OKC is a disgrace

[batmana]

This kind of loser mentality stays with teams for a long time. It doesn’t matter how many draft picks you get, if you have a losing culture it sticks with the team for years. Just look at the Clippers of the 80s-00s.

Yeah just look at what the 76ers have become. I believe they all really hate where they are now.

Ya, that was the type of throwaway line that some talking head generally makes on TV to fill air time. It sounds smart, but it’s a whole bunch of nothing.

Heck we can just look at OKC themselves in the late 2000’s. Durant, Westbrook and Harden all added in consecutive drafts with top 4 picks. They were in the NBA finals 2 seasons later.

This will also be the 1st playoff they will miss in years, the Kings are moments away from #15 and counting. People are picking on the wrong franchise here.

But the Kings have been bad due to their own ineptitude. For all the incompetent GMs and other people of power they've had in this time, they've always tried to win games. They haven't willingly and deliberately compiled a roster of non-NBA players which is what many teams (including OKC currently) have done in the past few seasons.

Go back and look at the Seattle Super Sonics before they drafted Westbrook and Harden. I guarantee you won't find games where they sat everybody for no reason and played only anonymous G-Leaguers and other throwaway guys.

[The_Hater]

Yeah just look at what the 76ers have become. I believe they all really hate where they are now.

Ya, that was the type of throwaway line that some talking head generally makes on TV to fill air time. It sounds smart, but it’s a whole bunch of nothing.

Heck we can just look at OKC themselves in the late 2000’s. Durant, Westbrook and Harden all added in consecutive drafts with top 4 picks. They were in the NBA finals 2 seasons later.

This will also be the 1st playoff they will miss in years, the Kings are moments away from #15 and counting. People are picking on the wrong franchise here.

But the Kings have been bad due to their own ineptitude.

That’s kinda my point.

OKC is run by one of the top 5 GM’s in the league. He knows what he’s doing so they won’t be down for long. Saying that a couple of blowouts will stay with them for years was just a dumb statement. Losing for 15 years? That stench is much harder to wash off.

[slick_watts]

lots of people in this thread believe in magic. losing doesn't magically follow a team through the years like a witch put a spell on them. in five seasons, if the thunder make good decisions and build another decent team, nobody will remember this one. like nobody remembers the 2007 sonics or 2008 thunder.

[Big J]

Ya, that was the type of throwaway line that some talking head generally makes on TV to fill air time. It sounds smart, but it’s a whole bunch of nothing.

Heck we can just look at OKC themselves in the late 2000’s. Durant, Westbrook and Harden all added in consecutive drafts with top 4 picks. They were in the NBA finals 2 seasons later.

This will also be the 1st playoff they will miss in years, the Kings are moments away from #15 and counting. People are picking on the wrong franchise here.

But the Kings have been bad due to their own ineptitude.

That’s kinda my point.

OKC is run by one of the top 5 GM’s in the league. He knows what he’s doing so they won’t be down for long. Saying that a couple of blowouts will stay with them for years was just a dumb statement. Losing for 15 years? That stench is much harder to wash off.

He's not a top 5 GM. He may have had some good draft picks in the past, but he also traded away Harden for trash when he could have had a dynasty.

[Clemenza]

so will okc shut down SGA next season too if they have a bad start? so they will be shutting such a young and hot prospect SGA two years in a row, as he does need to play for his improvement. How do you justify this Okc fans? you are building up future's team by not playing your franchise player?

What's even more messed up is that with all those first rounders they'll definitely be drafting 2-3 guards so SGA could possibly be shut down for future players that might eventually replace him on the team. There's no guarantee that he's a for sure lock for their core moving forward and if he's not playing then its out of sight and out of mind to the general basketball loving public. A young budding star getting the rug pulled from underneath him. Its great we have PG & Kawhi on the Clipps but in no way did we want to lose SGA because of it

[cjmcallist]

OKC playing TOR tonight. Pretty sure I saw some Raptors fans in here condemning tanking? Ya’ll must not be watching your own team.

still wanna talk about tanking?

Ummm.... yes? My first thought was, "Oh, TOR must have won a few in a row". Nope. Pretty sure Lowry is still out, Trent is sitting, and you've lost two in a row.

