Draft talk

[ricanhornet]

Due to the recent breakdown of our site (www.okcnbafans.com/vforum) I have decided to make this our Camp David in case anything happens to the main site. Since the most important thing going on in the life of a Thunder fan is currently the draft, what do you guys think we should do now that it is T-minus less than 1 week before draft day.

My take:

We are in good position, but still dependent on what others do. It is an almost certainty that the Clippers will draft OU's Blake Griffin. They would have to mentally unstable not to. The wild card for us occurs at pick number 2, the Grizzlies pick.

1) If the Grizzlies pick Thabeet, then that opens up the door for us to draft Rubio. With Rubio, we have many options.
a)We can either draft him and then trade him, and maybe even get the player we want and a couple assets.
b) Or we could draft him.
c) Or we could pass on him and then draft a player like Harden. I really don't see us picking any other player in the 3 position than Rubio or Harden if Thabeet is gone.

2) If the Grizzlies pick Rubio, then we'll go one of three routes.
a) Draft Harden
b) Draft Thabeet
c) Trade down and get a secondary player along with some assets.
Note: Like I said before, I don't see us drafting anybody but Thabeet, Rubio, or Harden with our No.3 pick. Anybody else, and we've either traded down or Presti has been kidnapped by Isiah Thomas.

3) If we trade down, I don't see us trading out of the top 10. If we take this action, I could see us drafting either Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans, or Demar Derozan. I don't see us drafting another pg, so Flynn and Jennings are out of the picture. Also, there are no big men in the 4-10 range that scream out "PICK ME!".

Thoughts.....

[jstanthrnme]

The most likely are your "a" scenarios. 1-a probably. I like the idea of taking Ricky, trading to Sacremento for Harden plus extras.

The Kings website has a video interview with Ricky, and they see a real oppurtunity to get him. We have leverage there, but beyond that, Memphis will pretty much make everybodys decision.

[ricanhornet]

The only teams we have leverage against is those wanting to jump ahead of Sacramento. Sacto probably knows that we don't really want to draft Rubio, so they may be able to call our bluff. But, for example, a Washington (#5) or Minnesota (#6) that wants to jump Sacramento could do so for the right deal.

Say for example:
OKC gets:
Javale Mcgee and #5 pick

Washington gets:
#3 pick

That may seem like a lopsided trade (trading big for small), but Washington is a veteran team that ran into some injury issues this past season. A play maker like Rubio may be what this team needs to push it over the top.

[jstanthrnme]

Should Presti come out and say we will draft Rubio, if available, then we have an advantage on them. If they are in love with Rubio as much as we are being led to believe, then they will work a deal with OKC, where we will take Rubio, they take Harden. Then what I think would be reasonable is we then trade those two, then our #25, for their #23.

[jstanthrnme]

I like the Marcin Gortat ideas.

I wouldn't give up the #3 for McGee + #5. That is pretty lopsided IMO. Lets try to get Gortat in free agency, and get Harden or Rubio.

[jstanthrnme]

The more I think about it, the more I like Rubio over Harden. Sure, we have Westbrook, but Kevin Durant is our scorer. Harden, would be able to keep teams honest from the outside, but a combo of Rubio/Westbrook/Durant/Green/Gortat would get things done on the inside. Rubio is a good defender, and a good passer. Imagine how exciting Thunder basketball would be if we just saw steals, fast breaks, and alley-oops for four quarters. Rubio's passing ability, Westbrooks driving ability, Durant & Green scoring, and Gortat inside would make us a dark horse next season.

And I don't think Westbrook would have any issues moving to the 2 for the kind of season that could produce.

[ricanhornet]

Yeah, that line up does sound exciting, but what happens when teams pack the middle or start playing zone on us. True, Durant can shoot lights out, but a 48% shooters means you are missing more than half of your shots. I just think it is the balanced teams that win championships, and with that line up, we are not balanced. Who would shoot the rock with consistency? Remember, Rubio and Westbrook struggle with the consistent outside shot. Are we going to have both our forwards (Green and Durant) on the perimeter? If that is so, who's grabbing our rebounds?????

