2017 OKC Thunder Trade Discussion

[Zagor]

I would stick with core of Russ, Adams, Oladipo, Robes, Sabonis, Abrines and Grant. Let them grow. It's an only option.
Clippers will regress with every next year. So we are probably in the group with teams behind GSW. We, Spurs, Rockets and Jazz.
If Presti can pull some trade for better wingman for Russ.....excellent. In the meantime, try to maintain winning culture with current guys.

Trade Enes in summer wherever. Try to keep Taj as veteran forward. Draft a solid back-up playmaker.
That is it. We'll see what will be from Doug.

Cupcake **** everyone, whole league. Our goal for next couple of seasons should be qualifying for playoff every time. Win some series and maybe.....maybe show up in Conference Finals.
I quit dreaming about championship.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I'd rather keep Dipo, true. But I think the chances of finding a Kanter deal are slim, and I really don't think he'll opt out. Offense-first bigs are due for a market correction when the next round of contracts comes up.

I think Monroe will opt out this season and show how soft the market has become for offensive only bigs. If he doesn't opt out it will mean he agent knows there is no market which will not only confirm how bad Kanter's contract is, but it will mean he is unlikely to opt out and hit FA with Monroe and Brook Lopez after next season.

[ThunderBolt]

I think the excitement of a rebuild filled with potential would wear off very quickly


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[Pillendreher]

I think the excitement of a rebuild filled with potential would wear off very quickly


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Yeah, especially if it takes 4-5 years to even sniff on a true star. Tanking and rebuilding isn't the sure thing it's made out to be. Denver, Phoenix, Orlando, Philly, Minnesota, the Lakers, Sacramento - all of them have been among the worst teams in the league for years. Chances are, not even one of them will have any chance of competing for a title over the next 5-10 years.

'Tear it all down' might seem smart because it's unlikely we're going anywhere with Russ, but I think deliberately sucking for several seasons is something we're not prepared for. Some of those rough stretches we've gone through this season had me going 'Ugh - I don't even want to watch the next game - we'll suck anyway'. Now imagine that for the next 3-4 seasons.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I would stick with core of Russ, Adams, Oladipo, Robes, Sabonis, Abrines and Grant. Let them grow. It's an only option.
Clippers will regress with every next year. So we are probably in the group with teams behind GSW. We, Spurs, Rockets and Jazz.
If Presti can pull some trade for better wingman for Russ.....excellent. In the meantime, try to maintain winning culture with current guys.

Trade Enes in summer wherever. Try to keep Taj as veteran forward. Draft a solid back-up playmaker.
That is it. We'll see what will be from Doug.

Cupcake **** everyone, whole league. Our goal for next couple of seasons should be qualifying for playoff every time. Win some series and maybe.....maybe show up in Conference Finals.
I quit dreaming about championship.

Assuming Taj Gibson and Roberson ONLY get $10M each next year that alone puts OKC at $132M in payroll, $10M over the projected tax line. Assume they give Kanter away for nothing that knocks them down to $115M, still over the cap, but the tax. Assuming they bring back salary for Kanter, in the form of a $8-10M wing player that puts them back in the tax with roster spots still to fill. You think the front office and ownership are not only going to pay the tax but stay there to maybe make the playoffs and win 1-2 playoff games? Taj is a rental and nothing more. Kanter's contract makes it very hard to give him away and you aren't getting anything in return. Dipo will be moved because they are going to resign Roberson and will have to give up Dipo to avoid the tax.

What playmaker are you going to draft with OKC's pick? Kurucs is the one that could be sitting there, but he's going to need a year or two more in Europe before coming over. Andrew Jones, maybe, but he's not going to be someone you can expect much from next year. You need to quit dreaming about winning a playoff series, because that is as likely as a championship. The only option OKC has is to rebuild.

[bondom34]

I would stick with core of Russ, Adams, Oladipo, Robes, Sabonis, Abrines and Grant. Let them grow. It's an only option.
Clippers will regress with every next year. So we are probably in the group with teams behind GSW. We, Spurs, Rockets and Jazz.
If Presti can pull some trade for better wingman for Russ.....excellent. In the meantime, try to maintain winning culture with current guys.

Trade Enes in summer wherever. Try to keep Taj as veteran forward. Draft a solid back-up playmaker.
That is it. We'll see what will be from Doug.