Not sure what you meanby this post, exactly? Other than TOR is trying to win, but can't because they suck? As if that's somehow better than choosing to lose. hehe

EDIT: bad at grammar

[OkcSinceSGA]

so will okc shut down SGA next season too if they have a bad start? so they will be shutting such a young and hot prospect SGA two years in a row, as he does need to play for his improvement. How do you justify this Okc fans? you are building up future's team by not playing your franchise player?

What's even more messed up is that with all those first rounders they'll definitely be drafting 2-3 guards so SGA could possibly be shut down for future players that might eventually replace him on the team. There's no guarantee that he's a for sure lock for their core moving forward and if he's not playing then its out of sight and out of mind to the general basketball loving public. A young budding star getting the rug pulled from underneath him. Its great we have PG & Kawhi on the Clipps but in no way did we want to lose SGA because of it

The odds of OKC getting a player that is going to surpass SGA at his position is astronomically low. Lower odds of that happening then the Clippers making the finals. They could target another star guard, but he can play either position anyway and it would likely be a PG. Him and Cunningham will make a great duo for years.

[Clemenza]

so will okc shut down SGA next season too if they have a bad start? so they will be shutting such a young and hot prospect SGA two years in a row, as he does need to play for his improvement. How do you justify this Okc fans? you are building up future's team by not playing your franchise player?

What's even more messed up is that with all those first rounders they'll definitely be drafting 2-3 guards so SGA could possibly be shut down for future players that might eventually replace him on the team. There's no guarantee that he's a for sure lock for their core moving forward and if he's not playing then its out of sight and out of mind to the general basketball loving public. A young budding star getting the rug pulled from underneath him. Its great we have PG & Kawhi on the Clipps but in no way did we want to lose SGA because of it

The odds of OKC getting a player that is going to surpass SGA at his position is astronomically low. Lower odds of that happening then the Clippers making the finals. They could target another star guard, but he can play either position anyway and it would likely be a PG. Him and Cunningham will make a great duo for years.

Just get ready for another name change in a year or two

[Johnny Bball]

so will okc shut down SGA next season too if they have a bad start? so they will be shutting such a young and hot prospect SGA two years in a row, as he does need to play for his improvement. How do you justify this Okc fans? you are building up future's team by not playing your franchise player?

What's even more messed up is that with all those first rounders they'll definitely be drafting 2-3 guards so SGA could possibly be shut down for future players that might eventually replace him on the team. There's no guarantee that he's a for sure lock for their core moving forward and if he's not playing then its out of sight and out of mind to the general basketball loving public. A young budding star getting the rug pulled from underneath him. Its great we have PG & Kawhi on the Clipps but in no way did we want to lose SGA because of it

The odds of OKC getting a player that is going to surpass SGA at his position is astronomically low. Lower odds of that happening then the Clippers making the finals. They could target another star guard, but he can play either position anyway and it would likely be a PG. Him and Cunningham will make a great duo for years.

You name how low you think those odds are, and then I'll give you better odds, then I'll put money down to bet.

[baldur]

What's even more messed up is that with all those first rounders they'll definitely be drafting 2-3 guards so SGA could possibly be shut down for future players that might eventually replace him on the team. There's no guarantee that he's a for sure lock for their core moving forward and if he's not playing then its out of sight and out of mind to the general basketball loving public. A young budding star getting the rug pulled from underneath him. Its great we have PG & Kawhi on the Clipps but in no way did we want to lose SGA because of it

The odds of OKC getting a player that is going to surpass SGA at his position is astronomically low. Lower odds of that happening then the Clippers making the finals. They could target another star guard, but he can play either position anyway and it would likely be a PG. Him and Cunningham will make a great duo for years.

Just get ready for another name change in a year or two

[OkcSinceSGA]

What's even more messed up is that with all those first rounders they'll definitely be drafting 2-3 guards so SGA could possibly be shut down for future players that might eventually replace him on the team. There's no guarantee that he's a for sure lock for their core moving forward and if he's not playing then its out of sight and out of mind to the general basketball loving public. A young budding star getting the rug pulled from underneath him. Its great we have PG & Kawhi on the Clipps but in no way did we want to lose SGA because of it

The odds of OKC getting a player that is going to surpass SGA at his position is astronomically low. Lower odds of that happening then the Clippers making the finals. They could target another star guard, but he can play either position anyway and it would likely be a PG. Him and Cunningham will make a great duo for years.

