Why do you say that? I would love to see him in the rotation off the bench. Think of the athleticism of our second team:

PG - Schroder
SG - TFerg
SF - Huestis
PF - Grant
C - Noel

They are all still young, but those guys would run and if they could trust each other, could really wear people down.

1) - Because he deleted all of his social media like the others that were recently traded did. He might have been told he was being shopped ?

2) - Didn't have much of a Summer League performance ?

3) - Money ?

4) Burton or Diallo might replace him during the season ?

And everyone knows that Huestis is gone. You can only get away shooting less than 30 % free throws if you're one of the top defenders in the league.

LeBron James moving to the west (L.A. Lakers), looks as though the west is stacked with the top 10 best players in the league.

We're an NBA big league city now. Fan loyalty for our Thunder will continue; however we are seeing OKC elevate to a higher level of player appreciation as well.

For Melo's shortcomings in the playoffs, people are completely exaggerating the negative effect he has on the team offensively. First, the starting lineup numbers with him were elite, which suggests he was not at all the disaster he's being painted as. Second, he was the second most valuable shooter behind PG on a team without much shooting. Yes, Melo shot worse than expected at just above the league average at his 35.7%... but his shooting still helped the team a lot. Defenders respected Melo's shot and he thus pulled defenders towards him, which opened up the paint for others. It's not just about making threes, but about taking them a high volume and the defense respecting it. Only Paul George gets the respect as a shooter that Melo gets. Here's the number and percentage of threes for 2018-2019 players:

PG: 244 on 40.1%
Melo: 169 on 35.7%
Russ: 97 on 29.8%
Abrines: 84 on 38%
Felton: 81 on 35.2%
Schroder: 76 on 29%
Patterson: 67 on 38.6%
TLC: 53 on 33.5%
Ferguson: 40 on 33.3%
Grant: 32 on 29.1%

One of fan bases favorite things to do during the offseason is project better shooting from players without evidence. There's not much evidence to suggest that Russ is going to improve as a three point shooter. Could he take more spot up threes, which he shoots at a higher percentage? Yeah, but there's no reason to think Russ will actually become a valuable off ball player. We say that every offseason and it never happens. Abrines has never got consistent minutes and Ferguson did not shoot well or garner any respect from defenses. Also, any of these guys could also have worse shooting seasons. Only Patterson has a history that suggests that he could handle more shots.

Anyway, guys could show improvement, but Melo made a lot of threes and demanded defensive attention that opened the lane up for Russ, Adams, PG, and others. I think OKC made the right move to move on from Melo, but this suggestion that he only hurt the team is untrue and is probably overly influenced by his abysmal performance in the playoffs. Let's hope OKC can find some shooting on the roster or add someone because that's the hole on this team right now.

Agree 100%. Dead on. Melo had significant positive impact in a lot of Thunder wins during the season. His playoffs were abysmal and that is what sticks with us all. I totally agree to how the Thunder handled moving Melo, so don’t freak that I’m saying he should still be in OKC. But Houston is getting a deal and he’ll help them especially with losses they had. He’ll be playing the 3 and when you consider he is basically taking the spot James Ennis’ would have had.....Rockets did OK here.

Melo was pretty good for most of the season. Seems like he wore down after the All Star break. I don't know what his numbers were but just seems like the farther the season went the further he sank. If he could limit his minutes to about 20 per game I think he would still get pretty good numbers and help a team.

^^^^^^^^^
This all lines up pretty much with what I was saying all season. When they were beginning to gel with their starting 5 they were arguably playing the best basketball in the league, and this is even with Melo struggling from a historical perspective. But just as people were legitimately talking about them as potential giant-killers, Dre got hurt and it all went into the toilet. As soon as Roberson was out Melo's defensive deficits became glaringly obvious, and throughout the rest of the season guys feasted on his slowness and general lack of defense. Robes cleaned up so, so much. Of course over the entire season up to that point he was roasted on social media and elsewhere - by those who could not see the forest for the trees - for his shaky shooting.

I personally was hoping (as I posted here) that Melo had another gear and would shake off his shooting slump and cause some matchup problems in the playoffs, but alas, it was not to be. I think the Melo deal was worth a shot for Presti, and if nothing it proved to Russ that the ownership was willing to pull out all of the stops. It also proved to basketball media and other haters that OKC could indeed lure marquee free agents, which he essentially was when he came here. I think all of the above probably played a part also in securing Paul George, which was infinitely more important. But at the end of the day he was not a good on-court fit. Fare thee well. Presti made the right move once again in dealing him.

