What would you trade Adams for?

[Dadouv47]

uh? We are still one of the best teams at developing players. I only have the spurs as a lock for a better team for young prospects.

I don't like our coach but Ferguson is making an huge improvement and so does Grant since he came in OKC.

OKC is one of the best teams at developing talent?!

Tferg had a nice run for two months but has hit a wall.

Adams has developed into nothing but a rebounding screener who occasionally gets to post up (even though he has a high rate of success in those)

Robes has never developed a shot after 5 years.

Harden was used as a 6th man until given the right opportunity now hes a top 3 player.

KD and Russ were home run picks. would of been successful anywhere.

Ill give you Grant. thats about it

I think they have a weird tendency of confining their non-star-talents to their roles. As soon as a guy finds "his spot" within the team, they reduce him to said role. Adams is just a guy that has to clean up for his teammates, give them another shot after they brick it the first time and then shove defenders out of the way. It's in some ways what roleplayers do, but we should actually look for him to improve because that would help the team. We don't even run the PnR with him regularly anymore: If you adjust his numbers for pace, he's averaging the fewest possessions per game finished as the PnR rollman over the last four seasons (the numbers don't go further back than that). That's not good.

that part I agree 100%. We also have the bad habit of benching our young players in the playoffs while giving playing time to some trash veterans

[Anderson Silva]

Tough Question. He does so much that doesnt show up on stat sheet. Are we replacing him with Nerlens? Or am I trading him for another C?

[Anderson Silva]

uh? We are still one of the best teams at developing players. I only have the spurs as a lock for a better team for young prospects.

I don't like our coach but Ferguson is making an huge improvement and so does Grant since he came in OKC.

OKC is one of the best teams at developing talent?!

Tferg had a nice run for two months but has hit a wall.

Adams has developed into nothing but a rebounding screener who occasionally gets to post up (even though he has a high rate of success in those)

Robes has never developed a shot after 5 years.

Harden was used as a 6th man until given the right opportunity now hes a top 3 player.

KD and Russ were home run picks. would of been successful anywhere.

Ill give you Grant. thats about it

I think they have a weird tendency of confining their non-star-talents to their roles. As soon as a guy finds "his spot" within the team, they reduce him to said role. Adams is just a guy that has to clean up for his teammates, give them another shot after they brick it the first time and then shove defenders out of the way. It's in some ways what roleplayers do, but we should actually look for him to improve because that would help the team. We don't even run the PnR with him regularly anymore: If you adjust his numbers for pace, he's averaging the fewest possessions per game finished as the PnR rollman over the last four seasons (the numbers don't go further back than that). That's not good.

Freg is still only 20
Adams is developing nicely. Getting more of an offisive game every year. He anchors the defense most times.
Harden would never have gotten the opportunity here. But while he was here ihe improved every year.
KD WAS a home run. Russ was widely considered a reach.
Ibaka was excellent for us and we developed him from a Raw prospect out of Spain.


I think you need to take a look around the league and see what other teams have done with draft picks. We dont have a 100% strike rate but are in the top 3 or 4 teams as far as development goes.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Not saying it's perfect but would love to have example (except spurs) of a team that developed better young players last 10 years.

This is kd's 12th year. In that time OKC has "developed" Ibaka and who else? kd was going to be a generational talent no matter where he went and the same for Harden. I refuse to give them credit for Russ, Reggie or Roberson because they all three have the had the same problem from day 1, shooting, and OKC never developed it. Everything else was there. Yes, they got better with age/experience, but Russ would likely have been a better player for a lot of other organizations that would have forced him to either learn to shoot or shoot less. Adams is the same player he was in college. They never tried to develop a mid-range game for him. Grant is the same player he was in Philly. Ferguson is going to be a very good player unless OKC refuses to let him develop, which it is starting to look like it will happen. They seem to be trying real hard to turn Ferguson into Kyle Korver instead of letting him develop his ball handling and play making. Diallo probably won't develop because OKC doesn't turn bad shooters into average ones.

Brooklyn has been much better at developing players. Philly has a Russ clone in Ben Simmons only Simmons is already ahead of Russ in every efficiency number you can find because he understands his shooting limitations. If Simmons develops a mid-range game he'll have a much better career than Russ. Golden State did great job developing a team that was drafted lower than OKC picked in the same drafts. Boston has gone a great job drafting and developing their youth. OKC is average, at best, at developing players. OKC is below average at identifying which FAs to pursue and which players to trade for, avoid and trade away or keep. Look at what Sabonis has done in Indy, but I'm not giving them credit for development just for using him properly. OKC doesn't use their players properly which means they are underdeveloped even if they are playing a minor role well.

