Oklahoma City Thunder 2021-22 season

[Bellaboo]

Presti has all but said that next year will be another tank. There's no reason to make the playoffs if they don't expect to go all the way. We'll see another year of the same, with hopefully another haul in the lottery.

Ticket sales is actually a pretty good reason to be competitive

[catcherinthewry]

Ticket sales is actually a pretty good reason to be competitive

Luckily Presti and the ownership have not taken such a short sighted approach. They don't want to just make the playoffs, they want to contend for championships. Sam could've easily added a couple of pieces and made the playoffs the last 2 seasons. Instead we've added 8 young players, many of whom will be a strong foundation for future championship runs.

[Bellaboo]

Luckily Presti and the ownership have not taken such a short sighted approach. They don't want to just make the playoffs, they want to contend for championships. Sam could've easily added a couple of pieces and made the playoffs the last 2 seasons. Instead we've added 8 young players, many of whom will be a strong foundation for future championship runs.

They gave us a free club level game last year to try to get us to renew. They want butts in the house.

[catcherinthewry]

They gave us a free club level game last year to try to get us to renew. They want butts in the house.

Of course they want to sell out Paycom like they did for years, but it's obvious their higher priority is building a team that can compete for championships consistently.

[BoulderSooner]

They gave us a free club level game last year to try to get us to renew. They want butts in the house.

i got free lower levels one of the last games of the season ... and even now i can renew with my season ticket holder discount (i have not had season tickets for several years )

[dankrutka]

Ticket sales is actually a pretty good reason to be competitive

It’s actually not because of revenue sharing. OKC is sent money from tax teams if they are not in the tax. It means they’ll be fine and longterm success is more important.

[Bellaboo]

It’s actually not because of revenue sharing. OKC is sent money from tax teams if they are not in the tax. It means they’ll be fine and longterm success is more important.

My entire point is that the Thunder has a war chest of future first round picks. They can trade up to acquire lotto picks just like they did. They can compete and still gain quality picks either by trade or with the picks they already have. Players want to win, and I know the front office wants top picks. Yes they will receive revenue from the league, but they want fans in the stadium too. True they need to develop the new guys, but they have enough talent now to consistently win.

[shartel_ave]

My entire point is that the Thunder has a war chest of future first round picks. They can trade up to acquire lotto picks just like they did. They can compete and still gain quality picks either by trade or with the picks they already have. Players want to win, and I know the front office wants top picks. Yes they will receive revenue from the league, but they want fans in the stadium too. True they need to develop the new guys, but they have enough talent now to consistently win.

absolutely, all the way up until 2028 with top draft numbers

not sure if this has been posted on the thread

https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/draft...re-draft-picks

[dankrutka]

…but they have enough talent now to consistently win.

They don’t. Name one team in NBA history that played 4 rookies and 4 second year players and won consistently. The Thunder are a couple years away even if they tried to win.

[king183]

Competitive for what? No way will we be competitive in playoffs, but I think there's a chance we could make it to the play-in, given the dynamics of the league this year. Several teams will pivot to tanking and some are going to underperform (a la the Clippers last year due to injury and the Lakers due to team makeup and injury). Strategically, playing for the playoffs would be stupid in my opinion because 1) we won't be competitive and 2) it would cost us a chance at a potentially high pick in a loaded draft that will, combined with our picks this year, set the course of the franchise for the foreseeable future.

If we could get the #1 pick next year....oh my. Then we'd get to look forward to the anxiety of potentially have four max-level players demanding major contracts. A problem I would absolutely love to have.

[shartel_ave]

Every team plays to win the championship. Anyone that plays or played sports and is/was serious about it played to win every game.

[sooner88]

Every team plays to win the championship. Anyone that plays or played sports and is/was serious about it played to win every game.

Do you follow the NBA or NFL? The bottom third of the league is certainly not playing to win a championship, but alternatively tanking to get a better pick in the next draft.

[dankrutka]

Every team plays to win the championship. Anyone that plays or played sports and is/was serious about it played to win every game.

