OKC Thunder 2014 - 2015

[warreng88]

I agree. But I will add that colison is in the last year of his deal as well. And he is 34. This could likey be his last year with the thunder

True, but I could see the Thunder resigning him at league minimum playing the same role. At least, I hope they do. He is easily my favorite player on the Thunder team.

[dankrutka]

True, but I could see the Thunder resigning him at league minimum playing the same role. At least, I hope they do. He is easily my favorite player on the Thunder team.

It probably depends how he recovers from his surgery. Save one playoff game against the Clippers, he really looked slow and old at the end of last season. If he looks that way again I think next year is his last. If comes back with a little more bounce in his step I could see him signing for the minimum for a year or two more.

[OKCJapan]

I am not a GM so I do not know all the factors involved when Presti conducts business. However, Prior to this draft, I think most people were hoping that Presti would get a couple of quality players in free agency to fill out the roster. Looks like the roster may be filled up with these draft picks. Don't know how this improves the team for next year????????

[betts]

I am not a GM so I do not know all the factors involved when Presti conducts business. However, Prior to this draft, I think most people were hoping that Presti would get a couple of quality players in free agency to fill out the roster. Looks like the roster may be filled up with these draft picks. Don't know how this improves the team for next year????????

It doesn't. It might in a year or two if these are two Presti hidden gems. But, if you don't get a top five pick (or get randomly lucky lower in the draft), and usually not even then, you're not going to get much help from a rookie. However,, we don't know who will be on our roster this coming year. I'm guessing Thabeet is gone. He was basically a cheerleader last year and will probably find a nice place to play overseas. Thabo is likely gone, and I'm guessing Butler is too. Fisher is retiring. Jarrett is a who knows. So we've still got roster spots. Presti said that you don't use the draft to fill all the holes (paraphrasing here) on a team, which makes me think he's either eyeing some FA's or thinking about a trade. Rumor has it CJ Miles has been in town. There are likely other people Presti has been talking to.

[Richard at Remax]

We shouldn't have drafted project players. They did not get any better. The time to win is now because the window is closing.

[dankrutka]

We shouldn't have drafted project players. They did not get any better. The time to win is now because the window is closing.

It is very rare to find players in the 20s of a draft to be a major contributor on a contender. The worst run organizations in the NBA regularly try to find immediate help in the draft (or through rushed free agency signings) and end up mortgaging their future. For example, the Pacers specifically took Solomon Hill, an older player, last year because they needed someone to help right away. He took 40 shots on the entire season, and now they're stuck with a guy with very little upside. Also, Steven Adams surprised everyone by actually contributing during the season and playoffs even though he was viewed as a long-term project. The draft can be unpredictable. My point is, the Thunder's meticulous model built upon long-term sustainability leads to far better draft and free agent decisions than thinking just in terms of next season in my opinion.

Royce Young made these points better than me: Draft Recap: Thunder go big and then unknown, again | Daily Thunder.com

I think the help the Thunder need for next season will either come through internal growth (likely Jackson, Lamb, and Adams) and/or a veteran free agent (C.J. Miles). I personally think Lamb will continue to grow next season. He played pretty well last season (before a slump and Brooks benched him for Butler) in what was essentially his rookie year.

[zookeeper]

It is very rare to find players in the 20s of a draft to be a major contributor on a contender. The worst run organizations in the NBA regularly try to find immediate help in the draft (or through rushed free agency signings) and end up mortgaging their future. For example, the Pacers specifically took Solomon Hill last year because they needed someone to help right away. He took 40 shots on the season. Also, Steven Adams surprised everyone by actually contributing during the season and playoffs even though he was viewed as a long-term project. My point is, the Thunder's meticulous model built upon long-term sustainability leads to far better draft and free agent decisions than thinking just in terms of next season in my opinion.

Royce Young made these points better than me: Draft Recap: Thunder go big and then unknown, again | Daily Thunder.com

I think the help the Thunder need for next season will either come through internal growth (likely Jackson, Lamb, and Adams) and/or a veteran free agent (C.J. Miles). I personally think Lamb will continue to grow next season. He played pretty well last season (before Brooks benched him for Butler) in what was essentially his rookie year.

Yes, and he was killing it in Tulsa before he was called up. He's got a lot of potential.

