2017 OKC Thunder Trade Discussion

[bondom34]

Also, Vic's shot has sucked in his first 2 playoff games. Here's what an extra few mil next season gets, with an older guy with worse defense.

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Well they've both sucked in the playoffs but I wouldn't judge either of them based on three games only.

Oh again I'm not, but to pay $27 mil a year for an iso heavy player who isn't helping spacing and doesn't defend doesn't really do much for me.

[ThunderBolt]

Also, Vic's shot has sucked in his first 2 playoff games. Here's what an extra few mil next season gets, with an older guy with worse defense.

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Well they've both sucked in the playoffs but I wouldn't judge either of them based on three games only.

Oh again I'm not, but to pay $27 mil a year for an iso heavy player who isn't helping spacing and doesn't defend doesn't really do much for me.

That's why I say if you have a cast of shooters around he the two of them, I think it could work. It's only $2 million more than Adams will cost starting next year. Get a big man with some range and other shooters around them, and it could work. How many games when Russ is struggling have we seen Oladipo or Adams take over offensively and win for us? Zero.

I get it. Derozan isn't perfect but what better second option could we get?

[bondom34]

Well they've both sucked in the playoffs but I wouldn't judge either of them based on three games only.

Oh again I'm not, but to pay $27 mil a year for an iso heavy player who isn't helping spacing and doesn't defend doesn't really do much for me.

That's why I say if you have a cast of shooters around he the two of them, I think it could work. It's only $2 million more than Adams will cost starting next year. Get a big man with some range and other shooters around them, and it could work. How many games when Russ is struggling have we seen Oladipo or Adams take over offensively and win for us? Zero.

I get it. Derozan isn't perfect but what better second option could we get?

For that money? I'd take Melo in a heartbeat. Heck I'd take Gay for 1/3 the price. I don't even have Derozan as a top 10 SG. I'd take a ton of 2nd options over him.

[Kizz Fastfists]

As soon as OKC is eliminated Presti needs to start stripping down the roster. Trade Dipo, Adams, Kanter and whoever else he can for pick and prospect packages. If Presti can get enough assets to move them for a the #2 player that a championship roster would need, i.e. Jimmy Butler, then you make that trade and fill in the role players through FA. If there is no way to get that player then you trade Russ and do a complete rebuild.

Boston is learning that it is hard to win in the playoffs when you do not have the best player. When you best player is Al Horford that is going to be the case every series. OKC is learning that having the best player isn't enough with the other team has a player that is close and a significantly better supporting cast. What OKC should have learned is that having two of the top three players in a series gives you a chance. Russ and Butler would be the best two players on the court against most teams and would only not be two of the top three against the Warriors, assuming the Warriors are healthy that week.

DeRozen for Dipo doesn't make the team any better. DeRozen is just Dion Waiters with a usage rate of James Harden.

[ThunderBolt]

As soon as OKC is eliminated Presti needs to start stripping down the roster. Trade Dipo, Adams, Kanter and whoever else he can for pick and prospect packages. If Presti can get enough assets to move them for a the #2 player that a championship roster would need, i.e. Jimmy Butler, then you make that trade and fill in the role players through FA. If there is no way to get that player then you trade Russ and do a complete rebuild.

Boston is learning that it is hard to win in the playoffs when you do not have the best player. When you best player is Al Horford that is going to be the case every series. OKC is learning that having the best player isn't enough with the other team has a player that is close and a significantly better supporting cast. What OKC should have learned is that having two of the top three players in a series gives you a chance. Russ and Butler would be the best two players on the court against most teams and would only not be two of the top three against the Warriors, assuming the Warriors are healthy that week.

DeRozen for Dipo doesn't make the team any better. DeRozen is just Dion Waiters with a usage rate of James Harden.

I think that's the first time I've seen you make a post about building around Russ.

[bondom34]

As soon as OKC is eliminated Presti needs to start stripping down the roster. Trade Dipo, Adams, Kanter and whoever else he can for pick and prospect packages.

DeRozen for Dipo doesn't make the team any better. DeRozen is just Dion Waiters with a usage rate of James Harden.

I'd be all good with this, but personally think you have to keep one of the other 3 (either Adams or Dipo really) just to have something else on the roster. I cut the middle part out but the last 2 sentences are pretty much my feeling.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I think that's the first time I've seen you make a post about building around Russ.

I don't believe it is possible to get that #2 player with what OKC has to work with. That doesn't mean Presti shouldn't try before he trades Russ.

[bondom34]

TBH I don't see a way for that, but don't see a reason to trade Russ and just stink for years. I'd rather just watch better teams and hope to catch a break.

[ThunderBolt]

Keepers
Russ
Taj
Abrines
Sabonis
Grant

Indifferent
Roberson
McDermott
Huestis

Hit the road
Adams
Kanter
Singler
Oladipo
Christon
Cole

[Osirus89]

I'd be just fine with keeping Steven. However, Kanter needs to be out of here on a rocket ship.

