[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

 Hi all,

I’d really take to hear your thoughts on the OKC Thunder. IMHO, since the James Harden trade 3 1/2 years ago, they have spun the wheels and not moved forward at all as a team. To be fair, they haven’t gone backwards either – but consistently, every year, they seem to have sat at the very bottom of their tier of teams that ‘if everything they goes right, they could win it all’. Take this year for instance – for me, they’re clearly behind the Spurs, Warriors, and probably the Cavs. That’s not a great place from which to win a Championship.

They seem to have wasted the assets and picks they got from the Harden trade rather than using them aggressively in trades. Serge Ibaka seems to have regressed and doesn’t seem to be the ‘third option’ they were hoping for. Enes Kanter isn’t good enough to move the needle. And when I watch them, they’re still the same team, hopelessly overreliant on two guys.

So how do they take a step?

I’d like to hear what you think. For what it’s worth, I think that they need to move their chips to the centre of the table and go all in – but then again I’ve said that for years, and I think they’ve left it too late (because they risk losing KD this summer and any moves now could jeapordise that even further)

But for me, what they really need is a consistent third option, and I’d look at the few assets they do have (Ibaka, Morrow, Cameron Payne, Adams, picks) and try to package them for a superstar (maybe one that’s getting a bit older on a team that’s not close to contending – one that might cash in for the younger Ibaka and save some cash). Would a package built around Ibaka and the assets above get you Dwight Howard? Marc Gasol? I don’t know, they would be the dream options. But their inactivity over the last three years has really disappointed me.

Anyways, that was pretty long and rambling, but let me know what you think about the Thunder’s next steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sweaterflexParticipant]

Steven Adams is a core piece, Kanter will be gone long before Adams is. Morrow + McGary for Courtney Lee is a good place to start suring up the backcourt. It’ll be interesting to see if they re-sign Dion, I expect Durant will sign a one year extension and enter free agency at the same time as Russ. Hopefully Donovan will trust Cam to play in the backcourt with Russ at the end of games for small ball lineups. The Thunder should sit pat otherwise, unless they find someone to take Kanter off their hands. His defense is just awful, even if he controls the glass against second units.

[kerrstParticipant]

 Is it crazy to suggest a sign and trade of Kevin Durant for Blake Griffin and a 1st round pick.  Then going out and signing a SF like Harrison Barnes, Chandler Parsons or Jeff Green?  If the Durant/Westbrook combo can’t get it done this year then maybe it’s time to make a drastic move that brings Blake back to Oklahoma to form the most explosive, rim rattling dunking combo in the league?

[kerrstParticipant]

 Is it crazy to suggest a sign and trade of Kevin Durant for Blake Griffin and a 1st round pick.  Then going out and signing a SF like Harrison Barnes, Chandler Parsons or Jeff Green?  If the Durant/Westbrook combo can’t get it done this year then maybe it’s time to make a drastic move that brings Blake back to Oklahoma to form the most explosive, rim rattling dunking combo in the league?

[Miko4rm206Participant]

 The  Thunder should see what this team Can do in the PLAYOFFs this year. They have been 20-2 since December just got KD back this year, along with the moves they made last year and New Head Coach they are Still a very Elite team. The Warriors are Defending Champions and The Spurs will always be Competing for a Championship as long as they Got Popovich. Both teams have  Insanely good chemistry and moves the ball extremely well but when You 2 of the Top 5 talents in the NBA on one team Such as Durant and Wetbrook im sure nobody would want to play them Come Playoff time and wouldnt be Suprised if they went to the Finals this year. Cant wait for the OKC vS GSW matchup tonight

[Miko4rm206Participant]

 The  Thunder should see what this team Can do in the PLAYOFFs this year. They have been 20-2 since December just got KD back this year, along with the moves they made last year and New Head Coach they are Still a very Elite team. The Warriors are Defending Champions and The Spurs will always be Competing for a Championship as long as they Got Popovich. Both teams have  Insanely good chemistry and moves the ball extremely well but when You 2 of the Top 5 talents in the NBA on one team Such as Durant and Wetbrook im sure nobody would want to play them Come Playoff time and wouldnt be Suprised if they went to the Finals this year. Cant wait for the OKC vS GSW matchup tonight

[sweaterflexParticipant]

Steven Adams is a core piece, Kanter will be gone long before Adams is. Morrow + McGary for Courtney Lee is a good place to start suring up the backcourt. It’ll be interesting to see if they re-sign Dion, I expect Durant will sign a one year extension and enter free agency at the same time as Russ. Hopefully Donovan will trust Cam to play in the backcourt with Russ at the end of games for small ball lineups. The Thunder should sit pat otherwise, unless they find someone to take Kanter off their hands. His defense is just awful, even if he controls the glass against second units.

[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

 Get rid of Dion

[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

 Get rid of Dion

[Fredette About ItParticipant]

 I would love to see Courtney Lee with them but realistcially unless Memphis blows it up theyre not gonna trade a rival team.. 

I dont really like this trade much but its win now mode with Durant, Westbrook or they could very well be gone.. id do a simple Lou Williams for Dion Waiters and Steve Novak.. Lou is available after this year at 7mil for 2 more years with cap going up is a friendly contract.. He knows his role as 6th man like Louuuu.. Both Waiters and Novak free agents so wipes Lakers hands of the cash and if they wish to retain Waiters then they have a good chance at it.. 

Or Eric Gordon for Waiters, Novak and like Singler.. works cap wise but again feel like this gives them a better shot THIS year.. * Baring a healthy Gordon :s

Or Kevin Martin for Waiters and Novak.. not as sexy seeing as this would be his second stint with them but nows the time to decide if This team right now can win it.. if not gotta go all in

Its all or nothing these next two years with big time decisions for Durant and Westbrook.. 

