn't built around Harden? I mean, huh? They were built exactly around Harden, he's their franchise. Russ hasn't been that until July.