[jerb2011Participant]

Ok, Sam Presti is the type of GM who likes to build a team through the draft. This is an interesting situation they are in. They haveno PRESSING needs but they do need an upgrade at the C an PF positions. Also they need a back-up SF. They are set in the backcourt for years so that’s not an issue. We saw in the playoffs that they are not tall enough to compete if they can’t run. that being said, I do not feel they are in the best draft spot to grab an athletic C and nobody knows what byron Mullens is gonna do. I think Patrick Patterson, Ekpe Udoh, and Larry Sanders are ideal players for the Thunder to address to PF positon, Luke Babbitt and Paul George for the back up SF,but all of these players have been projected in the10-20 rangeand the Thunder are at 21, 26, 32, and 51 and nobody will be around that will make immediate impact on the team at 51 so that really doesn’t matter. Daniel Orton may be there but he is unproven and potential only goes so far IMO,in terms of drafting a player. The Thunder loves atheletes becase of theire fast-pace style of offense, buttheyneed length at the PF and C position. Icould see Serge Ibaka at PF one day if Jeff Green gets traded or accepts the back-up SF/PF role.What do hey need to do?

[White ChocolateParticipant]

They have cap room and they have some trade assets.

[the I in winParticipant]

This offseason is going to be the last they have money for at least 6 years because Durant and Green’s contracts are ending and will be getting more money, the next year westbrook, the next year Harden. But this year they have enough for a 2010 free agent (just like every other team) and i think they should really go for Amare or Boozer. Bosh would be great but they have enough skinny guys. If they brought in Stoudemire and convinced him to play D they would be my favorites to win it all unless something crazy happens with all the free agents.

PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: James Harden
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Serge Ibaka
C: Amare Stoudemire
Bench: Eric Maynor, Thabo Sefalosha, 26st pick, Nick Collison, 21th pick

[PlatypusParticipant]

Even better and buy a 2nd round pick for beef

Pg Westbrook
Sg Thabo
Sf KD
Pf Green
C Amare

Pg Maynor
Sg Harden
Sf Pondexter / Butler
Pf Motie
C Ibaka / Pittman

[aarondsonixfanParticipant]

yeah i think that they will pick Orton and Pondexter with their 1st round picks, even though I’m not sold on Orton. They have DJ White who plays basically just like him, only better imo. I do think that they should definitely get Jarvis Varnado for his defensive presence, and if they are lucky, I mean extremely lucky, Da’Sean Butler might slide all the way down to 51 to them. They can wait on his ACL injury. If they get all of these, they can win the draft.

RW, Maynor
Thabo, Harden
Durant, Pondexter
Green, White, Orton
Ibaka, Krstic, Varnado

IL-Weaver, Butler, Mullens

[fastdanParticipant]

Apparently 2nd rounders were going for about 2mil last year. Not sure why they would buy a player who would never see the floor…

[fastdanParticipant]

Keep in mind that Green plays all the SF minutes that Durant does not. Meaning he plays about 26 minutes at the 4, and 10 minutes at the 3, give or take. I’m not sure it’s very wise to waste a first rounder on a player who is strictly insurance. Also Thabo can play minutes at the 3 if one of those players were to go down, so it’s even less likely that a backup SF would actually get playing time.

Since they have their ENTIRE rotation coming back next year, and 7 of 9 coming back for the next 3 years or so, it seems like it would probably be pretty logical for them to take project bigmen, or oversea players, if they cannot move up to take someone who can contribute immediately at the 5, like Aldrich.

I feel like their best shot would be trading all their picks for the Clippers 8 pick. The Clips only have 5 players signed for next year: Baron, Griffin, Kaman, Gordan, and Jordan, which leaves them with no bench, no SF and 4 legit scorers. If Aminu or Johnson are both off the board when they pick, the best they can do is either reach for a SF, or take a backup at another position. With 3 decent picks they could draft like Ebanks, Lawal, and Warren, giving them a solid young core of role players for very cheap.

[jdstormParticipant]

the thunder are pretty set in terms of most positions. they need a Defensive C and an offensive post threat.Hopefully that is the same person. Based on how that Presti likes guys who play multiple positions they will probably look to trade up and take the best PF/C they can get. Versitility is key for this team.

I could see them trading up. hopefully all the good SF are gone and the clippers are willing to trade their pick for 4 cheaper ones to help fill out their roster. maybe we could save them a bit of money as well.

I think Greg monroe wold probably be the perfect player for this team, but i don’t think i would be willing to give up what it would take to get him

[joecheck88Participant]

I noticed this in my mock draft. I have alot of bigs going early and have the Thunder picking Larry Sanders at 21. And Sanders is a fine player but at this point he is another Ibaka. Skinny defensive big with a raw post game. They need to try and trade up and get a Monroe, Cousins, Aldrich, or Udoh. Or they can try to pry a free agent big like Boozer or Stoudemire. And like someone else said Bosh is too skinny.

[JNixonParticipant]

I think they should target Stanley Robinson or Devin Ebanks at SF with one of their picks and take a big, defensive-minded C like Solomon Alabi or Daniel Orton with their other picks.

Robinson/Ebanks have the potential to be great defenders in the NBA, and would provide solid depth in roles for the Thunder. Both also are versatile enough to play some PF as well in certain lineups. And last, both would provide nice changes of pace to Kevin Durant and wouldn’t have to play much with Durant logging big minutes.

If you wanted OKC in the playoffs, it became obvious Krstic is one of the 2 or 3 softest players in basketball, and routinely gave up position down low. And he’s not quick enough to defend PF’s. Daniel Orton would be good to provide toughness down low in the future, and Alabi would give them a tall C who can be a shot-blocking presence down low and a solid man-to-man post defender.

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