Anyone Legitimately Concerned About OKC?

[BalancedMan]

For the future going ahead? I feel that they could become one of the biggest competitors against the Blazers championship hopes. Assuming they don't make any moves, they'll only have ~38 million dollars committed to players next off-season. Even if the cap goes down, then will have enough money in a year with a ton of stud FA's that they could really do some damage. Here's what they have signed for that year:

Westbrook
Harden/Sefolosha/Weaver
Durant
Green/White/Ibaka
Collison/Krstic/Mullins

Granted, none of their bigs are insanely talented, but they have some good young prospects in Mullins and Ibaka and Krstic was pretty good before his injury. Weaver and Sefolosha are good defensive guards. If they don't make the playoffs next year (who EXPECTS that) they'll add another lottery pick to this core, and again could add a big name FA. I'm not saying Chris Bosh wants to play in OKC, but if they can find a good available big (Boozer comes to mind) then they would look really, really solid. Anyone else had lingering thoughts about this issue?

 

[Tince]

Long-term, of course.

Their team is very similar to ours in the way it was built and the potential their roster has. I'm interesting in how Bennett will handle his players when they are up for free agency.

I'm sure in about two years when they make the playoffs with a similar roster as is constructed today, how many of their fans will be saying their GM over-values his players.

 

[Minstrel]

Down the line, they could be a real danger. I'm not too worried about them until they get a serious big man. Next year, they'll have cap room and there will be players available (notably, for them, Bosh and Boozer).

Durant and Westbrook are a great combo and I was really high on Harden. So that's a tremendous perimeter. If they can perhaps package Green for a solid big and then add another solid or star big in the coming years, they could be Portland's biggest competition.

 

[MadeFromDust]

This has been looming on my mind for a while now. They are building an impressive collection of talent down there, no question. If they add a big free agent to that team they could be very scary. And I hate it because I'm still mad at them for stealing the Sonics.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

not at all. i think after a few years, they are going to lose their fan support and Durant will bolt anyways.

I mean, there are small markets and there are po-dunk towns.

 

[Chutney]

Long-term, of course.

Their team is very similar to ours in the way it was built and the potential their roster has. I'm interesting in how Bennett will handle his players when they are up for free agency.

I'm sure in about two years when they make the playoffs with a similar roster as is constructed today, how many of their fans will be saying their GM over-values his players.

It'll be interesting how Presti handles that phase. Up to now, he's been very similar to Pritchard in the way he's created a talented young core with good drafting and under-the-radar trades. Big FA moves are always uncharted territory for those type of GM's.

Of course, there is the possibility that he never really gets to that challenge. OKC's ownership is nothing like Portland's and has already shown a tendency for pennypinching. When they have the opportunity to use some cap space, Durant's extension will be looming, and I can see Presti being forced to avoid making a big splash.

 

[Nikolokolus]

In the near term, not too much (although I think it's a huge stretch to expect a season sweep by the Blazers). I do think they have the potential to make the playoffs this year as a lower seed depending on how much Houston and Phoenix fall off.

In the long term it all comes down to getting a legitimate big man -- not necessarily an all-star caliber player, but at least a near star who can give them some kind of low post presence on offense and defense.

 

[Pinwheel1]

If they land a big free agent next year they will be a problem. That is a big if, but they have the money.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

For the future going ahead? I feel that they could become one of the biggest competitors against the Blazers championship hopes. Assuming they don't make any moves, they'll only have ~38 million dollars committed to players next off-season. Even if the cap goes down, then will have enough money in a year with a ton of stud FA's that they could really do some damage. Here's what they have signed for that year:

Westbrook
Harden/Sefolosha/Weaver
Durant
Green/White/Ibaka
Collison/Krstic/Mullins

Granted, none of their bigs are insanely talented, but they have some good young prospects in Mullins and Ibaka and Krstic was pretty good before his injury. Weaver and Sefolosha are good defensive guards. If they don't make the playoffs next year (who EXPECTS that) they'll add another lottery pick to this core, and again could add a big name FA. I'm not saying Chris Bosh wants to play in OKC, but if they can find a good available big (Boozer comes to mind) then they would look really, really solid. Anyone else had lingering thoughts about this issue?