I was spitballing trade scenarios earlier out of boredom and I kept thinking about Brooklyn being a good place to send Kanter.

How would this trade look?
Brooklyn Sends: Jeremy Lin and Pick 27
Brooklyn receives: Enes Kanter and a maybe a small contract if needed.

OKC Receives: Jeremy Lin and pick 27

Reasoning for Brooklyn:
1. Kanter would be insurance for Brook Lopez
2. They would still have plenty of capspace to pursue a RFA if they want after the trade.
3. They don't have their pick next year anyway so it will be essentially an empty year. Kanter has his option after the year is over and can opt out to give them more capspace.

I was thinking about a pick swap for our pick and theirs with the trade above, but I was also thinking about a bigger trade involving Picks #21, #27, and Victor Oladipo. Do you think Brooklyn would go for it?

[Kizz Fastfists]

Why would anyone give up a pick or decent player for Kanter? OKC sends Brooklyn Kanter and two 2018 2nd round picks for a top 55 protected 2nd. That might work if Brooklyn misses on their FA targets. However, since it wouldn't be done until AFTER Brooklyn tried to bring in KCP, Porter and whoever else they are going to offer to overpay this off-season it would be too late for it to help OKC.

Brooklyn might have interest in Oladipo. It would depend on if they ranked him higher than KCP and Porter. If not then the trade would still have to wait for them to strike out in FA. Brooklyn is an unlikely trade partner because they plan on offering out contracts. Brooklyn has no reason to improve their team much until after the 2019 draft where they would probably like to have the #1 pick. Brooklyn needs what picks they have to try to start finding and developing role players for when they get their run of top 5 picks in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

You might be able to get Portland to give up Crabbe and one of their firsts for Kanter since they'd be rid of Kanter's contract after next year. The problem with that is Crabbe's contract is worse due to the length. Kanter has negative trade value. There are about 80 bigs better than Kanter in the NBA right now. I'd try dumping him on Minny to see if they thought he could play next to KAT/Deing. I'd take a Minny top 55 protected 2nd round pick for Kanter and be happy to clear him.

That is assuming that OKC doesn't rebuild. If OKC trades Russ and starts a rebuild I'd keep Kanter as the starting center to help the tank. You want to see some real tanking throw Semaj, Abrines, Huestis, Sabonis and Kanter out there as a starting lineup. It wouldn't be that bad as the pick(s)/prospects they got for Russ would be playing, but start any of those three with a pair of rookies and you're going to out tank Brooklyn.

[Dn4sty]

I'd be just fine with keeping Steven. However, Kanter needs to be out of here on a rocket ship.

I was spitballing trade scenarios earlier out of boredom and I kept thinking about Brooklyn being a good place to send Kanter.

How would this trade look?
Brooklyn Sends: Jeremy Lin and Pick 27
Brooklyn receives: Enes Kanter and a maybe a small contract if needed.

OKC Receives: Jeremy Lin and pick 27

Reasoning for Brooklyn:
1. Kanter would be insurance for Brook Lopez
2. They would still have plenty of capspace to pursue a RFA if they want after the trade.
3. They don't have their pick next year anyway so it will be essentially an empty year. Kanter has his option after the year is over and can opt out to give them more capspace.

I was thinking about a pick swap for our pick and theirs with the trade above, but I was also thinking about a bigger trade involving Picks #21, #27, and Victor Oladipo. Do you think Brooklyn would go for it?

I don't hate it, but I think the trade could be bigger, but before that, a couple of things.

1. OKC has to draft someone in the 1st round of the 2017 draft

2. It doesn't make a bunch of sense for Brooklyn to offload players who can make the players on theirroster better (aka Lin). They have no incentive to tank till 2018 and there is virtually ZERO chance they get any better FA point guard than Lin. For that reason I don't think they would move Lin

I would look at some sort of trade like this

Nets get Kanter and Thunder 2017 1st
OKC gets Trevor Booker, Sean Kilpatrick and Celtics 2017 1st. Also I would attempt to get them to throw in Joe Harris as well.

Booker and Kanter hate each other supposedly so them both on the Nets roster would be rough. I really like Kilpatrick, but he's problematic for the Nets. He will be an UFA after next season and will be 28. I don't think the Nets want to give him a pretty sizeable contract and then be still paying him when he is 30+ and their team still is bad. Kilpatrick fits with Russ timeline really well.

Harris is also UFA after 2018, but he will be just 26.

I'd ask the Nets to do this trade first

Nets get Kanter, OKC 2017 1st, and a second round pick
Thunder get Booker, Kilpatrick and Wizards 2017 1st

If they wouldn't give up Wizards pick I'd ask them for Harris and the Celtics pick or if they wanted to keep Harris, then I'd ask them to take Singler.

I've mentioned it before but I'd also see if there was a way to involve the Raptors as a 3rd team and get Cory Joseph to OKC.

