2017-2018 OKC Thunder Regular Season Thread part one: The Fellowship for A Ring

Osirus89 · Post #2001 » by **Osirus89** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 11:02 pm

I'm fine with whoever can be acquired as long as Ferg isn't in the trade.
Lee, Bradley, Evans, etc.

Bradley is a fine 3pt shooter, but he takes WAY too many shots in Detroit. 14 per game is no bueno. If he is relegated to just spot up 3s, he will be fine.

He may be overrated defensively, but for the assets available, he is more than worth taking a look. We are talking Abrines, (Huestis/Grant), 2nd rounders. If he can be had for that much, he can live off reputation all be wants. Abrines has reached the point where he is too much of a liability to even be on the floor.

Pillendreher · Post #2002 » by **Pillendreher** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 11:15 pm

slick_watts wrote:pelton's espn article has some interesting second spectrum statistics on bradley and his defense.

if we could get him without giving up ferguson or our 2022 pick ok fine. but otherwise? meh.

I wonder if him doing so good on-the-ball would hurt our team defense because we're not really playing towards individual coverage. You can't hide players like Melo as well when one guy is just tasked with stalking a single opposing player.

Kizz Fastfists · Post #2003 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 11:39 pm

Osirus89 wrote:He may be overrated defensively, but for the assets available, he is more than worth taking a look. We are talking Abrines, (Huestis/Grant), 2nd rounders. If he can be had for that much, he can live off reputation all be wants. Abrines has reached the point where he is too much of a liability to even be on the floor.

I have a hard time believing those "assets" are enough to get Bradley. I think another contender beats that offer. That is excluding the current rumors of Blake going to Detroit.

Osirus89 · Post #2004 » by **Osirus89** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 11:42 pm

Kizz Fastfists wrote:
Osirus89 wrote:He may be overrated defensively, but for the assets available, he is more than worth taking a look. We are talking Abrines, (Huestis/Grant), 2nd rounders. If he can be had for that much, he can live off reputation all be wants. Abrines has reached the point where he is too much of a liability to even be on the floor.

I have a hard time believing those "assets" are enough to get Bradley. I think another contender beats that offer. That is excluding the current rumors of Blake going to Detroit.

Have you seen the Blake griffin package? :wink:

Kizz Fastfists · Post #2005 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 11:51 pm

Osirus89 wrote:Have you seen the Blake griffin package?

I'm surprised the Clippers actually did that. I guess they decided it was time to rebuild. It's a shame OKC couldn't have pulled off a Melo for Blake deal.

Post #2006 » by **bondom34** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 12:09 am

Yeah a bunch of middling vets aren't fetching 1sts in this market. That's the reality of it.

Pillendreher · Post #2007 » by **Pillendreher** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 12:16 am

bondom34 wrote:Yeah a bunch of middling vets aren't fetching 1sts in this market. That's the reality of it.

Might be another thing the Warriors are causing. If you don't think you have any chance of attacking now, getting rid of future talent for mediocre 'now players' might be a bad move.

spearsy23 · Post #2008 » by **spearsy23** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 1:10 am

Pillendreher wrote:
bondom34 wrote:Yeah a bunch of middling vets aren't fetching 1sts in this market. That's the reality of it.

Might be another thing the Warriors are causing. If you don't think you have any chance of attacking now, getting rid of future talent for mediocre 'now players' might be a bad move.

I'd say draft depth and the salary crunch this coming summer are bigger factors. Teams that feel they're close are still taking their swings at the warriors.

Ontario · Post #2009 » by **Ontario** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:35 am

Can I ask what is maybe a stupid question? Everyone talks about how the Thunder will be in silly salary restraints next year if George stays and Melo opts in, (which why wouldn't he because it's a ton more then he is worth). After Melo picks up his option however do we not have the opportunity to use the stretch buy-out from the last CBA negotiation. I remember people saying a year or two ago it should have been used on Singler but to my knowledge the Thunder still have that one time buy out right?

If so what happens then? Is it as simple as Carmello's roster spot and money become free or are their other limitations. I am guessing we would not be able to turn around and re-sign melo to a contact more in line with his actual on the floor productivity, since we would then be still paying him "please do not play for us money" as well..

Post #2010 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:41 am

Ontario wrote:Can I ask what is maybe a stupid question? Everyone talks about how the Thunder will be in silly salary restraints next year if George stays and Melo opts in, (which why wouldn't he because it's a ton more then he is worth). After Melo picks up his option however do we not have the opportunity to use the stretch buy-out from the last CBA negotiation. I remember people saying a year or two ago it should have been used on Singler but to my knowledge the Thunder still have that one time buy out right?

If so what happens then? Is it as simple as Carmello's roster spot and money become free or are their other limitations. I am guessing we would not be able to turn around and re-sign melo to a contact more in line with his actual on the floor productivity, since we would then be still paying him "please do not play for us money" as well..

long story short- stretching carmelo's salary wouldn't make much of a meaningful dent insofar as our ability to add talent next year, assuming paul george is staying.

