OKC Thunder 2022-23 Regular Season Discussion

[Devilanche]

The perimeter defense looks a lot different with true bigs as a backstop.

Even if it would , having a perimeter stopper would still be useful from time to time .

How much would dort be valued at his new contract ? 1 first ? 2 lower quality first ?

I was gonna say a lotto protected FRP but remembered Josh Hart got that so maybe a lotto protected FRP and a pick in the 25-30 range. That's the most we could get for him IMO.

Hart maybe a worse shooter , on an expiring so would be similar range of contract going forward ?

So yea late first plus whatever Hart got .

[cjmcallist]

If we’re trying to compete sooner rather than later, I think we need to keep Dort. The only exception would be a trade for an All Star player.

Point of attack defense like his is rare and critical in the playoffs. Teams like Denver, SAC (this year), PHI, CLE would all love to have a Dort. Jrue and Smart have proved it beneficial for deep playoff runs.

[Dadouv47]

If we’re trying to compete sooner rather than later, I think we need to keep Dort. The only exception would be a trade for an All Star player.

Point of attack defense like his is rare and critical in the playoffs. Teams like Denver, SAC (this year), PHI, CLE would all love to have a Dort. Jrue and Smart have proved it beneficial for deep playoff runs.

Dort is the easy scapegoat and rightfully so because he can be so selfish on offense but it's easier to fix his offensive issues than find another guy that can defend like him.

[The Servant]

Will Dort be a starter in the future?

SGA
Giddey
Williams
???
Chet

Could move any of these pieces around postionally in the line up around an FA signing, or Presti trading a few picks for a player. I'd prefer to send him in a package with some picks to a team for a 5th starting caliber player.

[Dadouv47]

Will Dort be a starter in the future?

SGA
Giddey
Williams
???
Chet

Could move any of these pieces around postionally in the line up around an FA signing, or Presti trading a few picks for a player. I'd prefer to send him in a package with some picks to a team for a 5th starting caliber player.

Dort shouldn't be a long term starter because of the lack of 3 pt% from him and our team as a all. I think he can an elite 6th man though even if he isn't the usual scoring guy coming from the bench. I wouldn't mind if he closes some games for defensives purposes.

It's pretty clear to me that SGA, Giddey and Jdub are our future starters (except major failure/injury) and then we gonna need to improve our frontcourt with hopefully Chet and another guy.

[slick_watts]

i think an argument could be made for giddey off the bench, instead of dort, depending on how his development goes.

[Devilanche]

I think the best version of OKC probably have the trio of SGA, Jdub and Chet starting , with Dort and Giddey having heavy minutes off the bench .

[Mr Thunder Nick]

We need Dort defensively to play against the opponent star player. Therefore he will be and rest a starter. He just have to take fewer shots. Also driving to the basket has to become better.

[ThunderScot]

I'd probably go a starting 5 of:

SGA
Jdub
Giddey
JRE (probably to be replaced by this years draft pick)
Chet

Dort coming off bench mostly, perhaps getting the odd start based on a specific defensive assignment.

[jake_swivel]

“A lot of times things take longer than you think they should. But when they happen, they happen faster than you thought they could.”

- Sam Presti at the press conference after last season

[Woerzboerg]

How about getting Jerami Grant back in free agency? We could offer something like 75 Million $/3 years. He would provide good shooting and defense at the forward-position and he would be off the books once Chets and JDubs new contracts will kick in.

[Dadouv47]

How about getting Jerami Grant back in free agency? We could offer something like 75 Million $/3 years. He would provide good shooting and defense at the forward-position and he would be off the books once Chets and JDubs new contracts will kick in.

he refused a 112 millions extension over 4 years from the Blazers.

I like Grant and the fit in OKC but he isn't worth all that money.

[The Servant]

i think an argument could be made for giddey off the bench, instead of dort, depending on how his development goes.

Honestly I've watched too much Thabo, Roberson etc to sit through another one in Dort. I'd take a lesser defender and someone who can shoot in the role any day and bring him off the bench. With SGA being more of an SG than a PG I like the idea of having a point forward facilitator.

[Big nick]

i think an argument could be made for giddey off the bench, instead of dort, depending on how his development goes.

Honestly I've watched too much Thabo, Roberson etc to sit through another one in Dort. I'd take a lesser defender and someone who can shoot in the role any day and bring him off the bench. With SGA being more of an SG than a PG I like the idea of having a point forward facilitator.

But Dort is a much better on offense then either one of those players don't you think.

[jake_swivel]

But Dort is a much better on offense then either one of those players don't you think.

Dort is better than them but he’s still a sore thumb. And in this offensive era, that matters even more. If he’s trying to be more than the fifth option next year, it’s a huge problem.

Defensively, he’s good, but only on certain types of guards. He’s not locking up the long bois. He’s too short. He was great on dame and useless against Ingram. He also has bad habits of not switching when he needs to switch. I think it comes from a desire to be “the guy” on defense and cover for Josh. But also it screws up the whole set.

I think his defense is overrated as a whole while being very good on a certain kind of guard. And it’s not worth what we pass up with Joe and Wiggins who both play very good team defense while knowing their role on offense. And Dort’ll be worth even less if Chet is what he’s supposed to be defensively.

[jake_swivel]

We only have 25 regular season games or so left before a long offseason (barring a playoff run). Remember to enjoy ‘em, fellas. We made it to the fun part.

[Dadouv47]

We are struggling a lot tonight though...Jazz are eally bad.

[Xatticus]

That's about as frustrating as it gets. We couldn't hit a shot, yet we had countless opportunities to kill that game off and couldn't get it done. Our lack of size killed us again tonight. That last foul... I was caught between being pissed off at Dort and trying to figure out what the hell the call was for and why the review was shot down so quickly.

[Zagor]

How did they manage to lose this game, that is horrible. Markannen and Kessler destroyed them.
Positive thing is that these kind of games are useful school for young players. And even for Mark.

I hope they will be better at home.

[Dadouv47]

I obviously wanted Shai's last shot to go IN but I'm glad we lost. I'm rooting for us because I love the way we are playing this season but yesterday was terrible so better improve our lotto odds just a bit.

Kessler is a monster. His lack of shooting gonna be an issue but he's a good problem to have.
Markkanen would be a great fit in OKC but even if Utah is listen to offers, I'm worried to overpay because of his fantastic season.

Tre Mann is not improving at all and is making the same mistakes every game so better send him with the Blue and give Dieng some minutes.