I love their team, but their bigs are too weak. If someone did a Memphis-like Pau Gasol handoff to them, they would be scary.

 

[RR7]

If they land a big free agent next year they will be a problem. That is a big if, but they have the money.

Which free agent, though? With all of their cap space they have this season, and will have next season, I'd personally look to move Green in a deal. I like him as a player, but not as a starting PF. And I can see concern of him looking to add a little weight, to deal with starting PFs, and then needing to shed it to be a SF again. The main reason I'm not concerned is because of our advantage in the front court, with oden and Aldridge, and, because of Batum. A lot of times, when teams are rebuilding with all young guys, they grab star players, or potential star players. I love having Batum and Rudy as two players who look to be really good role players for us in the future. I like that we have a guy we can groom to be a defensive stopper. When we play them, we can throw Batum on Durant. Who do they throw at opposing teams' top guys? Harden? I thought they would have continued to groom Sefolosha in that role, and I suppose they still could, but that pushes Harden to the bench. Who knows, maybe Harden will be able to play good D, but I don't see him being a stopper, adn Sefolosha at least had the potential to be.
Everyone said we HAD to trade some of our young players, to consolidate talent, but we were lucky enough to be able to construct our team filling in positional needs and getting generally the best players available. OKC is a collection of talent, very promising talent, but a Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Green, Krstic/Mullens/Ibaka starting lineup doesn't scare me as a legitimate challenger. Moving Green and Harden for a C, and siging a free agent PF next season, then I would have concerns. As is, they are a talented young team that will definitely knock off better teams this year, but as is, they remind me more fo the Suns from a few years ago. Good talent, exciting mix of players, but I don't see them as a real threat. Who knows though.

 

[THE HCP]

Have you ever been to Oklahoma City? It makes Salt Lake City look like New York City!!!!!!!!!!! No worries.

 

[hasoos]

I agre with you folks in some ways, but I see OKC right now as a team that has too many guys that do the same thing/play the same position. Green should not be a PF. Most of the centers are actually PF playing out of position. They have many of the same problems the Atlanta Hawks have had. Too many players which do the same thing.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Which free agent, though? With all of their cap space they have this season, and will have next season, I'd personally look to move Green in a deal. .

Bosh. He is from Texas. That is close to home. Kind of. .....Maybe he likes Durant.

I don't see Wade going there.
I would hate to see them trade for Chris Paul.

 

[EWT]

Hard to imagine them being able to land anyone that remarkable in free agency, if people think it's hard for Portland to do it, wait until they try to sell OKC to a free agent. Their only hope is too max out someone not deserving of a max contract, they have no shot at Boozer or Bosh, not a chance in Oklahoma City, um i mean hell!

 

[ODENISGOD]

You sir need a life.

 

[Foulzilla]

I'm not worried about them until they get a legitimate big added to their core. Right now, I don't see them being any better than those Kidd/Carter/Jefferson Nets teams.

 

[Tyler_Hansbrough]

You sir need a life.

lol I love this guy.

Anyhow.

Yeah, I would be worried about OKC. I actually am becoming a fan. They have a really good team. I just wish they would have stayed in Seattle. What a kick ass I-5 rivalry that would have been with their new young squad. The Northwest would have been represented well by our two teams.

 

[illmatic99]

OKC trades for Etan Thomas: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60825/20090727/thunder_acquires_etan_thomas/#

The Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired veteran center Etan Thomas, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. In addition to Thomas, Oklahoma City receives Minnesota’s 2010 second round draft pick and a conditional 2010 second round draft pick in exchange for guards Chucky Atkins and Damien Wilkins. “We are pleased to welcome Etan Thomas to the Thunder family,” said Presti. “Etan adds experience and depth to our front court as well as a defensive mentality and competitiveness that we value.”

Doesn't hurt them. Doesn't really help them either.

 

[ebott]

They have a really good team.

No, they don't. If they had a really good team, they would win games on a regular basis. But they didn't, they lost over 70% of their games. They were the forth worst team in the league last year. I'm gonna say they have a really bad team.