[Fredette About ItParticipant]

 I would love to see Courtney Lee with them but realistcially unless Memphis blows it up theyre not gonna trade a rival team.. 

I dont really like this trade much but its win now mode with Durant, Westbrook or they could very well be gone.. id do a simple Lou Williams for Dion Waiters and Steve Novak.. Lou is available after this year at 7mil for 2 more years with cap going up is a friendly contract.. He knows his role as 6th man like Louuuu.. Both Waiters and Novak free agents so wipes Lakers hands of the cash and if they wish to retain Waiters then they have a good chance at it.. 

Or Eric Gordon for Waiters, Novak and like Singler.. works cap wise but again feel like this gives them a better shot THIS year.. * Baring a healthy Gordon :s

Or Kevin Martin for Waiters and Novak.. not as sexy seeing as this would be his second stint with them but nows the time to decide if This team right now can win it.. if not gotta go all in

Its all or nothing these next two years with big time decisions for Durant and Westbrook.. 

[Dr.RedParticipant]

First of all, the Thuder haven’t been fully healthy since the Harden trade. Secondly, when Russ, KD, and Ibaka are all healthy and playing, the Thunder have the best record in the NBA since the Harden trade – better than GS and better than SA and better than LeBron! So they definitely haven’t regressed. And both Russ and KD have significantly improved their games since the trade, they just have had to deal with injuries. They are the third best team in the league right now! Give them a chance with a healthy Russ, KD and Ibaka in the playoffs before you write them off!

All this trade talk is ridiculous. Why would you trade Durant unless he informed you he was planning to leave in free agency?! My guess is KD is back in a Thunder uniform next year, and I predict that OKC wins it all this year, with the caveat of their "Big 3" remaining healthy. 

[Dr.RedParticipant]

First of all, the Thuder haven’t been fully healthy since the Harden trade. Secondly, when Russ, KD, and Ibaka are all healthy and playing, the Thunder have the best record in the NBA since the Harden trade – better than GS and better than SA and better than LeBron! So they definitely haven’t regressed. And both Russ and KD have significantly improved their games since the trade, they just have had to deal with injuries. They are the third best team in the league right now! Give them a chance with a healthy Russ, KD and Ibaka in the playoffs before you write them off!

All this trade talk is ridiculous. Why would you trade Durant unless he informed you he was planning to leave in free agency?! My guess is KD is back in a Thunder uniform next year, and I predict that OKC wins it all this year, with the caveat of their "Big 3" remaining healthy. 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

 I feel like it the Thunder would’ve signed or traded for a guy like Iguadola it would’ve been the key piece, I think they need a lock down defender with versatility, an Iggy, Batum, Kawhi…

I don’t know what they can do about that this year, maybe getting a guy like Gallinari for a little extra firepower somehow?

 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

 I feel like it the Thunder would’ve signed or traded for a guy like Iguadola it would’ve been the key piece, I think they need a lock down defender with versatility, an Iggy, Batum, Kawhi…

I don’t know what they can do about that this year, maybe getting a guy like Gallinari for a little extra firepower somehow?

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The Thunder tick most of the boxes of what we would look for when construting our ideal NBA rosters, I won’t go into details as I did so on a previous forum topic. Anyway the only two things I personally think they might lack is a player with real championship winning experience and a really good 3 point shooter.

If they could have tempted Ray Allen to play on or return or got Paul Pierce via FA then both needs would have been filled. A FA like Joe Johnson would fill the shooter need and give extra experience for example.

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The Thunder tick most of the boxes of what we would look for when construting our ideal NBA rosters, I won’t go into details as I did so on a previous forum topic. Anyway the only two things I personally think they might lack is a player with real championship winning experience and a really good 3 point shooter.

If they could have tempted Ray Allen to play on or return or got Paul Pierce via FA then both needs would have been filled. A FA like Joe Johnson would fill the shooter need and give extra experience for example.

 

 

[Fredette About ItParticipant]

 Aaron Affalo.. solid 2 guard.. both side of the ball.. maybe a trade of Affalo for Waiters and Mcgary.. more youth to put around the zinger.. I know Affalo is the type of guy u want esp around a young guy like him but this clears a bit of space to go for Conley who they will target

[Fredette About ItParticipant]

 Aaron Affalo.. solid 2 guard.. both side of the ball.. maybe a trade of Affalo for Waiters and Mcgary.. more youth to put around the zinger.. I know Affalo is the type of guy u want esp around a young guy like him but this clears a bit of space to go for Conley who they will target

[HitsterParticipant]

 Affalo isn’t a bad call he has a $8 million player option which he may well opt into and the chance to be on a legit contender would likely appeal to him. The Knicks are still rebuilding and may prefer the much younger Waiters or as FGI says above the Knicks free up salary space if they don’t match any offers for Waiters or they might extend him for less than the $8 million Affalo had on the table.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Affalo isn’t a bad call he has a $8 million player option which he may well opt into and the chance to be on a legit contender would likely appeal to him. The Knicks are still rebuilding and may prefer the much younger Waiters or as FGI says above the Knicks free up salary space if they don’t match any offers for Waiters or they might extend him for less than the $8 million Affalo had on the table.

[GBeeParticipant]

 They’re not far off.  I’d give em a puncher’s chance if they met the Spurs in the p/o’s.  I’d favor them over the Cavs too.  A legit 3&D would probably put them right there as the clear cut #2 team in the league, but those types are in demand.  Every team wants those.

And yes, get rid of Dion.

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 They’re not far off.  I’d give em a puncher’s chance if they met the Spurs in the p/o’s.  I’d favor them over the Cavs too.  A legit 3&D would probably put them right there as the clear cut #2 team in the league, but those types are in demand.  Every team wants those.

And yes, get rid of Dion.

 

 

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