Cupcake **** everyone, whole league. Our goal for next couple of seasons should be qualifying for playoff every time. Win some series and maybe.....maybe show up in Conference Finals.
I quit dreaming about championship.

Assuming Taj Gibson and Roberson ONLY get $10M each next year that alone puts OKC at $132M in payroll, $10M over the projected tax line. Assume they give Kanter away for nothing that knocks them down to $115M, still over the cap, but the tax. Assuming they bring back salary for Kanter, in the form of a $8-10M wing player that puts them back in the tax with roster spots still to fill. You think the front office and ownership are not only going to pay the tax but stay there to maybe make the playoffs and win 1-2 playoff games? Taj is a rental and nothing more. Kanter's contract makes it very hard to give him away and you aren't getting anything in return. Dipo will be moved because they are going to resign Roberson and will have to give up Dipo to avoid the tax.

What playmaker are you going to draft with OKC's pick? Kurucs is the one that could be sitting there, but he's going to need a year or two more in Europe before coming over. Andrew Jones, maybe, but he's not going to be someone you can expect much from next year. You need to quit dreaming about winning a playoff series, because that is as likely as a championship. The only option OKC has is to rebuild.

Or move one of the contracts? Enes won't be hard to move, nor will Dipo. Nor will just letting Taj walk. And I also think they'd pay tax for a season.

[spearsy23]

Either way, one of those two has to be moved. You're not getting a star for either one. We wouldn't be able to afford a star even if we pulled of a magical trade. I'm not even sure we can afford a star if we move both Vic an Enes if we sign Taj and Robes. That basically leaves us the only option of moving them for pieces. Vic gets us a better return but would be harder to replace. I'm just not as high on Vic because I do think he's topped out. Yes he's young but he's in his fourth year in the league. Although he's Improved this year statistically, it's so marginally that it makes me believe he's always going to be what he is currently. At least Kanter is consistent.

In the end you have to move either vic or enes, if we need offense then you keep enes.

The thing is, you don't have to "move" Enes if he's just opting out anyway.

You do unless you think this is the complete roster (plus taj) moving forward. If you don't get rid of someone then you're stuck.

[bondom34]

Either way, one of those two has to be moved. You're not getting a star for either one. We wouldn't be able to afford a star even if we pulled of a magical trade. I'm not even sure we can afford a star if we move both Vic an Enes if we sign Taj and Robes. That basically leaves us the only option of moving them for pieces. Vic gets us a better return but would be harder to replace. I'm just not as high on Vic because I do think he's topped out. Yes he's young but he's in his fourth year in the league. Although he's Improved this year statistically, it's so marginally that it makes me believe he's always going to be what he is currently. At least Kanter is consistent.

In the end you have to move either vic or enes, if we need offense then you keep enes.

The thing is, you don't have to "move" Enes if he's just opting out anyway.

You do unless you think this is the complete roster (plus taj) moving forward. If you don't get rid of someone then you're stuck.

What I'm saying is if he's leaving voluntarily you don't have to actively trade him.

[spearsy23]

I would stick with core of Russ, Adams, Oladipo, Robes, Sabonis, Abrines and Grant. Let them grow. It's an only option.
Clippers will regress with every next year. So we are probably in the group with teams behind GSW. We, Spurs, Rockets and Jazz.
If Presti can pull some trade for better wingman for Russ.....excellent. In the meantime, try to maintain winning culture with current guys.

Trade Enes in summer wherever. Try to keep Taj as veteran forward. Draft a solid back-up playmaker.
That is it. We'll see what will be from Doug.

Cupcake **** everyone, whole league. Our goal for next couple of seasons should be qualifying for playoff every time. Win some series and maybe.....maybe show up in Conference Finals.
I quit dreaming about championship.

Assuming Taj Gibson and Roberson ONLY get $10M each next year that alone puts OKC at $132M in payroll, $10M over the projected tax line. Assume they give Kanter away for nothing that knocks them down to $115M, still over the cap, but the tax. Assuming they bring back salary for Kanter, in the form of a $8-10M wing player that puts them back in the tax with roster spots still to fill. You think the front office and ownership are not only going to pay the tax but stay there to maybe make the playoffs and win 1-2 playoff games? Taj is a rental and nothing more. Kanter's contract makes it very hard to give him away and you aren't getting anything in return. Dipo will be moved because they are going to resign Roberson and will have to give up Dipo to avoid the tax.

