[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

yea, get rid of that contract david kahn

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

so i looked into it a little more, and it’s really not that good of a trade, but I’ll still take it! damien wilkins and chucky atkins? that at least balances some of the frontcourt-backcourt ratio… they’re all expiring deals though so it’s not a big deal… Songaila is the one with the deal that extends past next year

[auberParticipant]

I like the moves their making. It’s to little too late though brah. I wouldn’t be surprised if Al Jefferson is trade for Hasheem Thabeet and Zach Randolph.

[Knicksboy34Participant]

2 2nd round picks go to OKC as well

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

we have like a gagillion of those! WHO NEEDS EM! and, it’s not like we pick good players in the 2nd round anyway…

[auberParticipant]

This move for Oklahoma means Ibanka will remain overseas for another year or two. It makes me really sad and disappointed because I believe he’s ready to contribute for them.

[jerb2011Participant]

Ibanka is going to play PF and Etan is playing C

[JoeWolf1]

Etan Thomas isn’t a big minutes guy anymore, at 31 with a history of injuries, i’d actually be surprised if he lasted the whole season with OKC

[auberParticipant]

He’s more so “bridging the gap” for Ibanka. Washington gave him a solid amount of time. When Thomas went down Songalia took away most if not all of Blatches minutes.

[JoeWolf1]

Yeah, i can see that, and an insurance policy because rookie centers (Mullins) who is going to be playing backup minutes often flake out, take bad shots and get in foul trouble.

[the microwaveParticipant]

i like etan. anyone who comes back from heart surgery is ok in my book.. he came back and is still in mix.. Tough warrior type guy. Always liked him

[HaakaanParticipant]

Yea his career may not have panned out like I hoped because of those injuries, but when he did play he was always fierce and never took a play off. Plus he could really throw down some nasty jams.

[DigglerParticipant]

Anyone know which picks we (Minnesota) gave up? Was it the poorer ones?

[bobbygiller]

from what i understand the wolves are giving up their own 2nd round pick along with the last or lowest of the other 3 picks they hold in the 2nd round

[sheltwon3Participant]

I think it adds toughness to a pretty small Thunder team. It also like someone says allows some of their younger bigs to develop some more. Sam Presti is one of the GM’s I really admire because he seems to make a lot of smart moves. The Portland GM is not far from my admiration too. I was starting to doubt them until they picked up Miller. I think they did so many good deals that they are trying not to overdo it and wait to see what they have.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

etan thomas is also an experienced/talented poet, in case you wanted to know. haha lol and i also think he’s very active in the community

[KidDelicious35Participant]

OKC made this trade for several reasons but Ibaka has little to do with it if at all. OKC essentially turned the expiring contracts of 2 players (Wilkins and Atkins) worth roughly 7 million for 2 second round picks and an expiring contract of 1 player (Thomas) worth roughly 7 million. Some of the main reasons OKC completed the trade include:

1. Balancing the depth between frontcourt and backcourt players – OKC has more guards which are ready to contribute in the NBA than they do big men. Westbrook, Livingston, Harden, and Weaver all spent time at PG during summer league and they also have Thabo who they traded a 1st rounder for last year. However in the frontcout OKC is more thin with only Kristic, Collison, White, Ibaka, and Green cabable of playing minutes down low.
2. Opening a roster spot – by trading 2 players for 1 OKC now has an extra roster spot. An NBA team can have 15 players on their roster. 12 of which dress and the other 3 are inactive. However out of the 3 inactives, 2 can play in the D-League. 8 spots on the active roster are all but guarenteed (Westbrook, Livingston, Harden, Thabo, Durant, Green, Collison, Kristic). This leaves 4 open spots between players like DJ White, Kyle Weaver, Serge Ibaka, Byron Mullens, Etan Thomas and Robert Vaden. My guess is that White and Weaver are pretty much locks at this point as is Thomas. So that leaves 1 open spot for either Ibaka Mullens, or Vaden. OKC may elect to start Ibaka and Mullens in the D-League with their 2 inactive spots in order for them to develop while getting significant PT. Vaden could stay on as the 12th man and provide shooting off of the bench and if someone goes down Ibaka or Mullens can be called up to the League.
3. It is easier to move 1 expiring contract at the deadline than it is 2 – If Thomas is healthy and plays well, a contender could try to trade for him and his expiring contract if an injury happens somewhere in their frontcourt. Big men are more valuable than guards and swingmen in the trade market and also by only having 1 expring contract it is easier to trade because a straight up trade can be completed without having to clear room for another roster spot.

So while Thomas may steal some minutes Ibaka could have been considered for, he actually improves his chances of staying in the states by opening another roster spot.

[FutureoftheGame]

Does anyone see them using Etan as a mentor for DJ White? If he could get a lil coaching from a vet, he just might pan out to be a decent backup.

[auberParticipant]

Ibanka is ready, but Oklahoma City isn’t. As much as I want this guy to come over it’s not going to happen yet.

[Author]

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