Thunder Offseason Thread Part Deux: Rebuild

[Old Man Game]

Edit-Found it...Presti's comments about Bazley.

We haven't had a chance to talk to you about (indiscernible). What stood out to you about them and what do you see their goals being?
SAM PRESTI: Sure, with Darius, we're really excited about him because he has a couple things that to me make him unique. One, his ability to handle the ball at his size is really, really unique, and defensively he's got great range for a young player at that size, as well. It's going to be a process with him. We'll have to be patient. We understand that. But at that range of the draft, to be able to get a player that has those ball-handling skills at 6'9" or 6'9" plus is pretty unique. And so we felt like that was a good investment to make in the early 20s. Again, like I said before, we have the ability to take a longer view, and we like that challenge of having a player like that in the program.

With Dort, again, he's a player that just has incredible physical gifts and is a potential to be, I think, a really good defender. But he's going to need work and refinement, and I think he's extremely motivated. He's an extremely high-character person. Very humble. I'm excited to see kind of how he progresses through the season. Both of those guys are guys that we're excited about adding to the team.

so ''unique'' that he tried the best he could to get lower in the draft

Actually have to agree with him on that one. That guy's comfort and fluidity putting the ball on the floor at that size really stood out. Standard, 'it was just summer league' caveat applies of course.

[Dadouv47]

Edit-Found it...Presti's comments about Bazley.

so ''unique'' that he tried the best he could to get lower in the draft

Actually have to agree with him on that one. That guy's comfort and fluidity putting the ball on the floor at that size really stood out. Standard, 'it was just summer league' caveat applies of course.

Not really the point. He may become an all star but Presti wasn't that excited about drafting him.

[jambalaya]

Imo

Kevin Knox was very weak. Will get better but I am not expecting special. Knicks aren't going to trade yet anyways.
Anfernee Simons. Not available.
DSJ Who? If Dennis Smith, no thanks.
Dejounte Murray Not available til 3rd contract
Derrick White Not available til 3rd contract
Jonathan Isaac No thanks
Ntilikina No thanks, unless given away
Rodions Kurucs Not available



Some other young names I like better who might be obtainable one way or another:


Monte Morris
I Rabb
Kadeem Allen
J Hernanngomez
A Caruso
L Kornet
C Wood

[red96]

Saw a picture of Russ holding his Rockets jersey standing next to Morey & never felt more uncomfortable in my life, nothing about it feels right

I don't know who looks worse, Russ with that hair or Morey with that beard.

westbrook has never looked happier. i hope they miss the playoffs and the traitors who followed westbrook to houston wallow in self pity.

[Old Man Game]

so ''unique'' that he tried the best he could to get lower in the draft

Actually have to agree with him on that one. That guy's comfort and fluidity putting the ball on the floor at that size really stood out. Standard, 'it was just summer league' caveat applies of course.

Not really the point. He may become an all star but Presti wasn't that excited about drafting him.

Be that as it may, he is still an interesting prospect regardless how we may rate Presti's enthusiasm for the pick (whatever enthusiasm we may discern from trading down two whole slots and still getting him).

[spearsy23]

Actually have to agree with him on that one. That guy's comfort and fluidity putting the ball on the floor at that size really stood out. Standard, 'it was just summer league' caveat applies of course.

Not really the point. He may become an all star but Presti wasn't that excited about drafting him.

Be that as it may, he is still an interesting prospect regardless how we may rate Presti's enthusiasm for the pick (whatever enthusiasm we may discern from trading down two whole slots and still getting him).

I don't even understand the argument here. If you knew he wasn't going with the next pick why on Earth wouldn't you trade down?

[Old Man Game]

Not really the point. He may become an all star but Presti wasn't that excited about drafting him.

Be that as it may, he is still an interesting prospect regardless how we may rate Presti's enthusiasm for the pick (whatever enthusiasm we may discern from trading down two whole slots and still getting him).

I don't even understand the argument here. If you knew he wasn't going with the next pick why on Earth wouldn't you trade down?

Agreed. He seems to have attached a 'the team tried to trade the player' sort of sentiment onto a situation of trading down draft slots and still getting the guy you had targeted.

[slick_watts]

The Westbrook and Durant exits weren’t even close to the same. It’s so obvious that it doesn’t need to be expounded upon.

they don't have to be the same for the point to stand. it is morally untenable for a person to follow westbrook to the rockets and cheer for that team if they denounced the fans who did so when kevin durant left. i find this amusingly hypocritical, deriding the 'kevin durant fans' who followed him yet following suit now with westbrook. it's the same thing in that respect.

it's all water under the bridge though. this is the new era and we should all be on the same side now that we are rebuilding. hopefully we'll all have a laugh if the rockets under-perform.

[Pillendreher]

it's the same thing in that respect.

Yes, if we ignore context, it is the same thing.

[jake_swivel]

The Westbrook and Durant exits weren’t even close to the same. It’s so obvious that it doesn’t need to be expounded upon.

they don't have to be the same for the point to stand. it is morally untenable for a person to follow westbrook to the rockets and cheer for that team if they denounced the fans who did so when kevin durant left. i find this amusingly hypocritical, deriding the 'kevin durant fans' who followed him yet following suit now with westbrook. it's the same thing in that respect.

it's all water under the bridge though. this is the new era and we should all be on the same side now that we are rebuilding. hopefully we'll all have a laugh if the rockets under-perform.