[Bellaboo]

The more I hear about the rookies, the more I like them. Heustis scored a 31 on the ACT..Impressive, and Presti made the comment that he may be the best athlete that has walked into the training room. I think by playoff time, at least one of the two will be contributing.

[dankrutka]

The more I hear about the rookies, the more I like them. Heustis scored a 31 on the ACT..Impressive, and Presti made the comment that he may be the best athlete that has walked into the training room. I think by playoff time, at least one of the two will be contributing.

I wouldn't bet on it. McGary will have to beat out Collison for minutes, which is possible, but unlikely. Heustis would have to beat out several guys on the roster. Only way I can see him playing is if he is able to hit 3s, which by all accounts, he can't do. He's basically the same player as Andre Roberson. But I see PJ3 Lamb, and a free agent getting most of the available minutes.

[king183]

I've always said this thread is a great tool to see who understands the NBA and who doesn't. By the way, the window has been closing on the Spurs for the last 4 years. Let's stop using bs we hear on sports radio as talking points.


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[Laramie]

As an upcoming competitive market, Oklahoma City has to TCB as our city continues to grow.

A little neglect may breed mischief ...
for want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
for want of a shoe the horse was lost;
and for want of a horse the rider was lost.--Benjamin Franklin

Does the Oklahoma City Thunder 59-23 appear to be on track? Thunder finished with the second best record in the NBA.

The player development of a market like the 2014 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs (2,277,550) has taken time, resources and player personnel knowledge. Sam Presti was a part of that organization as well as Clay Bennett whose father-in-law (Gaylord) was once majority owner of the Spurs.

Enjoy the fact that as the 42nd largest (1,319,677) metro market in the country that we have one of 30 NBA franchises in the United States; we should consider ourselves fortunate.

There are markets without major league sports (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) like Austin (1,883,051), Las Vegas (2,027,868), Louisville (1,262,261), Norfolk-Virginia Beach (1,707,369) and Richmond (1,245,764) who are comparable or larger in our size would love to have the experience of an NBA franchise in their communities.

Let me remind you that the Thunder have generated more positive publicity for OKC than any advertising scheme you could package on N.Y.'s Madison Avenue.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[dankrutka]

This could shake up the roster a bit if true: REPORTS: Thunder In Process Of Acquiring Pleiss - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

If Pleiss does in fact come over then that signals that at least Thabeet is gone.

[Laramie]

This could shake up the roster a bit if true: REPORTS: Thunder In Process Of Acquiring Pleiss - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

If Pleiss does in fact come over then that signals that at least Thabeet is gone.

Tibor Pleiss has good moves especially inside the paint. What can Pleiss do in an NBA environment? Pleiss could come off the bench to strengthen the reserves

Local News 9 originated the same story: REPORTS: Thunder In Process Of Acquiring Pleiss - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[dankrutka]

This could shake up the roster a bit if true: REPORTS: Thunder In Process Of Acquiring Pleiss - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

Update: The Pleiss rumors do not appear to be true: Oklahoma City Thunder: Tibor Pleiss not expected to join Thunder for 2014-15 season | News OK

[warreng88]

OKC Thunder to meet with Laker's Pau Gasol? From newsok.com article:

The L.A. Times reported on Monday that Pau Gasol will meet with the Thunder. Gasol will be a free agent after making $19 million with the Lakers last season. Gasol would have to take a big time pay cut to come to Oklahoma City, but the veteran forward has said numerous times that his priority is playing for a title-contending team.

OKC Thunder to meet with Lakers' Pau Gasol? | News OK

[Jake]

The Thunder made 29 million dollars last year, 5th in the league only behind the Lakers, Bulls, Rockets, and Celtics.

Maybe we should actually start spending on some decent players, eh?

[Bellaboo]

The Thunder made 29 million dollars last year, 5th in the league only behind the Lakers, Bulls, Rockets, and Celtics.

Maybe we should actually start spending on some decent players, eh?

Jake,
We have some decent players, they just don't want to spend too early on more, trying to stay out of the repeaters tax.

[Laramie]

The Thunder made 29 million dollars last year, 5th in the league only behind the Lakers, Bulls, Rockets, and Celtics.

Maybe we should actually start spending on some decent players, eh?