Thundershock88 · Post #2011 » by **Thundershock88** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:18 am

Wolves lost and they are on a back 2 back tomorrow against Toronto. Thunder a half game back.

thekaoswithin · Post #2012 » by **thekaoswithin** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:48 am

2 games out of 3rd boys. It's not over yet.

hardenASG13 · Post #2013 » by **hardenASG13** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 12:34 pm

RalphSampsonJr wrote:
hardenASG13 wrote:
slick_watts wrote:

They play well once today and now we are all bandwagoners for being upset about how they have performed this season?!
Man its like you come on here to start arguements.

I understand the playoffs though. I understand how valueable Roberson becomes! Check last years playoffs for reference

This was December 21, when I was saying they'd clearly turn it around (it was OBVIOUS looking at the top end talent). Was just trying to save you guys another month of misery and panic, not to start arguments. Now when they bring in a sg in the Courtney Lee moId, you will see what a juggernaught they will become offensively, and that all I was saying about Roberson (who was more useful offensively this tear) will also prove to be true. Let's keep watching.

Post #2014 » by **slick_watts** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 1:20 pm

hardenASG13 wrote: and that all I was saying about Roberson (who was more useful offensively this tear) will also prove to be true.

yawn. we still talking about this? because andre roberson has busted through your takes like the kool-aid man this season.

hardenASG13 · Post #2015 » by **hardenASG13** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:38 pm

slick_watts wrote:
hardenASG13 wrote: and that all I was saying about Roberson (who was more useful offensively this tear) will also prove to be true.

yawn. we still talking about this? because andre roberson has busted through your takes like the kool-aid man this season.

Talking about what? How it was clear the team would improve, despite what almost all of you were saying ( some even took the opportunity to try and denounce Westbrook as an inefficient cancer)? Or that Roberson, if replaced by a competent 2 guard, wouldn't be needed on this team for nearly the role he was cast? You have acknowledged that that hasn't been the case ( a 19 year old 150 pound rookie, g leaguer huestis, and abrines are not fair baselines to compare advanced stats with), just as I have acknowledged Dre dramatically improved his offensive game this year, giving up on the 3 ball. The jury is still out as to How good the team will be if they bring in any rotation caliber sg to replace him (my whole point from the beginning). I still submit they will be A better team.

My main point in the post was to connect with all those who blasted me at the end of December, when I predicted they were going to be fine, which they are. The natural improvement happened. The offense is humming, Russ and PG are playing like the superstars they are (shocker), and adams and Anthony are as good a 3a and 3b as any in the league, outside of golden State. Let's see how they look if the bring in a Courtney Lee type. You guys will be very surprised, and forget all about Roberson. The notion this team is done without him is absurd.

spearsy23 · Post #2016 » by **spearsy23** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:27 pm

hardenASG13 wrote:. Let's see how they look if the bring in a Courtney Lee type. You guys will be very surprised, and forget all about Roberson. The notion this team is done without him is absurd.

What does done mean to you? Because without Roberson the team can't compete with golden state and Houston. With robes, a lee type, and a backup center they could have at least pushed them. Now it takes three more rotation players instead of 2.

hardenASG13 · Post #2017 » by **hardenASG13** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:36 pm

spearsy23 wrote:
hardenASG13 wrote:. Let's see how they look if the bring in a Courtney Lee type. You guys will be very surprised, and forget all about Roberson. The notion this team is done without him is absurd.

What does done mean to you? Because without Roberson the team can't compete with golden state and Houston. With robes, a lee type, and a backup center they could have at least pushed them. Now it takes three more rotation players instead of 2.

Yea it hurts the depth. Still stink their ceiling will be higher if they get a Lee type, even without Roberson. Never had a quality 2 to replace him. If they get one they will be better overall. Let's see what happens. Still think their chances of beating houston or gsw will be the same, or better, depending on who they bring in.

Pillendreher · Post #2018 » by **Pillendreher** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:44 pm

Read on Twitter

thekaoswithin · Post #2019 » by **thekaoswithin** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:06 pm

Pillendreher wrote:

Read on Twitter

i haven't read the article and i already know it sucks

Pillendreher · Post #2020 » by **Pillendreher** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:18 pm

thekaoswithin wrote:
Pillendreher wrote:

Read on Twitter

i haven't read the article and i already know it sucks

Since Dec. 17, the Adams-Anthony-George-Grant-Westbrook lineup has outscored opponents by 18.4 points per 100 possessions, the Thunder's second-best lineup in net rating (minimum 20 minutes).

Curious. Jerami 'Call me the braided scrub' Grant is getting a hype piece while the same kind of 'evidence' in favor of Patterson gets ignored.