It absolutely isn't "morally untenable" because 1. the ways the two left the team are radically different (one left in a way that decimated the future), 2. the teams each left for are at different levels of achievement, 3. the team Russ just left for hadn't JUST ended the Thunder's championship hope, and 4. who people decide to root for rarely, if ever, has to do with morality. In this circumstance, it's not even logically inconsistent.

[Dadouv47]

it's the same thing in that respect.

Yes, if we ignore context, it is the same thing.

If we ignore the fact that Durant was the first to leave, going to our biggest rival, a team that we just lost 4-3 in the WCF, that we would be contending against them for several years if he stayed, walking for free etc
If we forget that Westbrook decided to give OKC an extension just after that so we could still compete a bit and if not trade him for something instead of walking, then he signed a super max deal and asked for a trade when it was clear that OKC couldn't compete at a high level anymore, then yes, it's all the same.

But yeah in the end it's the same, they are both in other teams. Can't deny that

[ThunderBolt]

I’m a fan of the franchise more than particular players. Regardless of how you feel about russ, if he has massive success in Houston it will be a massive black mark on this franchise.

[slick_watts]

4. who people decide to root for rarely, if ever, has to do with morality. In this circumstance, it's not even logically inconsistent.

this is the crux of the argument. the details don't even matter. i'm not arguing for anyone to feel differently about russell westbrook demanding a trade to a rival or kevin durant leaving for a rival. it is not morally untenable to follow russell westbrook to houston. everyone can have the fan experience they want and let bygones be bygones. you're missing the point. it's morally untenable to do so after deriding fans for following kevin durant. which not everyone did but there was plenty of backlash even for the likes of anthony slater or others branded as snakes by association by the 'loyal' thunder fanbase who would stick with russell westbrook.

this all doesn't really matter enough to keep going on and on about it. but i just want the distinction understood.

[slick_watts]

it's the same thing in that respect.

Yes, if we ignore context, it is the same thing.

the only purpose for context in this case is to create an flimsy line to justify these actions. you won't see me cheering for the rockets, even though i've been a champion of their approach for years. thunder up!

[jake_swivel]

4. who people decide to root for rarely, if ever, has to do with morality. In this circumstance, it's not even logically inconsistent.

this is the crux of the argument. the details don't even matter. i'm not arguing for anyone to feel differently about russell westbrook demanding a trade to a rival or kevin durant leaving for a rival. it is not morally untenable to follow russell westbrook to houston. everyone can have the fan experience they want and let bygones be bygones. you're missing the point. it's morally untenable to do so after deriding fans for following kevin durant. which not everyone did but there was plenty of backlash even for the likes of anthony slater or others branded as snakes by association by the 'loyal' thunder fanbase who would stick with russell westbrook.

this all doesn't really matter enough to keep going on and on about it. but i just want the distinction understood.

The details absolutely matter, but I agree that there isn’t reason to continue the discussion.

[slick_watts]

4. who people decide to root for rarely, if ever, has to do with morality. In this circumstance, it's not even logically inconsistent.

this is the crux of the argument. the details don't even matter. i'm not arguing for anyone to feel differently about russell westbrook demanding a trade to a rival or kevin durant leaving for a rival. it is not morally untenable to follow russell westbrook to houston. everyone can have the fan experience they want and let bygones be bygones. you're missing the point. it's morally untenable to do so after deriding fans for following kevin durant. which not everyone did but there was plenty of backlash even for the likes of anthony slater or others branded as snakes by association by the 'loyal' thunder fanbase who would stick with russell westbrook.

this all doesn't really matter enough to keep going on and on about it. but i just want the distinction understood.

The details absolutely matter, but I agree that there isn’t reason to continue the discussion.

i like you. i hope you stick around.

[Pillendreher]

you won't see me cheering for the rockets

I have never seen you cheer for the Thunder either.

[slick_watts]

you won't see me cheering for the rockets

I have never seen you cheer for the Thunder either.

[spearsy23]

4. who people decide to root for rarely, if ever, has to do with morality. In this circumstance, it's not even logically inconsistent.

this is the crux of the argument. the details don't even matter. i'm not arguing for anyone to feel differently about russell westbrook demanding a trade to a rival or kevin durant leaving for a rival. it is not morally untenable to follow russell westbrook to houston. everyone can have the fan experience they want and let bygones be bygones. you're missing the point. it's morally untenable to do so after deriding fans for following kevin durant. which not everyone did but there was plenty of backlash even for the likes of anthony slater or others branded as snakes by association by the 'loyal' thunder fanbase who would stick with russell westbrook.

this all doesn't really matter enough to keep going on and on about it. but i just want the distinction understood.

It's morally untenable for someone to approve of the assassination of bin laden and denounce the actions of Lee Harvey Oswald.

[Dadouv47]

I’m a fan of the franchise more than particular players. Regardless of how you feel about russ, if he has massive success in Houston it will be a massive black mark on this franchise.

Will still root for Russ to have success in Houston but you are 100% right. It will show what we have been saying for years anyway : Presti bad roster construction vision, lack of shooters, drafting/signing only athletic guys etc etc, bad coaching staff etc etc.

Russ with 30+ years old and Harden is clearly a WAY worse duo than prime Westbrook and Durant (and think Ibaka was better than any 3rd player in Houston)

Could be a nice thing for Presti to open his eyes if Russ has success in Houston though. I trust Presti when it comes to trades and drafting but we won't get a championship with our poor coaching staff and if Presti keeps being stubborned by drafting almost only athletic guys believing that they could develop a decent shot over time (which almost never happens around the league)