[festar35Participant]

 So who do we see as buyers and sellers as those free agent acquisitions now become available.

Buyers

#1: Cavs – They are playing really good ball right now and still yet to get The Thomas into line-up, but I think with that Brooklyn pick looking mid to late lottery I can see them using it to get another talent and also someone to help keep LeBron in Cleveland beyond this season. (Jordan or Griffin from LA? Or Gasol maybe)

#2: Nugs – They are a nice team, but their identity is a little difficult to understand and I think a big part of that is the lack of a legit PG. Now their defense isn’t great but Millsap will help that. I love the back-court talent but one of Harris or Murray needs to go in a package for a PG. (If Hornets stay struggling, I ask about Walker)

#3: Pacers – (Unlikely, but humor me) My Pacers are winning and the chemistry is great so it could be risky, but a legit upgrade at PG or SF could push this team up another level. They enough youth to sell (Leaf, Robinson, Anigbogu, Sumner), expiring contracts (Jefferson & Collison/Bogdanovic partial guarantees at cheap rate next season) & their future picks. Getting a guy like Conley (Indiana native) wouldn’t effect the ball in Victor’s hands and improve their defense. Maybe a guy like Dragic or Walker. 

Sellers

#1: Clippers – Pretty obvious choice here with DeAndre likely opting out and a few teams out there that’ll like bid pretty hard for him like Cavs or Bucks. Another talent they could move is Griffin as well, simply tear it down and rebuild, I just think it is time for Griffin to get out of LA.

#2: Kings – They went out and got vets to make a playoff push, that ain’t happening and guys like Hill are getting annoyed that atthis point of their career they are being wasted. Anyone not named Fox, Bogdanovic, Hield or Caulley-stain could be on the move.

Darkhorses: Grizz & Hornets – Now this is on the presumption they keep losing, they have guys that despite the record still have high trade value in Gasol or Conley. Teams like Cavs, Bucks, Wizards and Blazers could all have interest in Gasol while teams like the Nuggets, Pacers & Knicks may see Conley as that PG to take them up a notch. Evans has shown he can contribute as well, could be nice if 6th man.

I like the Hornets, but they have gone backwards despite Walker doing his thing, a somewhat rejuvenated Howard and a young guy like Lamb breaking out. If they keep losing I could see teams offer quite nice deals for the likes of Walker. Other teams may see Howard as that defensive rebounding C they need (Cavs/Bucks anyone). Also have the likes of Williams & Batum who can readily contribute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[joe2324Participant]

I know its early, but OKC is a mess. They overestimated Melo’s worth as he is on the decline and well…nobody plays well with Westbrook. Paul George looks off and not himself playing in OKC. Very sad to see someone as talented as Westbrook play the style he plays because he could be so much more. I’m afraid no matter what coach you put in there, you’ll get the same results as Westbrook is not going to change. The only coach who could bring out the best in Westbrook is someone like Pop in San Antonio, but thats not happening. 

 

[r377Participant]

Knicks and Wizards are in playoff contention, I think they might look to buy

[EndlessknightParticipant]

If the Thunder decide to sell what would PG13 go for? (Taking into account he won’t resign)

[khoss76Participant]

 What about a Griffin for PG13 deal?

The Clips are not going nowhere with Griffin and what Westbrook needs is an inside scorer to put Melo back to the wing. PG13  being from LA, it would be one of the place he may land to.

 

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 Sellers

1.Bulls-Robin Lopez, Nikola Mirotic..they could prob get some 2nd rounders for these guys

2. Grizzles-Marc Gosal, Mike Conley.this team is no longer a contender, espically in the west, might as well try and get something for these guys and start over. 

 

 

[TRC1991Participant]

Dallas should also sell Wesley Matthews, JJ Barea and Devin Harris. 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 Buyers:

T-wolves-Need a better back up PG over Tyus jones if they want to be a legit contender.

Cavs-They need to upgrade for the longterm but what and who is the question. Do they go for a better P.G/SG or Do they go after a big to move the average Tristan Thompson deal. Their only 2-3 players I wouldn’t move. Crowder,Lebron and love(D-wade to a lesser extent also to keep lebron happy). All really depends on if LBJ is implying he will stay or going to who you target..

Nuggets-They need to find the right pieces to put around Harris,Jokic,Millsap(if he comes back in time) and Murray(if kept off the trade block).If they want to make legit noise that is.

Sellers:

OKC-ONLY if they believe one of two things P.G is legtimately out the door and if they believe the chemistry issues won’t be sorted by the playoffs(assuming we still make it)..The hard part is what for though do you go cap room chasing or asset aquiring mode to what move Presti would actually be willing to make if we did become seller.See Demarcus cousins Deal as sort of Bench mark deal to what we could maybe get.

Lakers-They will have to decide soon if they keep Deng,Randle,Brook Lopez,KCP and Larry Nance or Do they go serious big name hunting and depth losing mode right now if they keep losing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jerb2011Participant]

 This is that league "superteam early struggles" shit.. OKC will be in the playoffs (already the 8 seed). They have the 2nd best Defense and with thier struggles, key role players like Steven and Abrines are stepping up and Abrines will be more prepped to be the 6th man once Roberson gets back now that hes gained trust and confidence.

 They are 2 games out of the 4 spot and there is more than half a season left.

 When the Cavs first brought their Big 3 together, they started 19-20 (losing 10 of the last 12) before they started clicking. They’ll be fine.

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

I am an OKC fan I have been since 08 so I have seen the good(the finals run)+ 2015 WCF run,Drafting Adams and the Bad: The Harden trade,Westbrook injury,K.D injury and K.D leaving and the handling of Waiters…So my statement isn’t just a casual watcher of this team.

I however have a serious question for you.

Have you been watching OKC this season its nothing to do with us being a super team or not it is the following:

We are a top 4 team defensively(when everyone is engaged) however we are also a bottom 5 offensive team and have the lowest assist ratio in the league(that is self explanatory due to such a iso heavy team though)….

What it comes down to is this we are losing to bad teams and turning up for some good teams which is the frustrating part …Our supposed stars aren’t shooting well on a regular basis and our supposed starting Center is looking more like an Allstar than our newly acquired Allstars..Don’t get me wrong having at least one other allstar does help open the floor for Adams.

If Donovan keeps doing dumb rotations: like Starting Roberson and not starting either Abrines(most likely) or Ferguson(as at least he can shoot),Giving Abrines no minutes for some games,Having ridged rotations…We will continue to lose games we shouldn’t

All of this will lead to P.G most likely dropping hints that either a) he wants to be traded again or b) he isn’t resigning with us come the offseason due to being unhappy..Or if we somehow get lucky he either starts to like it there or at worst wants one more year to reedem himself as he doesn’t want this to be how he is seen around the league..

See vs Nets game and the Grizzlies games to who it looks with out him as we now have no depth…UGLY as hell we lost to the nets and barely bet the Grizzlies who didn’t even have Mike C

So this leave presti with 3 options: Sell now while they have value at the trade deadline and get as many assets as possible,Hold out until the end of the season and get some cap room when Mello and PG bolt or Finally resign P.G somehow and get some better role players come the offseason…

Because if you think about it what will OKC Seriously look like if Mello(opts out) and PG leave for nothing and we get average players back? An even worse version of last season..Which is why trading them has to at least be an option if we aren’t even in the mix for the playoffs come trade deadline time..

 

 

 

 

 

 

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