OKC is a disgrace

[DrCoach]

I love what they are doing

[Pennebaker]

Welcome to the analytics/teamup era. Embrace it

Titles are won on phones and spreadsheets instead of the court

This is classic tanking and its been going on a long time. Blaming this on analytics or players finally gaining some power is rich. And wrong.

And what is the cause of blatant tanking. It's the advent of superteams that leaves the middle of the pack literally helpless. In that it is worse to be a 8 seed than the worst team in the league.

Hinkies and Prestis didn't exist in the 90s when more than 1-2 teams felt like they had a shot at a title

Not even close, my friend.

Why do you think the lottery exists in the first place? It was because of blatant tanking.

The Press Democrat, May 23, 1993:

The NBA instituted the lottery back in 1985, mostly because a few teams seemed to be trying their best to finish last and get a shot at the first pick - which then was decided by a coin flip between the two teams with the worst records in their respective conferences.

So the lottery was borne out of tanking problems.

However, now, instead of maybe two or three teams tanking a little, there's reason for many to fold up. First, you might tank just to get into the lottery. Second, once it's obvious you're in, you might tank even more to get more ping pong balls. Indeed, veratible tankfest of opportunities.

Modern tanking problems started in 1993 - the year the present odds were introduced giving the team with the worst record a 25% chance of gaining the top pick while also securing a guaranteed top 4 pick.

[5paceman]

Funny how Houston is in a better position than OKC now after the draft.

Yes we have to dump John Wall and Eric Gordon, but a core of Wood/Porter/Green/Sengun/Tate/Martin Jr/Garuba is laden with potential and skill. Compare that to OKC's core which is just SGA, Poku, Giddey, Mann and a bunch unknown draft picks. Rockets core and future prospects are looking better already than OKC's

I am going to assume You are a Rockets fan because I would take the Thunder current roster and assets over the Rockets 10/10 times. The Rockets already have an established young guy in SGA. And multiple good potential players with a ton of future assets and flexibility going forward.

SGA is going to be wasting away over the next few seasons and won’t be making the playoffs any time soon. I bet the rockets make the playoffs before okc does

At some point soon, maybe next year, I figure they will really try to compete and not fully tank. Won't have much success and still get lottery, but see what they've got in the young guys. SGA will have the opportunity to take his game as far as he can.

I think they've shown good talent evaluation and development.

[Stickmann]

There are examples to support my argument as well. Porzingis didn't want to extend with the Knicks. Pretty much forced their hand to trade him.

But yeah, I'm delusional for even suggesting that it's a possibility.

Hahahahaahah

Did I say he was definitely going to turn down the contract?

I just said I wouldn't put it past him given the mindset of a lot of modern day players.

“Mindset” lmaooo ok. Yeah sure a mindset so prevelant in modern players that has yet to happen. Call me when someone turns down the max extension. Literally worst case off-season for okc, tank is imminent for a mother year atleast, and he still signs. You’re just wrong my guy

[Big J]

Remember when KD said the reason he left was because the team kept trying to younger instead of competing? SGA is going to come to the same realization as well. Kicking the can down the road seems like an awesome idea in a vacuum, but not when you have guys legacies at stake and you're asking them to shut it down so you can tank.

[510TWSS]

small market teams can have success and win titles if they make smart decisions and spend the money.

okc just willfully not spending any money routinely over the years (outside of a few years).

Oh well, at least Bennet got a bit richer so it's all good

[AussieCeltic]

Yeah man picking Josh Giddey at number 6 is truly great foresight. I’m sure all those teams will be sad they missed out on a less athletic and worse shooting Joe Ingles.

Good for you, you noticed that Giddey is Australian so he must be like Ingles.

Don't attempt to analyze a player if you haven't watched them.

Oh wow I didn’t know that so many of Josh Giddey’s family members post on here. I’ve read enough scouting reports and listened to scouts and basketball analysts talk about Josh Giddey. The whole glamour around Giddey is that he’s tall and a natural PG. But it doesn’t seem like he can shoot, defend or has the athleticism in a league the prioritizes all 3. To me he sounds like another Dante Exum…oh can’t compare him to another Australian, Evan Turner. I’m sure he’ll be a solid starter, but if you’re in the top half of the lottery you should be thinking allstar potential and OKC took him much earlier than most mocks had him going.

When your fanbase’s whole argument for getting behind Presti not bothering to even try to field an NBA is that it will help your draft position, I’m not sure Josh Giddey is the franchise savior you’re expecting.

So you’ve “read and listened” but you haven’t watched? No offence dude, but you’re way off base with Giddey.

He plays nothing like Exum, nothing like Turner and he sure as hell doesn’t play like Joe Ingles.

He has control and drives like a poor mans Luka. Handle doesn’t seem tight, he doesn’t seem fast yet he somehow always gets to where he wants. His passing is elite.

After watching him and Ball in the NBL, I can do you that he’s right on par, if not better than Lamelo at passing. In your scouting reports I’m sure you would’ve read he’s the best passer in this draft.

He rebounds at an elite level for a PG as well. He needs to work on his shot but he was a better shooter in the NBL than Lamelo and he turned out pretty good.