What they actually have is a nice collection of young talent. But the NBA has a long history of squads that are nice collections of young talent that never become a good team. They're basically where we were after the 2006 draft. If they can improve by 50% for the 09/10 season I'll start thinking of them as a team with potential rather than a bunch of individuals with potential. If they can then improve by 30% on that for the 10/11 season I'll consider them to be dangerous. Then we'll see what they're really made of if they make the playoffs in the 11/12 season. If they don't embarrass themselves (which would give them a leg up over us) or if they make a deal to address those issues (which puts them on par with us) I'll worry about them trying to compete with us for a championship during the 13/14 season.

I don't worry about teams making big upgrades via free agency. The basketball gods don't seem to care for free agent acquisitions. Except for the Lakers getting Shaq, teams acquiring big time players in free agency doesn't seem to work out.

So I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit worried about them. But that worry is four seasons away and a lot of things have to go right for them if that worry is going to come to fruition.

 

[RoyToy]

I don't see Durant staying in OKC. I've been to OKC because I have family there. It's ugly as hell and there's absolutely NOTHING to do. I think everyone already knows this, though.

 

[LameR]

They have long-term potential for sure. Currently, they're a team that I think will be decent, and will be annoying to play because I think they have the potential to upset teams on any given night.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

They could be pretty good in a year or two, but I'd keep an eye on the Clippers as well. Baron, Kaman, Camby, Griffin, Eric Gordon, Thornton, and they'll have a lot of capspace next year too, to add even more.

 

[SodaPopinski]

If someone asked me to make a list of the top 10 teams I would never expect to see in an NBA Finals in my lifetime, OKC would probably be one of the first teams I'd write down. They have some talented kids, and by all accounts Sam Presti is an up and coming GM in this league like KP was a few years ago, but at the end of the day ... they ... are ... Oklahama ... City.

I think David Stern would hang himself if his league somehow had OKC in the Finals.

 

[Haakzilla]

...no, not really [they have the #2 pick]

 

[PapaG]

Until OKC learns how to play some defense, they'll post some surprising wins and hover around .500.

A team to keep an eye on, but they have some big contracts coming up in the next few years.

 

[BalancedMan]

You sir need a life.

Is this referring to me? I just thought I'd throw it out there. OKC has a roster built like ours. Lots of young talents on rookie contracts and available cap space. Not saying I like their prospects as much as ours, but their team (core) is even younger and has a lot of nice pieces.

 

[gambitnut]

I like Westbrook, Harden, Durant and Green, but I wonder if they fit together well. As far as talent goes, they can be scary, but are Westbrook and Harden going to be as good in the backcourt as people think? Can they get by with so little size?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's funny how everyone is creaming their jeans over Durant AGAIN! He's a man among boys in Las Vegas. He's the only lock to make the Olympic team. He may be better than LeBron (actual quote from some article)!

Did I miss the part where he learned to play defense? Where the team actually did better with him on the court than off? Whenever Durant is playing, you can be sure that there will be two high scorers: Durant, and whomever he's supposed to be guarding. (Except when he's playing Batum, of course - then neither scores...)

I get it: the script is Durant great, Oden a bust. But this is like saying Bob McAdoo was the best player ever and Bill Russell was a huge disappointment.

Oh, and Russell Westbrook is NOT a point guard. Fun player to watch, but there's a reason Darren Collison was the starter.

 

[BrianFromWA]

while I agree with you on principle, I'm holding off of the Russell comparisons until Greg plays 23 minutes once in a playoff game.

 

[STOMP]

Q? Anyone Legitimately Concerned About OKC?

Can anyone think of a FA signing of a sought after Center to a lessor market? Off the top of my head I can't. NBA Centers with options on where to make their 10's of millions go to marquee teams... and thats not OKC. I think they'll have to land one in the draft, but their days as a bottom scraping team are probably drawing to an end for a while. With their talented young team they should improve and maybe make the playoffs in the next year or two, but without quality size their upside is limited.

Thats the long answer. The short answer is no.

STOMP