Jake, I thought the same thing; however they are still recovering from that $50-$60 million they lost in Seattle. That doesn't include the $45 million to break their lease and the $30 million relocation fee ($1 million to NBA & 29 teams). I'm sure this was a good tax write off so they should be close to even with six years of relocation in OKC.

They made a $12 million profit the first year they were here. If they were able to make $15 million for 4 years and $29 million this past year they should have earned close to $101 million. That's a modest profit for their initial investment over nine years considering three of the nine represented losses in Seattle.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Jake]

We have decent players, but we need a good starting level shooting guard. Not saying the team won't get one this year, but the Thunder really, really need one. Jeremy Lamb is decent, but this team needs more than that if you want to win a title. No more roster downgrades.

[Jake]

Not saying we need to go into the tax, but we have to get better players than old, washed up veterans this offseason.

[Teo9969]

Considering that SG is the only position we're deficient at, part of the issue is the availability of those players. There aren't exactly a host of great SGs in the NBA. James Harden is the best 2-guard right now…that ought to say something.

Not that we need an all-star at the 2, but I can only think of a 3 to 5 guys who would really fit what we need at that position.

That being said, I made this work on the ESPN trade machine last night:

NBA Trade Machine - ESPN

OKC:
PG Avery Bradley (BOS)
SF Travis Outlaw (SAC)
PG Isaiah Thomas (SAC)

BOS:
PF Kevin Love (MIN)
SF Perry Jones (OKC)

SAC:
PG Rajon Rondo (BOS)
PF Nick Collison (OKC)

MIN:
SF Jeff Green (BOS)
PF Carl Landry (SAC)
C Hasheem Thabeet (OKC)

[dankrutka]

Jeremy Lamb is decent, but this team needs more than that if you want to win a title.

We really don't know what Jeremy Lamb is yet. Last year was essentially his rookie year and he played pretty well until he had a slump and Brooks benched when we picked up Caron. For example, compare James Harden and Jeremy Lamb's per 36 numbers during their first years getting playing time:

Season Age Tm Lg Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% 2P 2PA 2P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2009-10 20 OKC NBA SG 76 0 1738 4.8 12.0 .403 1.9 5.1 .375 2.9 6.8 .424 4.0 5.0 .808 1.0 4.1 5.1 2.8 1.7 0.4 2.2 4.1 15.6
2013-14 21 OKC NBA SG 78 0 1538 6.2 14.3 .432 2.1 5.8 .356 4.1 8.5 .483 1.2 1.5 .797 0.6 3.8 4.4 2.7 1.3 0.6 1.4 3.3 15.6

The numbers are very similar, but everyone keeps assuming that Lamb is a finished product (and I'm not saying Lamb will be as good as Harden... he won't). Internal growth could still be our best way to improve over the next few years. I think Lamb could be very good. Everyone seems to forget games like this one:



And I'm not saying we shouldn't pick up free agents that could help the team. We should. A healthy Pau Gasol and a shooter would be nice. However, even if we don't make any moves before next season, we would likely still improve as a team.

[dankrutka]

That's a modest profit for their initial investment over nine years considering three of the nine represented losses in Seattle.

I know it's not my money... but, owning an NBA team is not generally, and should not be about profit: ?Psychic Benefits? and the NBA Lockout «

[dankrutka]

I made this work on the ESPN trade machine last night:

Two thoughts: Why would we need four point guards (Bradely can play some shooting guard)! Lol. And four pretty good ones at that. Second, why on earth would Minny even consider this trade. That would get a GM immediately fired.

[OKCisOK4me]

Considering that SG is the only position we're deficient at, part of the issue is the availability of those players. There aren't exactly a host of great SGs in the NBA. James Harden is the best 2-guard right now…that ought to say something.

Not that we need an all-star at the 2, but I can only think of a 3 to 5 guys who would really fit what we need at that position.

That being said, I made this work on the ESPN trade machine last night:

NBA Trade Machine - ESPN

OKC:
PG Avery Bradley (BOS)
SF Travis Outlaw (SAC)
PG Isaiah Thomas (SAC)

BOS:
PF Kevin Love (MIN)
SF Perry Jones (OKC)

SAC:
PG Rajon Rondo (BOS)
PF Nick Collison (OKC)

MIN:
SF Jeff Green (BOS)
PF Carl Landry (SAC)
C Hasheem Thabeet (OKC)

That'd be awesome except for the Collison part...