What playmaker are you going to draft with OKC's pick? Kurucs is the one that could be sitting there, but he's going to need a year or two more in Europe before coming over. Andrew Jones, maybe, but he's not going to be someone you can expect much from next year. You need to quit dreaming about winning a playoff series, because that is as likely as a championship. The only option OKC has is to rebuild.

We're 3 games back from hosting a playoff series, acting like we can't win one is just stupid.

[spearsy23]

The thing is, you don't have to "move" Enes if he's just opting out anyway.

You do unless you think this is the complete roster (plus taj) moving forward. If you don't get rid of someone then you're stuck.

What I'm saying is if he's leaving voluntarily you don't have to actively trade him.

He's not leaving this off season....

[bondom34]

You do unless you think this is the complete roster (plus taj) moving forward. If you don't get rid of someone then you're stuck.

What I'm saying is if he's leaving voluntarily you don't have to actively trade him.

He's not leaving this off season....

True, you can still wait a year. Don't know, just tossing it out there. Not likely but possible.

Personally I'd move him and keep Taj, only move VO if there's a really good offer.

[Zagor]

Dipo will be moved because they are going to resign Roberson and will have to give up Dipo to avoid the tax.

If you are moving Oladipo, then you also move Kanter. And you are getting what? Nothing that can help you to make improvement next season.
If that is a plan, then why keep Russ?

You need to quit dreaming about winning a playoff series, because that is as likely as a championship. The only option OKC has is to rebuild.

But I don't understand that logic, it seems that for you exists only full rebuilding or close fight for championship.
Utah Jazz probably don't have power now to "attack" the Throne, nor will their core of Gobert,Hayward,Hood,Favors ever be that good.
Do they need to go full rebuilding?

Relax, I said......cupcake warp the Warriors to very high standards, destroyed the league. Only we can do is to keep this roster together and fight like Memphis during 2011-2015 period.

If they don't want to pay taxes......well, they will not be a playoff team.

[spearsy23]

What I'm saying is if he's leaving voluntarily you don't have to actively trade him.

He's not leaving this off season....

True, you can still wait a year. Don't know, just tossing it out there. Not likely but possible.

Personally I'd move him and keep Taj, only move VO if there's a really good offer.

If we wait a year then at best kanter walks and we have MLE money to give a backup center. We've seen the team without vic and without enes, the bench is a mess without enes while the starters may actually benefit from increased spacing without vic. Vic is not a special player, he's an average starter that isn't a great fit next to Robes/Russ. If you're committed to them, and it seems we are, then moving him for increased depth doesn't hurt especially if it allows us to keep taj.

[Andre Roberstan]

I would stick with core of Russ, Adams, Oladipo, Robes, Sabonis, Abrines and Grant. Let them grow. It's an only option.
Clippers will regress with every next year. So we are probably in the group with teams behind GSW. We, Spurs, Rockets and Jazz.
If Presti can pull some trade for better wingman for Russ.....excellent. In the meantime, try to maintain winning culture with current guys.

Trade Enes in summer wherever. Try to keep Taj as veteran forward. Draft a solid back-up playmaker.
That is it. We'll see what will be from Doug.

Cupcake **** everyone, whole league. Our goal for next couple of seasons should be qualifying for playoff every time. Win some series and maybe.....maybe show up in Conference Finals.
I quit dreaming about championship.

Assuming Taj Gibson and Roberson ONLY get $10M each next year that alone puts OKC at $132M in payroll, $10M over the projected tax line. Assume they give Kanter away for nothing that knocks them down to $115M, still over the cap, but the tax. Assuming they bring back salary for Kanter, in the form of a $8-10M wing player that puts them back in the tax with roster spots still to fill. You think the front office and ownership are not only going to pay the tax but stay there to maybe make the playoffs and win 1-2 playoff games? Taj is a rental and nothing more. Kanter's contract makes it very hard to give him away and you aren't getting anything in return. Dipo will be moved because they are going to resign Roberson and will have to give up Dipo to avoid the tax.

What playmaker are you going to draft with OKC's pick? Kurucs is the one that could be sitting there, but he's going to need a year or two more in Europe before coming over. Andrew Jones, maybe, but he's not going to be someone you can expect much from next year. You need to quit dreaming about winning a playoff series, because that is as likely as a championship. The only option OKC has is to rebuild.

