2017 OKC Thunder Trade Discussion

[QPR]

Would make no sense for Deron to come here for 15-20 spot minutes. He will go to Cleveland, nothing surer.

And he'll get more minutes with Cleveland?

He could get a ring though. Huge difference.

[Pillendreher]

Would make no sense for Deron to come here for 15-20 spot minutes. He will go to Cleveland, nothing surer.

And he'll get more minutes with Cleveland?

He could get a ring though. Huge difference.

Just you watch us getting HATZ this summer.

[getrichordie]

Russ/Oladipo/Christon
Roberson/Oladipo/Abrines
McDermott/Roberson/Grant/Huestis
Sabonis/Gibson/Grant/Huestis
Adams/Kanter/Gibson

The above rotation is most likely but with Oladipo starting, coming out of the 1st early (maybe 6 minute mark) with McDermott coming in while we slide Roberson to the 2nd. Westbrook will sit and Oladipo will come off of bench and run point for second unit. Sabonis comes out at same time, and we insert Gibson.

I'm almost certain Gibson starts.

Yeah makes more sense, but wouldn't surprise me if we still started Sabonis but staggered his minutes. We will need Taj playing with second unit a good amount to provide D, though.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I expect Oladipo to continue to start. Russ, Dipo, Roberson, Gibson and Adams. I think McDermott starting over Roberson might be better, but I don't think they'll go that way. That would let Roberson and Kanter come in together, for McDermott and Adams, so that Kanter always defensive protection from two of Roberson, Dipo and Adams.

[Balkman32]

Who gets the 15th roster spot? I would think it has to go to a PG. Maybe Reggie Williams?

[getrichordie]

I expect Oladipo to continue to start. Russ, Dipo, Roberson, Gibson and Adams. I think McDermott starting over Roberson might be better, but I don't think they'll go that way. That would let Roberson and Kanter come in together, for McDermott and Adams, so that Kanter always defensive protection from two of Roberson, Dipo and Adams.

Starting line up will be exactly what you said most likely but we are going to pull Oladipo early, slide Roberson to the 2, put Dougie at the 3 so Dipo can run 2nd unit when Russ is sitting. Same concept with Gibson/Sabonis.

[Balkman32]

So the starting front line is Adams, Gibson and Roberson. Then the 2nd team is Kanter, Sabonis, and McDermott? Talk about offense and defense. LOL

[Osirus89]

Should Victor still start considering we don't have a backup point anymore ? I thought they would move Andre to the 2 and move Victor to 6th man. Who knows they might still start Victor, but I don't think he and Russ together is the best way to start a game off with Taj there since Taj won't space the floor. Taj is definitely starting though.

[getrichordie]

Should Victor still start considering we don't have a backup point anymore ? I thought they would move Andre to the 2 and move Victor to 6th man. Who knows they might still start Victor, but I don't think he and Russ together is the best way to start a game off with Taj there since Taj won't space the floor. Taj is definitely starting though.

If you haven't read them yet, read my previous comments. They will most likely stagger Oladipo and Westbrook's time on the floor together so Oladipo runs point for second unit. So Oladipo may come out around the 5-6 minute mark, and when Russ sits around the 2 or 3 minute mark, Oladipo will come back in and run point.

[Osirus89]

Should Victor still start considering we don't have a backup point anymore ? I thought they would move Andre to the 2 and move Victor to 6th man. Who knows they might still start Victor, but I don't think he and Russ together is the best way to start a game off with Taj there since Taj won't space the floor. Taj is definitely starting though.

If you haven't read them yet, read my previous comments. They will most likely stagger Oladipo and Westbrook's time on the floor together so Oladipo runs point for second unit. So Oladipo may come out around the 5-6 minute mark, and when Russ sits around the 2 or 3 minute mark, Oladipo will come back in and run point.

Seems like a fair compromise. Andre keeps his role and Victor helps the starting unit.

[Ontario]

I'd keep our current starting five intact and let Dipo get some extra run with the second unit. Dipo, Abrines, McDermott, Gibson and Kanter should be able to increase our bench offensive ability considerably. McBuckets can get some fourth quarter time with his floor spacing with Russell to close out games giving other teams a different look and swap Dipo/Roberson depending on offensive or defensive match-ups.

Having Westbrook along with Dipo/McDermott/Sabonis all on the floor together will almost be like a poor man's Houston.... if you really wanted to be cheeky you could have Sabonis be the five and squeeze Abrines in there too for our maximum 3% unit, (they better score a ton like that because no one is guarding anyone at that point).

[Balkman32]

Brandon Jennings was just cut....

[Andre Roberstan]

I crunched some numbers and I really think Dipo is gone this offseason.

XPost from Reddit:

If we were to let Gibson, Collison and Roberson all walk next offseason (which we won't—at the very least we'll have Roberson, and hopefully Gibson too), we'd be sitting at $111,764,967 in likely salary. With a $103mil cap.
The luxury tax threshold is at $122mil. That would leave us with 11 players under contract, 4 roster spots to fill, plus our 2 two-way roster spots for D-League players. And that's assuming we let Gibson walk.
McDermott and Grant are also going to need new contracts at the end of next offseason. Shell out even MORE money. And Grant in particular is a piece that Presti targeted long-term.
Oladipo's best fit is a team that no longer exists because of the Durexit. He's a good player who's not as good a fit next to Westbrook as someone who's more of a shooter and less of a slasher. I know he was a Presti target, but for a team that's mostly bereft of assets and has picks tied up till 2020, he's the most likely guy to be moved and bring back a reasonable return.
The only other option is Kanter, and the league is awash in offense-first big men with large contracts who aren't plus defenders that no one can find trade partners for.
TL;DR: Team is capped out, Oladipo the most likely piece to generate a good return, not a perfect fit next to Russ.