Back on Melo: he wants to be the impact starter that he claims he can be with Houston, I STILL don't doubt it. But IMO he'd better be doing P90X right this minute.

Melo was okay offensively for us. Took hardly any corner threes (like 11% of his total shots were from the corners) but he was pretty good.

Biggest issue is that, with Roberson out, Melo couldn't be hid defensively. We saw Utah go at him and score at will. He was unplayable, and for a 27 million dollar player, that is unacceptable.

Now that Houston has him on a minimum deal, you can live with that a little more. I fully expect him to play better with Houston during the regular season and be a giant liability in the playoffs again. It'll be like Ryan Anderson part two for Houston accept a lot less money is involved.

For Melo's shortcomings in the playoffs, people are completely exaggerating the negative effect he has on the team offensively. First, the starting lineup numbers with him were elite, which suggests he was not at all the disaster he's being painted as. Second, he was the second most valuable shooter behind PG on a team without much shooting. Yes, Melo shot worse than expected at just above the league average at his 35.7%... but his shooting still helped the team a lot. Defenders respected Melo's shot and he thus pulled defenders towards him, which opened up the paint for others. It's not just about making threes, but about taking them a high volume and the defense respecting it. Only Paul George gets the respect as a shooter that Melo gets. Here's the number and percentage of threes for 2018-2019 players:

PG: 244 on 40.1%
Melo: 169 on 35.7%
Russ: 97 on 29.8%
Abrines: 84 on 38%
Felton: 81 on 35.2%
Schroder: 76 on 29%
Patterson: 67 on 38.6%
TLC: 53 on 33.5%
Ferguson: 40 on 33.3%
Grant: 32 on 29.1%

One of fan bases favorite things to do during the offseason is project better shooting from players without evidence. There's not much evidence to suggest that Russ is going to improve as a three point shooter. Could he take more spot up threes, which he shoots at a higher percentage? Yeah, but there's no reason to think Russ will actually become a valuable off ball player. We say that every offseason and it never happens. Abrines has never got consistent minutes and Ferguson did not shoot well or garner any respect from defenses. Also, any of these guys could also have worse shooting seasons. Only Patterson has a history that suggests that he could handle more shots.

Anyway, guys could show improvement, but Melo made a lot of threes and demanded defensive attention that opened the lane up for Russ, Adams, PG, and others. I think OKC made the right move to move on from Melo, but this suggestion that he only hurt the team is untrue and is probably overly influenced by his abysmal performance in the playoffs. Let's hope OKC can find some shooting on the roster or add someone because that's the hole on this team right now.

I didn't project better shooting. I said that I don't think that the loss of Melo changes much for us in regards to shooting. 169 on 35.7% is respectable, but I think we'd be stretching to say that we can't find a way to replace that with the current roster.

I think it's important to understand that OKC did not start a PF last year, we started 2 SFs. This makes sense in today's NBA - but I think we can certainly question whether or not our #2 SF can actually be upgraded. Anthony's skillset is what it is: He can shoot okay from anywhere on the floor (a skillset that surprisingly few NBA players have), and when needed, he can create a shot against any defender on the baseline and gets a solid percentage out of those shots even today. At 3-point shooting Anthony is better than Westbrook in raw stats 6%, but when you look at stats that give us actual information about shooters, he's about a 1.5% better shooter. The difference between Westbrook and Melo is the type of 3 they take. Russel took 2.9 pull ups/game for 27.9% and Melo 1 for 28.9%. Catch and Shoot Westbrook took 1.1 at 36% and Melo took 5.1 @ 37.2%

The question becomes will OKC (and Russ specifically) find a way to get the better shots or will they continue to take the crappy ones.

Even assume we make marginal gains on that front, given the performance of Abrines in the playoffs and various moments throughout the regular season, we know that we have a player who, if consistency can be found on his end, will at the very least bring better 3-point shooting to the floor than Melo did - and with the deepest stable of PG/ball-handler play OKC has ever had, a guy like a Abrines can find his way into just about any lineup.

For all the changes we think we see happening this offseason, the success of this team depends on factors that are not really dissimilar at all to last year's team: Can Russ expand his game to be a more complete player and can Abrines+Grant be a dynamic force off the bench in the vein of some of San Antonio's 2013/14 Green+Diaw Combo. Paul George and Steven Adams are exactly who they need to be for OKC to win a championship in the next 3 years (improvement would only help the cause). Roberson, if he can be what he has always been could be part of a championship team (he showed that in 2015/16). Westbrook becoming transcendent and the other two real assets that we have blossoming are the difference between competing for a championship and continuing to be a team that fights for home-court and one-series in the playoffs.