Just get ready for another name change in a year or two

Get ready for another year of disappointment. I know I wasn’t ready for one.

[The_Hater]

But the Kings have been bad due to their own ineptitude.

That’s kinda my point.

OKC is run by one of the top 5 GM’s in the league. He knows what he’s doing so they won’t be down for long. Saying that a couple of blowouts will stay with them for years was just a dumb statement. Losing for 15 years? That stench is much harder to wash off.

He's not a top 5 GM. He may have had some good draft picks in the past, but he also traded away Harden for trash when he could have had a dynasty.

Top 5 GM. Maybe even top 3. Even if you hate the guy and downgrade him for silly reasons he’s what? 7th at worst?

He’s had one of the smallest markets in the league in the playoffs 11 years now. They were legit contenders for much of that period. And when it was time to rebuild, he absolutely killed the Clippers and Rockets in trades setting them up perfectly for the future.

Can you come up with anything negative other that the Harden trade? Which happened 8-9 years ago and was partially forced because ownership refused to meet his FA asking price? That’s all you got?

I’m honestly not sure what you think makes a GM worthy of top 5 status if it’s not Presti.

[timO]

This kind of loser mentality stays with teams for a long time. It doesn’t matter how many draft picks you get, if you have a losing culture it sticks with the team for years. Just look at the Clippers of the 80s-00s.

Yeah just look at what the 76ers have become. I believe they all really hate where they are now.

The sixers culture changed when they got rid of Hinkie.

Thanks to Hinkie they got Embiid Simmons and Tatum, but they fire Hinkie and choose Fultz

[timO]

so will okc shut down SGA next season too if they have a bad start? so they will be shutting such a young and hot prospect SGA two years in a row, as he does need to play for his improvement. How do you justify this Okc fans? you are building up future's team by not playing your franchise player?

The Lakers tanked. Do you remember Ronnie Turiaf and Tarik Black....? Or do you just like to troll Thunder fans

Fallacious analogy. It was LeBron’s signing, followed by his recruitment of AD, that turned the Lakers around. OKC, which I’m sure is a very nice little town (sadly, I’ve never been), is unlikely to be a hotbed for the next crop of superstar free agents.

On the other hand, maybe Cade will be the next Durant, and OKC’s high lottery pick in the 2022 draft will be the next Westbrook, and then the next Harden will be OKC’s top 5 pick in 2023. I guess lightning can strike twice after all?

Even so, just when the intentional tanking is complete and OKC is finally ready to start playing winning basketball again, SGA will probably demand a trade to a big market, with this year’s top pick signaling he is likely to soon follow suit. Then the cycle of blatant tanking and rebuilding through the draft will resume. Rinse and repeat.

Perhaps I’m wrong and OKC can overcome the dynamics that drive today’s NBA and the players who now command all the leverage. I hope so.

Lakers tanked a lot, so they get diangelo, randle, ingram and ball, they got Lebron on FA because they are a big market, and get AD for all of them

[Dave DaButcher]

The Lakers tanked. Do you remember Ronnie Turiaf and Tarik Black....? Or do you just like to troll Thunder fans

Fallacious analogy. It was LeBron’s signing, followed by his recruitment of AD, that turned the Lakers around. OKC, which I’m sure is a very nice little town (sadly, I’ve never been), is unlikely to be a hotbed for the next crop of superstar free agents.

On the other hand, maybe Cade will be the next Durant, and OKC’s high lottery pick in the 2022 draft will be the next Westbrook, and then the next Harden will be OKC’s top 5 pick in 2023. I guess lightning can strike twice after all?

Even so, just when the intentional tanking is complete and OKC is finally ready to start playing winning basketball again, SGA will probably demand a trade to a big market, with this year’s top pick signaling he is likely to soon follow suit. Then the cycle of blatant tanking and rebuilding through the draft will resume. Rinse and repeat.