One of the biggest misperceptions is that players "tank." That's not the case. Thunder players always try. Almost all "tanking" is really just the team allowing young players to develop instead of making win-now moves. The last two seasons OKC has intensified "tanking" at the end of the season by calling up G-League players and giving them huge minutes. But all of these players are trying to win and sometimes do.

It will also make the current roster work even harder to secure their positions. We'll see how badly these guys want to up the ante on making money to put their families in a comfort zone.

Bingo. None of the players are tanking. Their careers are on the line.

[Laramie]

These four draftees will be competitive; our G-League will be on a fast track to elevate these guys to the Thunder's roster (14 spots, Presti usually leaves one open). You also see a lot of 10 day contracts if players are not working out.

Keep Dort on the roster; his defensive prowess will be the summit of the measuring stick. Don't be surprised if more guys are injured in practice than on the playing court.

It will also make the current roster work even harder to secure their positions. We'll see how badly these guys want to up the ante on making money to put their families in a comfort zone.

[soonergolfer]

They need to tank next year for the #1 pick, Victor Wembanyama. He is widely regarded as the best prospect since Lebron. There is no point in hoping to possibly play into the 8th seed. They need to play the young guys for experience and hope to get the #1 pick.

[Laramie]

The 2020-21 Season dealt a blow to the Thunder season tickets and base supporters as well as the NBA.

NBA Attendance 2020-2021: http://www.espn.com/nba/attendance/_/year/2021

The quickest way to replenish that base is to get butts back in those seats. MAPS 4: Paycom Center & related facilities ($115 million) is also undergoing $105 million in fan friendly upgrades to the arena and Related $10 million to remodel the Thunder NBA practice facility. Don't know the status of those projects other than they have started to replace seats in Paycom Center.

MAPS 4 includes $105 million for several phases of improvements to the 20-year-old downtown arena and $10 million for improvements to a practice facility on North Oklahoma Avenue. The new amenities and improvements are designed to enhance the guest experience at Oklahoma City Thunder NBA games and other live entertainment events. Initial improvements include $4 million to replace seats in the lower, middle and upper bowls.--City council approved March 15, 2022

Ready for the 2022-23 season to begin...

[Laramie]

$19 million Thunder practice facility was State of the Art

when it opened in 2012. . .







. . . Decade later, it's ready for $10 million renovation


The G-League Practice facility in Edmond, original facility built for the Thunder will have to be shared
until the renovations are completed to the Integris Thunder Practice Facility on Britton & Broadway.

[Jake]

The Thunder were in the playoffs in 2020. It's not like the franchise has been in the wilderness for years and years.

[Laramie]

Report: Free agent Lu Dort agrees to 5-year deal with Thunder

The 23-year-old guard averaged a career-high 17.2 points and 4.2 rebounds with Oklahoma City last season.

.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^
Really helpful chart. Haven’t had a chance to review them in that manner before. Also…that’s nuts.

[shartel_ave]

Clay Bennett’s daughter in law works for barstool sports and she has a YouTube channel as well as a YouTube channel with her mother and both are hilarious

https://youtube.com/c/ChicksAtBarstool

[Bellaboo]

One thing for sure is the entertainment value should be really good.

[Laramie]

Salt Lake City Summer League




Tuesday, July 5, 2022
TV - ESPN: 8:00 p.m. CST - Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz Vivint Smart Home Arena

Summer 16-man roster:

Gabe Brown
Robert Baker
Ousmane Dieng
Abdul Gaddy
Josh Giddey
Chet Holmgren
Vit Krejci
Tre Mann
Eugene Omoruyi
Aleksej Pokusevski
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Jaden Shackelford
Lindy Waters III
Aaron Wiggins
Jalen Williams
Jaylin Williams

The Thunder will be coached by assistant coach Kam Woods with Oklahoma City Blue head coach Grant Gibbs and development coaches Eric Maynor and Zach Peterson as assistants.

[Laramie]

[Laramie]

Holmgren looks relaxed and confident. 18 pts, 3 blocks at half. Giddy's passing skills are awesome.