Do you honestly want to tell me that Adams' ceiling was blocking out, rebouding, put backs, shots within 5 feet and defending? Are you going to tell me that with that ceiling he was a good pick? Are you going to tell me that OKC has maxed out his potential? Think about it. The player I described, that is Adams, can be found much later in drafts. So has Presti been this bad at drafting for that long? If Adams was a good pick then why hasn't he reached a ceiling, which should have included a mid-range game and maybe even some Marc Gasol level 3pt shooting by now?

[Kizz Fastfists]

Russ was widely considered a reach.

Yes, but he was also considered a defensive stud, he was DPOY in college, with off the charts athleticism, a great finisher, a very good ball handler and passer. He was considered a a low BBIQ player who needed to learn shot selection or develop his shooting. He was seen as more of a combo guard that couldn't shoot in the mold of Wade. Russ has basically been exactly what the scouting reports expected with no unexpected development. He never developed his shooing or his BBIQ and that is what has held OKC back for years. He needed a coach, but Presti gave him cheerleaders.

[Dadouv47]

Not saying it's perfect but would love to have example (except spurs) of a team that developed better young players last 10 years.

This is kd's 12th year. In that time OKC has "developed" Ibaka and who else? kd was going to be a generational talent no matter where he went and the same for Harden. I refuse to give them credit for Russ, Reggie or Roberson because they all three have the had the same problem from day 1, shooting, and OKC never developed it. Everything else was there. Yes, they got better with age/experience, but Russ would likely have been a better player for a lot of other organizations that would have forced him to either learn to shoot or shoot less. Adams is the same player he was in college. They never tried to develop a mid-range game for him. Grant is the same player he was in Philly. Ferguson is going to be a very good player unless OKC refuses to let him develop, which it is starting to look like it will happen. They seem to be trying real hard to turn Ferguson into Kyle Korver instead of letting him develop his ball handling and play making. Diallo probably won't develop because OKC doesn't turn bad shooters into average ones.

Brooklyn has been much better at developing players. Philly has a Russ clone in Ben Simmons only Simmons is already ahead of Russ in every efficiency number you can find because he understands his shooting limitations. If Simmons develops a mid-range game he'll have a much better career than Russ. Golden State did great job developing a team that was drafted lower than OKC picked in the same drafts. Boston has gone a great job drafting and developing their youth. OKC is average, at best, at developing players. OKC is below average at identifying which FAs to pursue and which players to trade for, avoid and trade away or keep. Look at what Sabonis has done in Indy, but I'm not giving them credit for development just for using him properly. OKC doesn't use their players properly which means they are underdeveloped even if they are playing a minor role well.

Do you honestly want to tell me that Adams' ceiling was blocking out, rebouding, put backs, shots within 5 feet and defending? Are you going to tell me that with that ceiling he was a good pick? Are you going to tell me that OKC has maxed out his potential? Think about it. The player I described, that is Adams, can be found much later in drafts. So has Presti been this bad at drafting for that long? If Adams was a good pick then why hasn't he reached a ceiling, which should have included a mid-range game and maybe even some Marc Gasol level 3pt shooting by now?

Outside of Ben Simmons and Embiid, Philly drafted Fultz, Noel, Okafor, Elfrid Payton and Evan Turner as a 2nd pick. Not sure they drafted and developed those players very well.
Brooklyn is doing a very good job this year but that's it.
Agree that Boston is developing their young better than OKC since Brad Stevens is there .

Trades and signing FAs wasn't in the discussion, where I agree OKC is below average. Sabonis is a bad example though. If he didn't showed some good things in OKC, the PG13 trade may have never happened. Presti took the gamble on Paul George and it worked for both teams.

Oh and basically you are saying that OKC is at best average at some things (developing guys, drafting) and way below average on others (trades, signing, coaching etc.) so I wonder how we are still a playoff team. By reading you we should be battling with the Suns for Zion (which could be a good thing but that's not the point here)

[Osirus89]

Tough Question. He does so much that doesnt show up on stat sheet. Are we replacing him with Nerlens? Or am I trading him for another C?