[jstanthrnme]

So you are for Harden I take it?

Whoever comes to us with our #3 pick, I'll be happy.

I think that our front office will forgo the kind of balance which you speak of to better build our team for future seasons. Sam Presti isn't expecting a championship in the '09-'10 season. We can come across a shooter some other time.

I'm thinking Willie Warren might be in a Thunder jersey in '10 with one of our potential lottery picks, and he could very well fill that role. This season, Thabo, Durant, and Green, and Weaver will have to do.

As far as rebounds, Krystic and Collison(assuming he isn't traded) will have to be the rebounders.

[ricanhornet]

Willie Warren???? An undersized 2. There's enough of those in the league to where you don't have to spend a lottery pick on them. I sense some OU homerism going on (and I'm an OU fan by the way). As far as drafting Harden, I'm all for it. But if we can trade to #5, pick up Mcghee from Washington and still pick up Harden, that would be even better.

[jstanthrnme]

Who would the Kings take if Thabeet goes at #2 to the Grizzlies, and Washington goes with Rubio at #3? Are they not going to take the best player available which would be Harden?

[jstanthrnme]

As for Warren, he would be a great target for us in the '10 draft.

Harden is only an inch taller, and 10 lbs heavier. So it doesn't make sense to me when you sugest that we not take an undersized guard with a lottery pick next draft, and then flip-flop for this one.

Sure, a trade including McGee could help us, but how can we be sure Harden will still be around at #5?

[ricanhornet]

Because the Kings are dying to draft a pg. Remember, their best player is their SG (Kevin Martin). They won't be selecting Harden if he is available. More than likely, they'll draft Flynn or Jennings.

[Easy180]

If they really want Westbrook at the point look for the Thunder to take Harden or trade down to take another SG...Looks like there may be several teams desperate to get their hands on Rubio...Might be a good chance to grab a quality veteran by trading down

[Stan Silliman]

I think we need a little more help inside and the Clippers will be overloaded, after drafting Blake, with post players. Work this out in advance then draft Rubio and swap him to the Clippers for Marcus Camby and either Al Thornton or DeAndre Jordan. In think we can get two for one for Rubio. Rubio gets to be in the market he wants to be in and the Clippers look like hometown heroes. We get two very substantial inside players.

Camby has about two years left in him and would be a good compliment to Kristic. DeAndre Jordan has a cheap contract but is getting ready to blow up. The problem is he is almost the same player as White.

At pick # 25 we can get a good back up point guard or shooting guard - Jrue Holiday, Darren Collison, Ty Lawson, maybe even Chase Budinger or Wayne Ellington.

[Stan Silliman]

Here's another possibility with Rubio. Draft and trade him and Earl Watson or him and Collison to Phoenix for Amare Stoudemeier. Nash would be a good mentor for Rubio and down to his last two years. Rubio goes to a heavily spanish speaking market.

[ricanhornet]

Here's another possibility with Rubio. Draft and trade him and Earl Watson or him and Collison to Phoenix for Amare Stoudemeier. Nash would be a good mentor for Rubio and down to his last two years. Rubio goes to a heavily spanish speaking market.

Why would we waste a high first round draft pick for a one year rental? No thank you.

[Stan Silliman]

Why would we waste a high first round draft pick for a one year rental? No thank you.

We have more money under the cap than most teams. Who says we won't keep him under free agency? I think it's a plausible trade.

[JerzeeGrlinOKC]

Seen nary a comment since the draft selections...why all the silence? What do you guys think of the new acquisitions (Harden, Mullens).

I'm personally glad Presti went with Harden, shows he has faith in Westbrook and Harden seems like a great team player. I'm hearing that's he's good defensively even though most of the talk has been his perimeter shooting. Anyhow, Rubio sounded like a more risky pick. What do I know though...

GO THUNDER!

[Midtowner]

Don't know what to think? Hope they don't suck!