What we need to see this season are significant gains on both of those fronts so that we know we have what we need going into 2019/20 --- short of catastrophic injuries to GSW, this season was likely over before it started...before Boogie signed with the Warriors.

Hope Dre is in top-notch shape when the Thunder play Houston; he'll switch off on Harden & Anthony. Take it to the bank, Melo's coming at OKC with a vengeance.

The results will probably be similar to his first game against the Knicks. I like Melo though. His shots are a thing of beauty when they're falling.

Hope Dre is in top-notch shape when the Thunder play Houston; he'll switch off on Harden & Anthony. Take it to the bank, Melo's coming at OKC with a vengeance.

Maybe he'll get up to a 3/4 jog, so scared

Hope Dre is in top-notch shape when the Thunder play Houston; he'll switch off on Harden & Anthony. Take it to the bank, Melo's coming at OKC with a vengeance.

I seriously doubt Melo can keep up with the pace of an OKC - Rockets matchup ? He needs to lose about 20 pounds if he plans too.

To me, watching Melo’s game - which largely consists of backing down dudes in iso - is like seeing an occasional wishbone or other running option play in a college football game. It’s exhilarating and gives you a nostalgic jolt, especially if you grew up watching something like it. Sometimes it even makes you think “dang, why don’t you ever see an offense like that; defenders can’t handle it...”

Then the next time they trot it and it gets stuffed in an embarrassing manner. At which point you realize the game has simply passed it by and that team speed, athleticism and modern defensive strategy won’t let such a thing thrive these days.

It would be different if he ever passed out of his ISO jab-stepping. But everyone on the team literally starts walking back for defense once Melo gets the ball with 15 seconds left on the shotclock, they know he is tossing a brick regardless of anything.

^^^^^^^^^
Pretty accurate, regrettably.

I know for a fact there was significant tension between melo and adams over Melo's work ethic, or lack there of. Melo has always out talented just about everybody over the years, but now he's 34, out of shape, and his talent diminished. The reason Lebron has held up so well is lebron out works everyone AND is supremely talented. Melo just had supreme talent and an eh work ethic. That works at 24 not so much at 34.

I know for a fact there was significant tension between melo and adams over Melo's work ethic, or lack there of. Melo has always out talented just about everybody over the years, but now he's 34, out of shape, and his talent diminished. The reason Lebron has held up so well is lebron out works everyone AND is supremely talented. Melo just had supreme talent and an eh work ethic. That works at 24 not so much at 34.

Good point, Gopokes88,


Talented LeBron maintained his weight & kept in shape and worked out.

Talented Carmelo increased his weight, out of shape and worked out at the table.


A tale of two NBA players.

LeBron is not a good comparison considering he's probably the best, most athletic 33 year old in NBA history. Literally, every player from his draft class compared against LeBron looks old and slow. Here is every active player remaining from the 2003 draft that is either on an NBA roster or will likely end up on one: Kyle Korver, LeBron James, Jose Calderon, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Notice a theme among non-LeBron guys: they're old, slow, and barely play. You could use age instead of draft class and find a few good players mixed in against a lot of old, slow players too.

I can't really speak to Melo's work ethic. If there were any tensions with teammates, it's breaking here on OKCTalk because I've never heard one peep of it elsewhere. Not saying it's not true, just that Melo has been repeatedly reported as very popular among his teammates. I agree that Melo is struggling to mentally adjust to his diminishing skills, but I just think the hate for him is over the top. Melo changed chose OKC, changed his game, and teammates liked him. But, he thinks he's better than he is and everyone just constantly bashes him like he was terrible all season when he played his role decently for the first 2/3rds of the season.

LeBron is not a good comparison considering he's probably the best, most athletic 33 year old in NBA history. Literally, every player from his draft class compared against LeBron looks old and slow. Here is every active player remaining from the 2003 draft that is either on an NBA roster or will likely end up on one: Kyle Korver, LeBron James, Jose Calderon, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Notice a theme among non-LeBron guys: they're old, slow, and barely play. You could use age instead of draft class and find a few good players mixed in against a lot of old, slow players too.

I can't really speak to Melo's work ethic. If there were any tensions with teammates, it's breaking here on OKCTalk because I've never heard one peep of it elsewhere. Not saying it's not true, just that Melo has been repeatedly reported as very popular among his teammates. I agree that Melo is struggling to mentally adjust to his diminishing skills, but I just think the hate for him is over the top. Melo changed chose OKC, changed his game, and teammates liked him. But, he thinks he's better than he is and everyone just constantly bashes him like he was terrible all season when he played his role decently for the first 2/3rds of the season.