Or move one of the contracts? Enes won't be hard to move, nor will Dipo. Nor will just letting Taj walk. And I also think they'd pay tax for a season.

Just so everyone's aware, if we pay the tax next offseason we WILL be paying repeater in 2019. We paid it in 2015, we paid it in 2016, and even if we're under the cap this offseason if we pay it in the 2018 season the 3 seasons in 4 rule kicks in.

So at that point we'd go into 2019 knowing that we'd pay the repeater for every dollar of tax. And the cap's not going up much if at all in 2018 from its current level. I think they would pay the repeater, but only if That Guy was still here. And he's not. I'd be shocked if Oklahoma City ownership goes into 2018 with the expectation of paying the tax at the end of the season.

If you get back under the tax line in 2018, the 3 years in 4 repeater trigger gets pushed a little further down the road.

[Pillendreher]

We've seen the team without vic and without enes, the bench is a mess without enes while the starters may actually benefit from increased spacing without vic.

That's a bit one sided though. The bench is a mess without Kanter because our roster is trash, not because Kanter is suddenly this miraculous player amongst our midst.

Christon, Grant, Payne, Domas, Morrow, Abrines, Singler, Lauvergne have played over 5700 combined minutes this season. Not one of them cracks the two 2/3 of the league in RPM. Out of the 319 guys with at least 500 minutes played this season, three guys are in the bottom 5 % of the league in BPM (Christon, Morrow, Sabonis); Abrines and Lauvergne are 270th and 276th respectively. Grant is 227th.

We have to face it: Our team has been terrible besides our main core of Westbrook, Oladipo, Roberson, Adams and Kanter. Some guys have potential, but that's beside the point: They still need time.

Kanter missing time showed that he indeed does more for this bench than some of us imagined (including me), but it very clearly exposes our roster for its complete lack of depth. Different roles and the addition of Gibson and DMD might change that, but I don't see this argument at all.

Dipo's potential is vastly superior to Kanter's. Just because our bench sucks doesn't mean we should be content with settling for mediocrity in Kanter.

[Kizz Fastfists]

If you are moving Oladipo, then you also move Kanter. And you are getting what? Nothing that can help you to make improvement next season. If that is a plan, then why keep Russ?

You can move Oladipo because he is a desired commodity. You can't move Kanter. Milwaukee has been trying all season to move Monroe and couldn't move him. There is no reason to keep Russ.

[bondom34]

If you are moving Oladipo, then you also move Kanter. And you are getting what? Nothing that can help you to make improvement next season. If that is a plan, then why keep Russ?

You can move Oladipo because he is a desired commodity. You can't move Kanter. Milwaukee has been trying all season to move Monroe and couldn't move him. There is no reason to keep Russ.

Except, you know, building the entire team around him and winning and whatnot.

[TheBeardedMan]

the season isn't even over and y'all already talking about getting rid of people. How about y'all stfu and just enjoy the season. Believe in our team. When that time comes at the end of the season then we'll deal about it. Till then how about we root for the players that currently wear a Thunder jersey. Let's go Okc!

[bondom34]

:nonono: the season isn't even over and y'all already talking about getting rid of people. How about y'all stfu and just enjoy the season. Believe in our team. When that time comes at the end of the season then we'll deal about it. Till then how about we root for the players that currently wear a Thunder jersey. Let's go Okc!

What he said.

[Kizz Fastfists]

:nonono: the season isn't even over and y'all already talking about getting rid of people. How about y'all stfu and just enjoy the season. Believe in our team. When that time comes at the end of the season then we'll deal about it. Till then how about we root for the players that currently wear a Thunder jersey. Let's go Okc!

Rooting for the team and accepting the reality of the team are not mutually exclusive concepts. I've been a Cubs fan my whole life and last season was the first time I ever thought the team had a chance. Rose colored glasses are for children. This season was over a long time ago. Next season is already over. Hell, '19'-20 is almost over. Beyond that depends in large part what happens this off-season. If Russ gets extended and they try to keep this fringe playoff team together then OKC is irrelevant through the '23-'24 season, at a minimum.

I have faith in Presti to do the right thing and start the rebuilding this off-season. He has done very little to make me question his ability as a GM. This off-season will be his greatest test and I'm hopeful that he passes. If he fails it will be a miserable next 4-5 years.