Don’t underestimate him putting up triple doubles in a league against men which is much harder competition than NCAA.

There is a reason the Warriors were going to draft him and the Grizzlies were desperately trying to move up to get him.

[Ayt]

Lol this thread was bumped up by someone else and I saw your post salivating at Suggs only to end up drafting Giddey. Trust me I have no idea who you are and really don’t care.

I guess when your team only operates as a place where careers go to die you have no choice but to brag about your overrated GM.

I mean it’s pretty clear you don’t know the game so your inability to assess talent is assumed.

Yeah man picking Josh Giddey at number 6 is truly great foresight. I’m sure all those teams will be sad they missed out on a less athletic and worse shooting Joe Ingles.

What an embarrassing post.

[Ayt]

They better win a lot of games next year with “superstar” SGA

Why?

[SwagtoBurn]

Lol, they've literally missed the PO once 'on purpose' and people are losing their minds.

"When will they pull the trigger?!!!" - iono, maybe give them like two years to rebuild a bit at least? Obviously did not get the ping pong ball luck this year with the draft too.

[Ayt]

Lol, they've literally missed the PO once 'on purpose' and people are losing their minds.

"When will they pull the trigger?!!!" - iono, maybe give them like two years to rebuild a bit at least? Obviously did not get the ping pong ball luck this year with the draft too.

It is definitely funny. Oh, no! They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15!

[bkseven]

They better win a lot of games next year with “superstar” SGA

Why?

A superstar off their rookie contract should be able to help a team win a good amount of games…

[baldur]

Sga is the most overrated player in the league.

[_qubik]

The most nauseating thing about the multi year tank is that it’s completely unnecessary. Competent franchises like Utah have shown that you can stay competitive and build your team at the same time. Taking on a bunch of bad contracts for picks not only sets you back, but it make vets and free agents steer far away from your team.

OKC was very good for some year too. It isnt enought to win. Maybe Presti thinks he is engineering a title contender, and for sure this is totally different from what Utah have, they are good, they win a lot of regular season games, but they dont have a real shot at a title.

[Ayt]

Sga is the most overrated player in the league.

I'd say he's the most underrated.

They better win a lot of games next year with “superstar” SGA

Why?

A superstar off their rookie contract should be able to help a team win a good amount of games…

Minny with prime KG won 32 games. The Lakers won 34 games with prime Kobe. On, and on, and on.

Statements like yours are meaningless. SGA just turned 23. If OKC doesn't "win a lot" of games, it won't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things.

[dc]

The most nauseating thing about the multi year tank is that it’s completely unnecessary. Competent franchises like Utah have shown that you can stay competitive and build your team at the same time. Taking on a bunch of bad contracts for picks not only sets you back, but it make vets and free agents steer far away from your team.

OKC was very good for some year too. It isnt enought to win. Maybe Presti thinks he is engineering a title contender, and for sure this is totally different from what Utah have, they are good, they win a lot of regular season games, but they dont have a real shot at a title.

Agreed. Had Kawhi not demanded PG13 for a teammate, decent chance that OKC would've spent the last 2 years still with PG13/Westbrook.

They spent plenty of years going to the playoffs and just spent the last 2 essentially tanking. Presti figured they could tank fairly easily this past year, but they were winning way more than expected and had to deliberately shutdown SGA.

[bkseven]

Sga is the most overrated player in the league.

I'd say he's the most underrated.

Why?

A superstar off their rookie contract should be able to help a team win a good amount of games…

Minny with prime KG won 28 games. The Lakers won 34 games with prime Kobe. On, and on, and on.

Statements like yours are meaningless. SGA just turned 23. If OKC doesn't "win a lot" of games, it won't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things.

T Wolves have been a bad team forever. How about you list some recent examples like Trae Young, Luka, Booker, Tatum, etc.

[QPR]

Sga is the most overrated player in the league.

Players to have shot 50/40 with 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists over a season in the last decade: LeBron, Durant, Curry, Kyrie, SGA.

He did that in his third season, on basically a G-League roster, while leading the league in drives per game. He's special.

[Ayt]

Sga is the most overrated player in the league.

I'd say he's the most underrated.

A superstar off their rookie contract should be able to help a team win a good amount of games…

Minny with prime KG won 28 games. The Lakers won 34 games with prime Kobe. On, and on, and on.

Statements like yours are meaningless. SGA just turned 23. If OKC doesn't "win a lot" of games, it won't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things.

T Wolves have been a bad team forever. How about you list some recent examples like Trae Young, Luka, Booker, Tatum, etc.

How would that make your argument any less terrible?

[bkseven]

I'd say he's the most underrated.



Minny with prime KG won 28 games. The Lakers won 34 games with prime Kobe. On, and on, and on.

Statements like yours are meaningless. SGA just turned 23. If OKC doesn't "win a lot" of games, it won't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things.

T Wolves have been a bad team forever. How about you list some recent examples like Trae Young, Luka, Booker, Tatum, etc.

How would that make your argument any less terrible?

You’re arguing that a superstar doesn’t help a team win a good enough games. Enough said lol. Also u bring up Kobe as a comparison… that alone is laughable given the success of Kobe’s lakers