+1

LeBron is not a good comparison considering he's probably the best, most athletic 33 year old in NBA history. Literally, every player from his draft class compared against LeBron looks old and slow. Here is every active player remaining from the 2003 draft that is either on an NBA roster or will likely end up on one: Kyle Korver, LeBron James, Jose Calderon, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Notice a theme among non-LeBron guys: they're old, slow, and barely play. You could use age instead of draft class and find a few good players mixed in against a lot of old, slow players too.

I can't really speak to Melo's work ethic. If there were any tensions with teammates, it's breaking here on OKCTalk because I've never heard one peep of it elsewhere. Not saying it's not true, just that Melo has been repeatedly reported as very popular among his teammates. I agree that Melo is struggling to mentally adjust to his diminishing skills, but I just think the hate for him is over the top. Melo changed chose OKC, changed his game, and teammates liked him. But, he thinks he's better than he is and everyone just constantly bashes him like he was terrible all season when he played his role decently for the first 2/3rds of the season.

Slightly disagree. Expectations for Melo were high, we all admit that. Here's where Anthony got some criticism:

'17-'18 OKC 3PM-A 169-474 3P% .357, PPG 16.2 FG% .433
'16-'17 NYK 3PM-A 151-421 3P% .359, PPG 22.4 FG% .434

Many times Carmelo was wide open on 3s. It wasn't about hate; Carmelo made excuses for his bad performance as he claims he would have played better at the 3 instead of the 4. CA did show a slight improvement on defense. He did have to share the spotlight with Westbrook & George.

Anthony's cheeks looked like a blow fish with a food pantry stored in his jaws. The Nuggets' Anthony we knew was a Thunder killer at the height of his career with Denver.

How about those 2 missed free throws at Boston ? Cost us the game. Polished veteran that he should be should hit at least one if not both. It's reality not hate, Melo is over the hill physically but can not accept it in his mind. He wasn't on the court too long during games to where he was walking back on the offensive possessions. From day one he didn't want competition for his position.... he said he was starting. It took a 25 point come back win against the Jazz to expose the situation where he argued with Cheeks wanting back in the game.

LeBron is not a good comparison considering he's probably the best, most athletic 33 year old in NBA history. Literally, every player from his draft class compared against LeBron looks old and slow. Here is every active player remaining from the 2003 draft that is either on an NBA roster or will likely end up on one: Kyle Korver, LeBron James, Jose Calderon, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Notice a theme among non-LeBron guys: they're old, slow, and barely play. You could use age instead of draft class and find a few good players mixed in against a lot of old, slow players too.

I can't really speak to Melo's work ethic. If there were any tensions with teammates, it's breaking here on OKCTalk because I've never heard one peep of it elsewhere. Not saying it's not true, just that Melo has been repeatedly reported as very popular among his teammates. I agree that Melo is struggling to mentally adjust to his diminishing skills, but I just think the hate for him is over the top. Melo changed chose OKC, changed his game, and teammates liked him. But, he thinks he's better than he is and everyone just constantly bashes him like he was terrible all season when he played his role decently for the first 2/3rds of the season.

Royce young has hinted at it several times on his paywall podcast, and I have a source that works for the team that mentioned it to me.

And I said nothing of the sort that he was terrible. I just said he and Adams butted heads over his work ethic, which he has a reputation over the years that he isn’t a first in the gym last out type guy. Lebron is, that’s why he doesn’t look 34, and melo does.

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Thunder Announces 2018 Preseason Schedule: https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/preseason-sked-180731


OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 2018 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

DATE__________OPPONENT__________Location__________ TIME_____(CDT)


Oct. 3 _____ vs. Detroit Pistons _____ Oklahoma City _____ 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 _____ at Minnesota Timberwolves _____ Minneapolis _____ TBD
Oct. 7 _____ vs. Atlanta Hawks _____ Tulsa, Okla. _____ 2 p.m.
Oct. 9 _____ vs. Milwaukee Bucks _____ Oklahoma City _____ 7 p.m.

So, we’re mad Carmelo shot at the same percentages as his previous year before OKC acquired him? And, that he missed two free throws in a single game (Russ had a season-long free throw problem that’s never mentioned)? And, that he wanted to play in a game? I’m surprised people are so mad at a player for being competitive and wanting to play. Melo was clearly promised a big, starting role by the team. Why is no one mad at Presti for bringing in Melo with that understanding?

Remember which episodes? I listen to Dream Team and cant remember hearing that... I did take break, but I’d think Down to Dunk would have mentioned it.