[jstanthrnme]

The discussion is here:

OKC Thunder Fans Forums - Powered by vBulletin

OKC didn't hit a home run, but we got a solid double with an RBI.
James Harden isn't a very sexy choice, but he's the right one.

[Easy180]

Anyhow, Rubio sounded like a more risky pick. What do I know though...

GO THUNDER!

Yeah...The ticker on ESPN at lunch kept saying **Rubio's father thinks Ricky may stay in Spain**

Can imagine all of the fun if he had thumbed his nose at OKC

I love the picks...Sharpshooter and the 2nd best center in the draft....Mullens supposedly had a downer year at OSU but is said to have a lot of upside...Hope he can turn into a Tyson Chandler type but that may be wishful thinking

[Easy180]

Here is how SI saw it

Potential Winners

THUNDER -- A lot of people believed the Thunder were torn between Ricky Rubio and Tyreke Evans. Guess not. James Harden becomes the fourth major piece in Oklahoma City's nucleus, joining point guard Russell Westbrook, small forward Kevin Durant and forward Jeff Green. Harden is a smooth scorer who is unselfish, an important quality on a young team learning how to play together. But the Thunder had the opportunity to draft Rubio (and shift Westbrook to shooting guard) and passed. If Harden proves to be a legitimate starting two-guard, Thunder GM Sam Presti drafted a gem. But if Harden struggles -- he's not an exceptional athlete -- and Rubio blossoms, it becomes a very questionable pick. The Thunder did pick up the potential defensive-minded center they craved in Ohio State's B.J. Mullens, a long 7-footer who could develop into a fearsome shot-blocker in a few years.

[JerzeeGrlinOKC]

Yeah...The ticker on ESPN at lunch kept saying **Rubio's father thinks Ricky may stay in Spain**

Can imagine all of the fun if he had thumbed his nose at OKC

I love the picks...Sharpshooter and the 2nd best center in the draft....Mullens supposedly had a downer year at OSU but is said to have a lot of upside...Hope he can turn into a Tyson Chandler type but that may be wishful thinking

This from the hoops report The Hoops Report | NBA Draft Recap: Rubio, Jennings Steal the Show

RICKY RUBIO SLIPS TO 5, MAY STAY IN SPAIN

Ricky Rubio was hoping to go to Oklahoma City at No. 3 or maybe even Sacramento at No. 4, but No. 5 to Minnesota? When asked before the Draft what comes to mind when he thinks of Minnesota, Rubio said "too cold" but he had nice things to say about Oklahoma City and Sacramento. Slipping to No. 5 will cost Rubio some significant money, which is important to him because of the large buyout he will have to pay his Spanish team.

Now, today Ricky Rubio's father has said that Ricky may stay in Spain for another two years. This is shocking because he made it very clear that he was coming right to the NBA. But Rubio is clearly upset about falling to No. 5 and being drafted by a team he didn't really prefer. He would have liked to go to Oklahoma City or Sacramento, or a large market like New York or Los Angeles. He now realizes that he can save a lot of money by staying in Spain for the last two years of his contract and then come over to the NBA when he is ready.


Ha! Interesting to hear that he was interested in coming here or Sacramento, but Minnesota turned him sour. But I'm liking the choice in Harden. Less conflict with Westbrook, and he's a great scorer (we need that better perimeter shooting). That would be interesting though if Rubio does decide to stay in Spain.

Agree with you on Mullens, lets keep our fingers crossed that he improves! Because that would be GOLD.

[nik4411]

I'm so glad we didn't take Rubio, seems a bit of a primadona. I haven't even been impressed at all by him.
Mullens was definitely a quality pickup with a late first round pick.

[westsidesooner]

Anyone been keeping up with Blake Griffin. There was a nice story about him today in the USA Today. Total package: Clippers' Griffin has combo of speed, power - USATODAY.com

He's gotten off to a great start in the summer league.....I cant wait to see how he does when the season starts. When do the Clippers play against the Thunder here in OKC? Thatd be a game to mark on the calender.