[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 Now that the offseason is upon us what does OKC do with their team?Do you keep building around Russell or hit Reset?

The first question:

Is what can they do with Melo? What could they realistically get for him they both decide to move on from each other(besides a cap hit)? Do they just get cap space if he opts out or Will he allow them to get something for him from his team that he would like to go to? Or do they hope he buys in some how?

The second question:

If P.G doesn’t re-up do people think he would do a sign and trade?

or

Does he bail for nothing or Stay?

Final question:

What would people do with the roster that OKC have? Would you let P.G and Melo both go for nothing and try bring in better fits and who would they be? or Do you bring them both back?,Do you bring one back and not the other or Do you hit full rebuild?

 

[The GoatParticipant]

 I think if PG genuinely wants to be there, great, if not, I think you’ll only a bad contract back in a sign and trade if he really wants to go and everyone knows. 

I thought Denver kept Melo too long before trading him. That should give you an indication on what i think of him. I would inform him hes not going to play and if he’d like to waive his no trade clause, id then ship him out. I think you’ll only get back an equally bad contract along with a young player or draft pick, something like Luol Deng and Josh Hart or Chandler Parsons and Dillon Brooks. If hes says he still wont waive his clause id just waive and stretch him. Hes like a lead weight around your neck if you are OKC. 

Russ and Adams can be successful much like the 2001 Sixers with Iverson and Mutombo. They just need the right role players. They are not going to beat GSW, maybe not even if they got LeBron, so they should run as the Russ show and build with cheap young players. They need to get in  the first round of this draft badly. 

 

 

[zolaParticipant]

 

Trade Melo to Cavs for JR Smith and Jordan Clarkson

JR Smith can streach the floor for Westbrook and would be upgrade at SG. His final year is only partly guaranteed

Clarkson can be scorer from bench who they lacked last season

Melo wouldn’t solve many of Cavs problems, but maybe could bring some optimism for re-signing LeBron. His best role would be 6th man, spliting time at both forward positions and giving them another scorer who can create his own shot besides LeBron

 

 

 

[cohenbc1Participant]

 1. I would be shocked if Melo terminates his contract early. He’s owed $28 mil next season. No one else will pay him more than the minimum. What about trading him to Houston for Ryan Anderson? Now that Mike D’Antoni cares about defense there’s no role for Anderson on that team. And Westbrook really needs floor-spacers more than anything.

2. I would guess PG13 is leaving. Next year OKC is still probably better than the Lakers, regardless of where he goes. But as soon as Westbrook loses half a step, the Thunder are a lottery team with or without PG13. Lakers have the brighter future.

3. I would do everything possible to get rid of Melo and keep PG13. Unfortunately for the Thunder the opposite is probably what will happen. They will still be a bubble playoff team. Maybe Ferguson will step up. 

 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I know revisionist history is pointless, but if pg does bolt this offseason that great offseason they supposedly had last year is going to suddenly look pretty terrible in retrospect.

[jacobkeyParticipant]

 And that was always the risk they knew they were taking. What’s shocking is that even if PG leaves and Melo stays, the Melo trade was still worse in hindsight. I think we all knew Melo was a shell of his former self, but on top of that, his style of basketball isn’t even relevant in the NBA anymore.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 True. But the fact that oladipo and Sabonis improved so much this season in Indiana, combined with the fact that melo looked completely washed make it look a whole lot worse. Of course, you could easily make the argument that oladipo and sabonis wouldn’t have made those same strides in okc, but it’s just a bad look for the franchise. Even if george stays, which I think is unlikely, they will likely be locked into paying him a max deal that will put them well into the luxury tax, and they will have no real path to true contention.

[HitsterParticipant]

Melo still has his trade clause so if he opted in would have to agree to any trade I believe. He could be stretched over 3 years if he was waived and he might be prepared to accept a buyout.

There has always been talk of him wanting to link up with other Team USA alumni on one of the “Super-Teams” so as he is 34 now and his title window is closing might he just decide to become a free agent and be seen to be doing the decent thing and moving on. He has always seemed to be a bit obsessed with money so I don’t think he would leave all that on the table.

But if OKC did say to him if he opted in then they will likely waive him then he could well dig his feet in and opt in. If he did want some sort of buyout and OKC were prepared to let him go then it might be useful to both sides to reach a dignified settlement. Melo gets a payout but leaves some on the table so both sides can say they have got a fair deal.

PG13 had a very good season in OKC whilst all the headlines were about Westbrook, PG13 seemed to thrive in the running mate role and whilst he wasn’t the scoring focus, he still made All Star and 3rd All NBA teams without too much hype.

He is 28 now so this contract move will be very important and if he went to the Lakers would they get a roster which was any closer to winning than the Thunder’s is unless LBJ decamped to LA.

I wonder if he might recommit to the Thunder but take a shorter deal so he could then potentially get a larger deal with them in say 2020 or he could hit FA again whilst still a peak player.

[SubZeroParticipant]

I have a feeling I’m gonna need to keep my flask on me anytime I watch their games. PG’s probably leaving and Melo’s probably staying, this is the worst I’ve felt about the team in the 10 years Ive been a fan. We pretty much handicapped ourselves last summer and I don’t think there’s much we can do until we get rid of Melo

[jacobkeyParticipant]

 The only Melo trade I have seen that makes sense for all parties involved (and even still is highly unlikely) is Melo to LAC for Gallinari and Beverley. 

Makes sense for LAC because DeAndre Jordan is likely gone and they are probably in line for at least a short rebuild. This lets them get out of Gallinari’s contract and get a player for one year that can generate at least a little excitement.

Makes sense for OKC because obviously they get the divorce they really want and get back a couple players who, when healthy, can help them out.

Makes sense for Melo because he gets to make his full salary, be in LA, and likely start and have a reasonably prominent role. 

Again, I understand this is highly unlikely but it’s the ONLY one I’ve seen that at least makes some sense for everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

[joe2324Participant]

We’ve already seen what Westbrook can do with 2 other elite stars – durant and harden. They couldn’t win and both guys found more success playing without westbrook. We’ve seen other players like Kanter, Olidipo and Sabonis look like different players away from Westbrook. Sorry, but Westbrook has to go, its just not working. His style is not conductive to ever winning a title.  

[Author]

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