It’s the one where Royce talks about melo showing up for a playoff (a playoff!!!) game 2 hours extra early because he thought it was at 7pm, but it was an 830 start. Around that time he mentions it.

And no, none of the guys on down to dunk are even a fraction as connected as Royce.

Okay, I’ll go back and listen for it. But the DTD guys (Andrew, Hamm) are literally owners of the podcast where you’re claiming this news broke... and if Royce had shared this then they’d know. So, that’s a weird point to make.

Okay, I’ll go back and listen for it. But the DTD guys (Andrew, Hamm) are literally owners of the podcast where you’re claiming this news broke... and if Royce had shared this then they’d know. So, that’s a weird point to make.

They actually are all co owners. Hamm doesn’t go on DTD very much anymore, and they intentionally try not to have too much crossover between the two.

And lol “news broke”. It’s really not that juicy of a topic

Well, it’s contradicting a season’s worth of reporting that repeated over and over again on Melo’s popularity and likability in the locker room. Again, I’m not doubting you as I have to go back and listen, but I’ve never seen it written anywhere.

Well, it’s contradicting a season’s worth of reporting that repeated over and over again on Melo’s popularity and likability in the locker room. Again, I’m not doubting you as I have to go back and listen, but I’ve never seen it written anywhere.

He wasn’t a cancer or anything. He was popular. But there was tension between him and Adams about his work ethic.
It’s more nuanced than just good guy/ bad guy

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Oklahoma City ESPN Thunder Roster update: http://www.espn.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder


Salary update: Hamidou Diallo SG 20 6-5 198 Kentucky $838,464

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Thunder Announces 2018 Preseason Schedule: https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/preseason-sked-180731

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 2018 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

DATE__________OPPONENT__________Location__________ TIME_____(CDT)

Oct. 3 _____ vs. Detroit Pistons _____ Oklahoma City _____ 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 _____ at Minnesota Timberwolves _____ Minneapolis _____ TBD
Oct. 7 _____ vs. Atlanta Hawks _____ Tulsa, Okla. _____ 2 p.m.
Oct. 9 _____ vs. Milwaukee Bucks _____ Oklahoma City _____ 7 p.m.


too bad we don't send any pre-season games to Wichita anymore. ... It is a nice catchment market for OKC and they support the Thunder big time as an extended home. I'd like to see 6 preseason games; 1 in Tulsa every year for sure and 1 in Wichita (maybe rotating with say KC/Omaha).

too bad we don't send any pre-season games to Wichita anymore. ... It is a nice catchment market for OKC and they support the Thunder big time as an extended home. I'd like to see 6 preseason games; 1 in Tulsa every year for sure and 1 in Wichita (maybe rotating with say KC/Omaha).

Wish they would allow NBA teams to farm out all preseason games; especially to potential expansion-relocation markets. Lakers played a few preseason games in the early years of the Ford Center; then you know the rest of the story post Katrina.

The Seattle & Louisville markets are potential U. S. cities high on expansion-relocation for the NBA. Global markets for the NBA include Mexico City & Vancouver.

Honestly I wish the Blue were in Wichita. I know they prefer being able to keep their two-way guys close, plus evaluate guys, share staff, etc., but the Blue sees very little crowd due to the availability of A-list product across the street 41+ nights per year, and I’ll bet Wichita would pack Intrust for them. Tulsa didn’t work because Tulsans refused to lower themselves to being a farm city for OKC in any way, but people in Wichita don’t have any of that seething rivalry/esentment whatsoever.

^^^ agree. I’ve always thought it was ridiculous that our farm team is in the same city. I’d love for Wichita to have it, or he’ll even Lawton would probably work okay. The Lawton Rangers or something. I bet the army attendance would beat whatever is happening in the Cox center.

I wish OKC played preseason games in Wichita, but I’m not sure a G League team would be that well attended. When the Thunder played a preseason game there (Harden’s last Thunder game), you could easily get tickets. They might draw 5,000, but not 15,000. Wichita St., KSU, and Kansas will always be bigger draws and it’s hard to compete against something with real stakes. But, I wonder why the Thunder quit with the preseason games there...

I’m not sure any G league game will ever be that well attended. I think the thunder factored this into the decision into moving them too okc.

Yea i can't believe they charge for Blue games honestly. They should let them be free and make money from the concessions.

i believe some of the G league teams play at the NBA's team practice facility.

Tulsa had a professional franchise and couldn't support that (the Shock).