Perhaps I’m wrong and OKC can overcome the dynamics that drive today’s NBA and the players who now command all the leverage. I hope so.

Lakers tanked a lot, so they get diangelo, randle, ingram and ball, they got Lebron on FA because they are a big market, and get AD for all of them

Yes, but if they don’t get LeBron, they don’t get AD whether they had the assets to trade for him or not. And as you noted, LeBron only signed there because they are the glitzy big market Lakers.

Hence, my point still stands, and I suspect OKC will, unfortunately, have a tough time competing in an increasingly star-driven league, especially if they continue to cement a losing culture.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Fallacious analogy. It was LeBron’s signing, followed by his recruitment of AD, that turned the Lakers around. OKC, which I’m sure is a very nice little town (sadly, I’ve never been), is unlikely to be a hotbed for the next crop of superstar free agents.

On the other hand, maybe Cade will be the next Durant, and OKC’s high lottery pick in the 2022 draft will be the next Westbrook, and then the next Harden will be OKC’s top 5 pick in 2023. I guess lightning can strike twice after all?

Even so, just when the intentional tanking is complete and OKC is finally ready to start playing winning basketball again, SGA will probably demand a trade to a big market, with this year’s top pick signaling he is likely to soon follow suit. Then the cycle of blatant tanking and rebuilding through the draft will resume. Rinse and repeat.

Perhaps I’m wrong and OKC can overcome the dynamics that drive today’s NBA and the players who now command all the leverage. I hope so.

Lakers tanked a lot, so they get diangelo, randle, ingram and ball, they got Lebron on FA because they are a big market, and get AD for all of them

Yes, but if they don’t get LeBron, they don’t get AD whether they had the assets to trade for him or not. And as you noted, LeBron only signed there because they are the glitzy big market Lakers.

Hence, my point still stands, and I suspect OKC will, unfortunately, have a tough time competing in an increasingly star-driven league, especially if they continue to cement a losing culture.

Literal 4th seed last year you guys have brain worms.

[Dave DaButcher]

Lakers tanked a lot, so they get diangelo, randle, ingram and ball, they got Lebron on FA because they are a big market, and get AD for all of them

Yes, but if they don’t get LeBron, they don’t get AD whether they had the assets to trade for him or not. And as you noted, LeBron only signed there because they are the glitzy big market Lakers.

Hence, my point still stands, and I suspect OKC will, unfortunately, have a tough time competing in an increasingly star-driven league, especially if they continue to cement a losing culture.

Literal 4th seed last year you guys have brain worms.

Great point. The 4th seed in the aberrant COVID season should refute logic and the realities of the Player Empowerment era. You sure shut us up with that observation!

Tell you what, how about a friendly wager? I will bet you that SGA leaves for greener pastures and brighter big city lights before OKC is again a top 4 conference seed? You game?

[Pharmcat]

It’s amazing how people defend the behavior of okc. If Lakers blatantly tanked the whole league would be up in arms. Double standards

[Stickmann]

Yes, but if they don’t get LeBron, they don’t get AD whether they had the assets to trade for him or not. And as you noted, LeBron only signed there because they are the glitzy big market Lakers.

Hence, my point still stands, and I suspect OKC will, unfortunately, have a tough time competing in an increasingly star-driven league, especially if they continue to cement a losing culture.

Literal 4th seed last year you guys have brain worms.

Great point. The 4th seed in the aberrant COVID season should refute logic and the realities of the Player Empowerment era. You sure shut us up with that observation!

Tell you what, how about a friendly wager? I will bet you that SGA leaves for greener pastures and brighter big city lights before OKC is again a top 4 conference seed? You game?

With the supermax we're gonna have what, 5 more years of SGA under team control? Easy bet they're gonna be a top 5 seed at least sometime in that frame, especially considering the thunder's history of putting good playoff teams. You know, two losing seasons in it's entire existence is "losing culture". People here really do have brain worms. OKC was also like half a game away from the fourth seed before COVID hit. But you do you

[jbk1234]

It’s amazing how people defend the behavior of okc. If Lakers blatantly tanked the whole league would be up in arms. Double standards

The Lakers blatantly tanked like three years in a row when their pick was top 3 protected. Byron Scott is the pay-you-to-tank coach.

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