Where would be good destinations that could offer a good return?

[Pillendreher]

Before we even think about trading Dipo, Kanter needs to go.

[ThunderBolt]

Before we even think about trading Dipo, Kanter needs to go.

I'm not convinced the front office feels this way.

[Pillendreher]

Before we even think about trading Dipo, Kanter needs to go.

I'm not convinced the front office feels this way.

Yeah, I'm not either. We can't restart the cycle though. After four seasons, we finally have a good SG. Can't throw that away just to pay Kanter's ass.

[ThunderBolt]

I crunched some numbers and I really think Dipo is gone this offseason.

XPost from Reddit:

If we were to let Gibson, Collison and Roberson all walk next offseason (which we won't—at the very least we'll have Roberson, and hopefully Gibson too), we'd be sitting at $111,764,967 in likely salary. With a $103mil cap.
The luxury tax threshold is at $122mil. That would leave us with 11 players under contract, 4 roster spots to fill, plus our 2 two-way roster spots for D-League players. And that's assuming we let Gibson walk.
McDermott and Grant are also going to need new contracts at the end of next offseason. Shell out even MORE money. And Grant in particular is a piece that Presti targeted long-term.
Oladipo's best fit is a team that no longer exists because of the Durexit. He's a good player who's not as good a fit next to Westbrook as someone who's more of a shooter and less of a slasher. I know he was a Presti target, but for a team that's mostly bereft of assets and has picks tied up till 2020, he's the most likely guy to be moved and bring back a reasonable return.
The only other option is Kanter, and the league is awash in offense-first big men with large contracts who aren't plus defenders that no one can find trade partners for.
TL;DR: Team is capped out, Oladipo the most likely piece to generate a good return, not a perfect fit next to Russ.

Where would be good destinations that could offer a good return?

So basically at best, all we can do is trade dipo for assets, which means we won't get any immediate help. Our only shot at improvement is with development of the young guys. Unless of course Oladipo and Kanter are both moved. I still don't think that leaves us much to work with if we bring back Tau and Dre.

[Andre Roberstan]

I crunched some numbers and I really think Dipo is gone this offseason.

XPost from Reddit:

If we were to let Gibson, Collison and Roberson all walk next offseason (which we won't—at the very least we'll have Roberson, and hopefully Gibson too), we'd be sitting at $111,764,967 in likely salary. With a $103mil cap.
The luxury tax threshold is at $122mil. That would leave us with 11 players under contract, 4 roster spots to fill, plus our 2 two-way roster spots for D-League players. And that's assuming we let Gibson walk.
McDermott and Grant are also going to need new contracts at the end of next offseason. Shell out even MORE money. And Grant in particular is a piece that Presti targeted long-term.
Oladipo's best fit is a team that no longer exists because of the Durexit. He's a good player who's not as good a fit next to Westbrook as someone who's more of a shooter and less of a slasher. I know he was a Presti target, but for a team that's mostly bereft of assets and has picks tied up till 2020, he's the most likely guy to be moved and bring back a reasonable return.
The only other option is Kanter, and the league is awash in offense-first big men with large contracts who aren't plus defenders that no one can find trade partners for.
TL;DR: Team is capped out, Oladipo the most likely piece to generate a good return, not a perfect fit next to Russ.

Where would be good destinations that could offer a good return?

So basically at best, all we can do is trade dipo for assets, which means we won't get any immediate help. Our only shot at improvement is with development of the young guys. Unless of course Oladipo and Kanter are both moved. I still don't think that leaves us much to work with if we bring back Tau and Dre.

Assets don't necessarily equal no immediate help.

[Pillendreher]

I crunched some numbers and I really think Dipo is gone this offseason.

XPost from Reddit:



Where would be good destinations that could offer a good return?

So basically at best, all we can do is trade dipo for assets, which means we won't get any immediate help. Our only shot at improvement is with development of the young guys. Unless of course Oladipo and Kanter are both moved. I still don't think that leaves us much to work with if we bring back Tau and Dre.

Assets don't necessarily equal no immediate help.

what assets would that be? Those trades always end up being quality for quantity. That's what I mean by 'the cycle'. We have done this multiple times already and it has come back to bite us almost every single time.

[Andre Roberstan]

So basically at best, all we can do is trade dipo for assets, which means we won't get any immediate help. Our only shot at improvement is with development of the young guys. Unless of course Oladipo and Kanter are both moved. I still don't think that leaves us much to work with if we bring back Tau and Dre.

Assets don't necessarily equal no immediate help.

what assets would that be? Those trades always end up being quality for quantity. That's what I mean by 'the cycle'. We have done this multiple times already and it has come back to bite us almost every single time.

Barring unprecedented growth from one of our other pieces, we're looking at being capped out and possibly in the 2018–19 repeater tax for a 6-7 seed team next year, with 2 RFAs coming up for a payday.

Someone has to go. It could be Russ. It could be Steven. Neither are likely. So that leaves Enes and Dipo, and there are too many offense-first bigs on the market for Enes to get a decent return.

We've done this twice. The first time it was Harden. Presti jumped too early.

The second time it was Jackson. Presti jumped too late.

Hopefully this third time he falls in the middle.