As a season ticket holder i wish the thunder only had 1 home preseason game. Give the others to other cities who are dying for NBA preseason games. My wife worked for a company who had an office in Tulsa. On the day of the preseason game many of the workers would take off early and make it a huge event, go to dinner and what not for a preseason game.

Yea i can't believe they charge for Blue games honestly. They should let them be free and make money from the concessions.

i believe some of the G league teams play at the NBA's team practice facility.

Tulsa had a professional franchise and couldn't support that (the Shock).

As a season ticket holder i wish the thunder only had 1 home preseason game. Give the others to other cities who are dying for NBA preseason games. My wife worked for a company who had an office in Tulsa. On the day of the preseason game many of the workers would take off early and make it a huge event, go to dinner and what not for a preseason game.

I agree with all your sentinments. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Perhaps it might make a difference, attendance wise, if, like MLB, NBA players had rehab starts with the farm team, not that that would really work well.

^^^ agree. I’ve always thought it was ridiculous that our farm team is in the same city. I’d love for Wichita to have it, or he’ll even Lawton would probably work okay. The Lawton Rangers or something. I bet the army attendance would beat whatever is happening in the Cox center.

Same here, Lawton's only 79 miles from OKC. What about Enid, a city whose largest employer Continental Resources (Harold Hamm) relocated to OKC. We could at least offer Enid (68 miles from OKC) an olive branch. Enid, was once home to the Oklahoma Storm, coached by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2002.

The Enid Blue would potentially draw more fans in Enid's 2,500-seat Mark Price Arena than in a tarped off 9,000 seat spacious 44 year convention center arena across from The Peake. Enid is about an 1 hour 10 minutes drive from OKC--easy call up on a 12 hour notice. You know why Tulsa or Bixby (Tulsa suburb) didn't want to be OKC's G-League affiliate.


Bryant said the Storm sold 800 season tickets last year; the overall attendance average the last two seasons in Enid was about 1,500, which is considered good in the USBL. Storm successfully captured the USBL championship under head coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2002, defeating Kansas with a final score of 122–109.

Oklahoma City Blue couldn't draw 1,500 fans or give away that many tickets on its best day, let alone average 1,500 as the USBL Oklahoma Storm did in 2002..

I wish OKC played preseason games in Wichita, but I’m not sure a G League team would be that well attended. When the Thunder played a preseason game there (Harden’s last Thunder game), you could easily get tickets. They might draw 5,000, but not 15,000. Wichita St., KSU, and Kansas will always be bigger draws and it’s hard to compete against something with real stakes. But, I wonder why the Thunder quit with the preseason games there...
I think the difference is that they would have “Wichita” on their jerseys. Just a gut feel. Not predicting sellouts. - my wording - “pack Intrust” wasn’t intended to indicate sellouts; only brisk ticket sales - just saying they would probably get very respectable attendance.

I really think some of you are over thinking this issue about the Blue. On the list of priorities for the Thunder, attendance for the Blue is near the bottom. The goal of the Blue is to develop players, then coaches.

I really think some of you are over thinking this issue about the Blue. On the list of priorities for the Thunder, attendance for the Blue is near the bottom. The goal of the Blue is to develop players, then coaches.

Couldn't hurt to develop players where you put them in a city where they will draw bigger crowds; you challenge their skills under pressure. Minor league farm basketball doesn't mirror the college environment from where most of these players were elevated.

You have Thunder rookies who played at storied programs like Kentucky, South Carolina, Connecticut & Iowa State; they are accustomed to being in the showtime spotlight. You assign them to the 'Blue' where on a good night you might draw 300 fans in a spacious black tarped arena retrofitted for 9,000 where you could hear a bird tweet or a commode flush in the nearest restroom while a player shoots a free throw.

Put our development team in a situation where they continue to perform in front of more fans. The Thunder 'Loud City' fan experience should carry-over from the players minor league development.

There are cities that would welcome a G-League franchise into their communities. Wichita, Lawton or Enid take your pick. It would be better than the drafty environment they are in right now.

I really think some of you are over thinking this issue about the Blue. On the list of priorities for the Thunder, attendance for the Blue is near the bottom. The goal of the Blue is to develop players, then coaches.
I understand this and clearly acknowledged that these things are obviously the Thunder’s priority. My point isn’t about ticket sales for the Blue so much as it is about developing NBA (and Thunder) fans in a nearby city. I promise it has been considered by the organization - and I’d also expect that the marketing people share my opinion about Wichita - but the basketball operations people won out for the reasons you (and I) already cited.

Also to be clear Enid and Lawton are not even close to being in the same ballpark as Wichita, which is very comparable to Tulsa in population and demographics - actually with a higher median household income than Tulsa - for those who aren’t familiar with our neighbor to the north.