“If” he were traded, he should be traded for a wing. You can find centers that fill in the defensive gaps far more easily than good guards. Check out what Noah is doing in Memphis or Noel in his minutes here. I’m not saying that’s what should be done, but Noel HAS been far more impactful in his time on the floor for a decent stretch now after he went through the concussion saga. Whether that is Adams wearing down or dealing with an injury, it’s just the way things have been recently.

That doesn’t mean to just send him off to the glue factory, but this current iteration of SA is easily replaceable.

[Thunder Up]

Steven is a mediocre basketball player who is also strong as ****, you could draft current Steven Adams in the second round instead we are paying him $25m each of the next two seasons because our GM is silly af

[ThunderBolt]

Adams has worked his way into the untouchable thunder family in Presti’s mind. Unless Milwaukee wants to trade Giannis, Adams won’t be traded.

[ThunderBolt]

I would love to see Adams get a chance to play for Pops in San Antonio. I would also take lonnie walker in return.

[bondom34]

Agree ThunderBolt. Just hope it's somewhere good, the guy deserves it.

[Dn4sty]

Agree ThunderBolt. Just hope it's somewhere good, the guy deserves it.

I wonder if OKC would take back similar salary to Adams but more longterm to acquire assets

[SecondTake]

6 months ago? Nobody.

Now? Any good 3&D guy that can give us 15 points with 4 assists.

[ThunderBolt]

If we used Adams to move up in the draft I wonder how high we could get.

[Kizz Fastfists]

If we used Adams to move up in the draft I wonder how high we could get.

They probably couldn't. I can't think of a team that would want to use their cap space on Adams before FA while moving down in the draft.

[ThunderBolt]

If we used Adams to move up in the draft I wonder how high we could get.

They probably couldn't. I can't think of a team that would want to use their cap space on Adams before FA while moving down in the draft.

They might not have to use cap space. What about something like Charlotte gets Adams and OKC gets batum, Bridges and pick swap with OKC?

[Kizz Fastfists]

They might not have to use cap space. What about something like Charlotte gets Adams and OKC gets batum, Bridges and pick swap with OKC?

That might be the dumbest possible thing for Charlotte to do. It is unlikely that Kemba resigns and giving up a prospect in Bridges along with trading down is a terrible way to start a rebuild. That is before talking about the $15M they would be paying a backup center. Adams isn't the type of player that would get Kemba to resign there.

[ThunderBolt]

They might not have to use cap space. What about something like Charlotte gets Adams and OKC gets batum, Bridges and pick swap with OKC?

That might be the dumbest possible thing for Charlotte to do. It is unlikely that Kemba resigns and giving up a prospect in Bridges along with trading down is a terrible way to start a rebuild. That is before talking about the $15M they would be paying a backup center. Adams isn't the type of player that would get Kemba to resign there.

I think the contract the gave batum was much dumber. You’re eye is much more skeptical towards OKC and not skeptical enough towards really dumb franchises.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I think the contract the gave batum was much dumber. You’re eye is much more skeptical towards OKC and not skeptical enough towards really dumb franchises.

The Batum contract is bad and is a big part of why Kemba will be leaving this off-season. The only way they could keep Kemba would be to trade Bridges, Monk, their pick and Batum for a quality player that would entice Kemba to stay. Adams isn't that player. I can't think of a player they could get with that package that would be good enough. I don't think they have enough assets to dump Batum into a team with space to try to entice a max to sign and if they could I don't think anyone would sign with them. The Hornets are in a terrible place and the only way they would give up their assets for Adams is if Kemba told them that Adams would be a player he would resign with. Do you think Kemba would do that when he'll have Dallas, LAL and other options?

[ThunderBolt]

I think the contract the gave batum was much dumber. You’re eye is much more skeptical towards OKC and not skeptical enough towards really dumb franchises.

The Batum contract is bad and is a big part of why Kemba will be leaving this off-season. The only way they could keep Kemba would be to trade Bridges, Monk, their pick and Batum for a quality player that would entice Kemba to stay. Adams isn't that player. I can't think of a player they could get with that package that would be good enough. I don't think they have enough assets to dump Batum into a team with space to try to entice a max to sign and if they could I don't think anyone would sign with them. The Hornets are in a terrible place and the only way they would give up their assets for Adams is if Kemba told them that Adams would be a player he would resign with. Do you think Kemba would do that when he'll have Dallas, LAL and other options?

Aside from like one random rumor, i dont think Kemba is leaving Charlotte. He’s pretty much indicated he wants to stay there. Charlotte doesn’t need to make a move to get him to stay. It wouldn’t hurt but that’s that’s not a deciding factor.