Something like this

Thunder get Booker, Kilpatrick, Joseph and Wizards 2017 1st
Nets get Kanter, Singler, Thunder 2017 1st, and a 2nd
Raptors get Joe Harris, and Celtics 2017 1st



This would also still leave

[Dn4sty]

Why would anyone give up a pick or decent player for Kanter? OKC sends Brooklyn Kanter and two 2018 2nd round picks for a top 55 protected 2nd. That might work if Brooklyn misses on their FA targets. However, since it wouldn't be done until AFTER Brooklyn tried to bring in KCP, Porter and whoever else they are going to offer to overpay this off-season it would be too late for it to help OKC.

Brooklyn might have interest in Oladipo. It would depend on if they ranked him higher than KCP and Porter. If not then the trade would still have to wait for them to strike out in FA. Brooklyn is an unlikely trade partner because they plan on offering out contracts. Brooklyn has no reason to improve their team much until after the 2019 draft where they would probably like to have the #1 pick. Brooklyn needs what picks they have to try to start finding and developing role players for when they get their run of top 5 picks in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

You might be able to get Portland to give up Crabbe and one of their firsts for Kanter since they'd be rid of Kanter's contract after next year. The problem with that is Crabbe's contract is worse due to the length. Kanter has negative trade value. There are about 80 bigs better than Kanter in the NBA right now. I'd try dumping him on Minny to see if they thought he could play next to KAT/Deing. I'd take a Minny top 55 protected 2nd round pick for Kanter and be happy to clear him.

That is assuming that OKC doesn't rebuild. If OKC trades Russ and starts a rebuild I'd keep Kanter as the starting center to help the tank. You want to see some real tanking throw Semaj, Abrines, Huestis, Sabonis and Kanter out there as a starting lineup. It wouldn't be that bad as the pick(s)/prospects they got for Russ would be playing, but start any of those three with a pair of rookies and you're going to out tank Brooklyn.

I'm not a huge Kanter fan, but I disagree with you a bunch. His contract is huge for sure, but let's not act like he is Perry Jones (who was traded for essentially what you are saying Kanter should be traded for).

He can easily be an essential part of a teams second unit. If he were a FA this year he would likely still get 12-14 million per year.

I think if he's in the east a lot of his defensive stuff can be masked a bunch more.

[Osirus89]

You might be able to get Portland to give up Crabbe and one of their firsts for Kanter since they'd be rid of Kanter's contract after next year. The problem with that is Crabbe's contract is worse due to the length. Kanter has negative trade value. There are about 80 bigs better than Kanter in the NBA right now. I'd try dumping him on Minny to see if they thought he could play next to KAT/Deing. I'd take a Minny top 55 protected 2nd round pick for Kanter and be happy to clear him.

I think Kanter is worth way more than a late 2nd rounder, especially to a team as bad as the Brooklyn nets.

Minnesota was the team I was thinking about in bigger deal involving Victor and the two first round picks. Either them or Sacramento in a three way trade.

Thunder get Booker, Kilpatrick, Joseph and Wizards 2017 1st
Nets get Kanter, Singler, Thunder 2017 1st, and a 2nd
Raptors get Joe Harris, and Celtics 2017 1st

I like this trade with Toronto involved. My goal was to get a decent bench PG for Kanter and Corey Joseph will do just fine.
Do we really need Kilpatrick if we are getting Joseph though?

[bondom34]

I think you need to probably send small incentive with Kanter, at best get a late 2nd as Kizz said.

[spearsy23]

Kanter has value. It may not be a lot, but he's still young and is legitimately great in the pick and roll and on the boards there's going to be gm's willing to take a chance on him.

[Pillendreher]

The current series certainly doesn't help his value tho. What is Presti gonna say to opposing GMs when they counter his trade proposal with 'Two seasons in a row, he couldn't be on the floor against great offensive teams in the Playoffs?'.

[ThunderBolt]

If there are 80 bigs better than Kanter then there are at least 40 better than Adams. They guy doesn't consistently hustle and is allergic to contributing to the box score.

[Kizz Fastfists]

If there are 80 bigs better than Kanter then there are at least 40 better than Adams. They guy doesn't consistently hustle and is allergic to contributing to the box score.

It's closer to 25 than 40. Adams needs to develop a mid-range game and he would be on par with Marc Gasol. Adams is better at 23 than Gasol was so there is a chance for Adams to improve his offense to get there.

[ThunderBolt]

If there are 80 bigs better than Kanter then there are at least 40 better than Adams. They guy doesn't consistently hustle and is allergic to contributing to the box score.

It's closer to 25 than 40. Adams needs to develop a mid-range game and he would be on par with Marc Gasol. Adams is better at 23 than Gasol was so there is a chance for Adams to improve his offense to get there.

I can live with lack of offensive production but only 6 rebounds is bad. On one hand you have guys like gasol who developed quickly, on the other you have Gobert who we passed on, and he is amazing. I don't think Adams is done developing but he's been rewarded as if he is already as good as Gasol. If Presti wants to build around Russ, can we really wait four more years for him to find his shot?