Also to be clear Enid and Lawton are not even close to being in the same ballpark as Wichita, which is very comparable to Tulsa in population and demographics - actually with a higher median household income than Tulsa - for those who aren’t familiar with our neighbor to the north.

I fully understand that! I was just proposing a compromise to keep the players close and helping branch the brand out a little further from OKC. Building some brand equity with Army people in Lawton isn’t bad as they will literally be all over the world when they finish training.

Hey, I’d love to see it, but seems the Thunder has moved away from the market for whatever reason.

There are cities that would welcome a G-League franchise into their communities. Wichita, Lawton or Enid take your pick. It would be better than the drafty environment they are in right now.
Didn’t work in Tulsa...sure won’t work in Lawton or Enid. Not in Wichita either.

Thunder wants the flexibility given with them being in the same city. Isn’t just on game day. Their training facility, medical staff, coaching, etc is right here with lots of daily interaction and sharing.

Didn’t work in Tulsa...sure won’t work in Lawton or Enid. Not in Wichita either.

Thunder wants the flexibility given with them being in the same city. Isn’t just on game day. Their training facility, medical staff, coaching, etc is right here with lots of daily interaction and sharing.
Born and raised in Lawton, definitely would not work there. Lawton is losing population, hanging on barely because of Ft. Sill whose soldier population is declining

Didn’t work in Tulsa...sure won’t work in Lawton or Enid. Not in Wichita either.

Thunder wants the flexibility given with them being in the same city. Isn’t just on game day. Their training facility, medical staff, coaching, etc is right here with lots of daily interaction and sharing.

If it doesn't work in Tulsa, and attendance is terrible in OKC, obviously attendance isn't a big deal either way. If it's operating at a loss, might as well get some brand equity out of it outside of OKC.

Agree or disagree with the trend toward minor league franchises that act as the top farm system below the majors; in MLB baseball, NBA basketball & NHL hockey the development clubs are moving into the city, close to the metro area of the major league city or within a 100-mile radius. Here are a sample of examples that involve NBA & G-League/MLB & AAA minor league & NHL & AAA minor league affiliates:

NBA/G-League affiliate:


Oklahoma City Thunder/Oklahoma City Blue
Utah Jazz/Salt Lake City Stars
Memphis Grizzlies/Memphis Hustle
Chicago Bulls/Windy City Bulls
Washington Wizards/Capitol City Go-Go
Golden State Warriors/Santa Cruz Warriors
Sacramento Kings/Stockton Kings
Phoenix Suns/Northern Arizona Suns

Major League Baseball/AAA affiliate:


Cleveland Indians/Columbus Clippers
Cincinnati Reds/Louisville Bats
Philadelphia Phillies/Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Seattle Mariners/Tacoma Rainiers
Toronto Bluejays/Buffalo Bisons

National Hockey League/AAA affiliate:


Toronto Maple Leafs/Toronto Marlies
Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Carolina (Raleigh) Hurricanes/Charlotte Checkers
Philadelphia Flyers/Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Columbus Blue Jackets/Cleveland Monsters
Buffalo Sabres/Rochester Americans


Just an observation of a trend with major league/minor league top affiliate in sports. You don't have this in football because the NFL has collegiate football as its minor league breeding grounds.

Notice the strange MLB affiliation between AL Cleveland & IL-AAA Columbus and NHL Raleigh & AHL Charlotte where MSA #32. Columbus is slightly larger than #33. Cleveland and #22. Charlotte has a much larger MSA than #43. Raleigh.


MLB: AL Cleveland Indians/IL AAA Columbus Clippers
NHL Carolina (Raleigh) Hurricanes/AHL AAA Charlotte Checkers


Tale of Oklahoma's two arch rival blood-thirsty cities; has it really gotten that bad?

Why do you think a close affiliation between MSA #41. Oklahoma City & #54. Tulsa didn't work in the NBA/G-League; would OKC (larger city) have been willing to be a minor league affiliate of a smaller city like Tulsa had our sister city obtained an MLS franchise with OKC as the USL affiliate?

Thunder win total in Vegas is 50.5. Houston 54.5. GS 62.5.

If it doesn't work in Tulsa, and attendance is terrible in OKC, obviously attendance isn't a big deal either way. If it's operating at a loss, might as well get some brand equity out of it outside of OKC.

They already have brand equity. They need good player development and being in the same city facilitates that greatly.

ESPN NBA Oklahoma City Thunder Schedule/Results - 2018-19: http://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder


Thunder will be on ABC Primetime on Saturday 3 times this year. 2 times on NBA on ABC Sunday Showcase
Thunder will be on ESPN 10 times
Thunder will be on TNT 11 times
NBA TV 7 times
33 games on National TV this year

https://www.nba.com/thunder/sites/thunder/files/styles/story_main_photo/public/schedule-release-nb-1819.jpg?itok=AGP9RC70


Regionally, 70 of the Thunder's 82 regular-season games will be broadcast on FOX Sports Oklahoma, which reaches viewers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. All games can be heard via the Thunder Radio Network, led by flagship station WWLS-The Sports Animal (98.1 FM) in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Thunder New Release: https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-schedule-1819

So does the Thunder TV region include Stl and KC?

So does the Thunder TV region include Stl and KC?

14849

Honestly I wish the Blue were in Wichita. I know they prefer being able to keep their two-way guys close, plus evaluate guys, share staff, etc., but the Blue sees very little crowd due to the availability of A-list product across the street 41+ nights per year, and I’ll bet Wichita would pack Intrust for them. Tulsa didn’t work because Tulsans refused to lower themselves to being a farm city for OKC in any way, but people in Wichita don’t have any of that seething rivalry/esentment whatsoever.

I totally agree with this and often wondered why Wichita was not given a chance. I am aware of many folks from wichita who come down for thunder games, and given the city's lack of sports scene - I agree that they would pack it for the NBA development games as many of the athletes make it on up. Very impressed with Wichita's support of OKC Thunder, I bet theyd love to have the farm team - unlike Tulsa who now has nothing (no WNBA, no G/D-League).

So does the Thunder TV region include Stl and KC?

KC yes, STL no (they belong to Chicago).

Looks like we also have Omaha and Little Rock, along with Wichita which we all already knew. Surprised LIT doesn't belong to Memphis but I suppose they must have chosen OKC's better product over the closer Memphis.

ESPN NBA Oklahoma City Thunder Schedule/Results - 2018-19: http://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder
Thunder will be on ABC Primetime on Saturday 3 times this year. 2 times on NBA on ABC Sunday Showcase
Thunder will be on ESPN 10 times
Thunder will be on TNT 11 times
NBA TV 7 times
33 games on National TV this year

https://www.nba.com/thunder/sites/thunder/files/styles/story_main_photo/public/schedule-release-nb-1819.jpg?itok=AGP9RC70



Oklahoma City Thunder New Release: https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-schedule-1819

You forgot some games.

abc +1 Christmas Day game (total of 6, tied for the most for the network - same as last year btw)
nbatv +2 (total of 9)

Grand total national games = 36 (same as last year, by far the most of any small market city)

I also think there's a chance OKC could get a few more national games, UTAH comes to mind (+2) and perhaps @ATL (+1). I also consider the @Toronto game as national televised since it is on TSN. So we could get to 40 games. I think we got a few extra games last year too.

Also, appears OKC will have less home games televised nationally overall compared to last year when it was more even (and years past when it was more home games than away). I suppose this gives OKC more time to get construction finished for the networks to showcase more home games in 2019-2020. :)

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https://localtvkfor.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/thunder1.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&w=768&h=432&crop=1

Oklahoma City Thunder 2018-19 roster: http://www.espn.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder


00 Russell Westbrook PG $35,654,150
13 Paul George SF $30,560,700
08 Steven Adams C $24,157,303
17 Dennis Schroder PG $15,500,000
21 Andre Roberson SG $10,000,000
09 Jerami Grant SF $8,653,847
08 Alex Abrines SG $5,455,236
54 Patrick Patterson PF $5,451,600
15 Kyle Singler SF $4,996,000
23 Terrance Ferguson SG $2,118,840
03 Nerlens Noel C $1,757,429
07 Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot SG $1,544,951
02 Raymond Felton PG $1,512,601
- - Abdel Nader SF $1,378,242 https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/nader-180723

G-League: Oklahoma City Blue


- - Hamidou Diallo SG $838,464 https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/diallo-180728
30 Deonte Burton SF Iowa State https://www.nba.com/thunder/summerleague-deonteburton-180708
34 *Tyler Davis F/C Texas A&M
- - *Devon Hall SG Virginia
- - Kevin Hervey PF Texas-Arlington

Unsigned NBA Free Agency:


3 Corey Brewer SG 32 6-9 186 Florida
34 Josh Huestis SG 26 6-7 230 Stanford

14 solid roster spots appear to be filled with Abdel Nader SF who hasn't been assigned a number are we set for 2018-19?

* Signed two-way player contract.