Rumor Bleacher Report (lol): OKC looking to trade Westbrook before season starts?

[Boob-No-More]

Are you saying you wouldn't rather have Presti than Olshey? Because if that's what you're saying, you crazy.

Then, I must be crazy. Olshey got us the second best backcourt in the NBA with the 6th and 1oth picks. Presti has drafted exactly one rotation player since 2011 (Steven Adams at 12).

We lost our leading scorer and rebounder, and three other starters and were still 5th seed in the West and made the second round with the youngest team in the playoffs. Lets see how OKC does after losing their leading scorer. He missed 55 games in 2015 and they missed the playoffs. Let's see how they do without him for 82 games.

BNM

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Then, I must be crazy. Olshey got us the second best backcourt in the NBA

That's debatable. Especially if you count defense.

Presti has drafted exactly one rotation player since 2011 (Steven Adams at 12).

Why is the cut off 2011? Maybe because since then the only pick OKC has had higher than 21 is... Steven Adams. And of course, in 2011 Presti drafted Reggie Jackson at 24, who is almost certainly currently better than CJ, but taken 14 picks later. Way to stack the deck in your favor.

Also, OKC acquired Roberson on draft night, and he was picked at #26. I guess "starter" is not "rotation" for you.

We lost our leading scorer and rebounder, and three other starters and were still 5th seed in the West and made the second round with the youngest team in the playoffs. Lets see how OKC does after losing their leading scorer. He missed 55 games in 2015 and they missed the playoffs. Let's see how they do without him for 82 games.

Yes, let's see.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Yes you do. His name is LeBron. Who doesn't want to play with LeBron James? Kevin Love wanted and title and playing with LeBron gave him that opportunity.

His point is that, since Love was leaving anyway, the accepted wisdom was that Minny would get very little for him because the league would have them over a barrel. So the surprise was how much Cleveland gave up for him.

That's the accepted wisdom, anyway. I think it's confused: yes, if the entire rest of the league cooperated, teams like Minny with players like Love (like OKC now with Westbrook) would be screwed. But the other teams are competing, and some of them know they have no chance at the player in free agency, so they don't have the leverage that other teams have. Also, Cleveland valued short-term success way over long term and knew that this was a weak draft.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Why is the cut off 2011?

Because I was comparing him to Olshey, who became the POR GM right before the 2012 draft.

Maybe because since then the only pick OKC has had higher than 21 is... Steven Adams.

Nope, they had the 14th pick in 2015 and took Cameron Payne. Of course, time may prove Presti right, Payne may become their starting PG after they lose Westbrook.

Also, OKC acquired Roberson on draft night, and he was picked at #26. I guess "starter" is not "rotation" for you.

And Olshey also drafted Crabbe at 31, who is part of the rotation and if we're going to play the draft day trade game, he also traded for Plumlee, our starting center, on draft day. We got a lot more out of our 23rd pick in 2015 than OKC got out of their 14th pick.

You prefer Presti. Good for you. He had a good run picking in the top 4 back in 2007 - 2009. I'll take our current roster and our current GM moving forward over a team that's in disarray. You seem to enjoy the draft lottery. So, I guess, it's a good time to be a Thunder fan.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

Are you saying you wouldn't rather have Presti than Olshey? Because if that's what you're saying, you crazy.

I would 100% rather have Olshey.

Neil completely rebuilt our team in a couple seasons, and despite losing one of the best power forwards in the game with zero compensation, he was able to get us FURTHER in the playoffs the following season. I realize that you're still salty about the Batum trade, but you are clearly undervaluing what Neil has done.

 

[Minstrel]

I realize that you're still salty about the Batum trade, but you are clearly undervaluing what Neil has done.

I'm still salty about the the Batum trade too. I think Olshey has been above average as a GM overall and comparable to Presti's 2010-present run. I do think Presti deserves some credit for his three amazing drafts, just not the kind of credit that posits that he'll do anything comparable the next time he's in the high lottery.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You prefer Presti. Good for you. He had a good run picking in the top 4 back in 2007 - 2009.

...and also:
2008: Serge Ibaka at 24 (who netted him Oladipo and change) (Olshey took our pal Aminu at NUMBER 8 in that draft)
2011: Reggie Jackson at 24 (Olshey didn't have a draft pick, as is often the case, this time because of the momentous Baron Davis/Mo Williams trade)
2013: Andre Roberson acquired (picked at 26)
2013: Adams picked at 12 (Olshey picked CJ at #10. Not bad. Who knows who Presti would've taken at #10? But both of them whiffed on Giannis Antetokounmpo. )

I'll take our current roster and our current GM moving forward over a team that's in disarray. You seem to enjoy the draft lottery. So, I guess, it's a good time to be a Thunder fan.

This is so ridiculous. The Thunder had a legitimate shot at a title last season. They were 3-1 up. They have a young and improving roster. And you're telling me Presti's bad because he didn't trade Durant earlier? So what does that make Olshey? Our team wasn't even that great and Aldridge had been moaning for a while and yet he didn't trade LA.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I would 100% rather have Olshey.

Neil completely rebuilt our team in a couple seasons, and despite losing one of the best power forwards in the game with zero compensation, he was able to get us FURTHER in the playoffs the following season. I realize that you're still salty about the Batum trade, but you are clearly undervaluing what Neil has done.

Let's see how the Blazers do moving forward. I personally don't see us as "completely rebuilt". We DRASTICALLY overperformed last year (if we do the same or better this year, I will readily take that back) and were getting destroyed by the Clippers until Chris Paul went down. Even so, we don't have any assets that we can spare for a big trade, unlike arguably worse teams like Boston. How can we be so "rebuilt" if we have such shitty assets?

Don't get me wrong, I loved our team last year, and enjoyed the ride immensely. But I think we're kidding ourselves if we think suddenly we're a top tier team. We will again be very lucky to make the playoffs this year.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Wow, Olshey sure won people back fast after draft night and "whiffing" on Whiteside, Parsons, Gasol et. al. Must be those Soap Opera good looks.

 

[Boob-No-More]

...and also:
2008: Serge Ibaka at 24 (who netted him Oladipo and change) (Olshey took our pal Aminu at NUMBER 8 in that draft)

And now has him locked up on a VERY reasonable contract. Olshey has gotten better at drafting and even better still at finding underpaid bargains.

2011: Reggie Jackson at 24 (Olshey didn't have a draft pick, as is often the case, this time because of the momentous Baron Davis/Mo Williams trade)

He wasn't our GM. So, I don't care. Scratch that, it made the Clipper worse. So, yet another reason to like Olshey.

And where is Jackson now? Starting for someone else. But hey, that trade got them Kanter, who Olsey forced them to overpay or lose for nothing. And, that trade also cost them their 2017 1st round pick. Oh wait, I thought Olshey was the one who tossed aside picks like they don't matter.

2013: Andre Roberson acquired (picked at 26)

Roberson sucks. The only reason he's a starter is Presti hasn't been able to find a decent starting SG since he whiffed on the Harden trade. He thought Jermey Lamb was the answer. Snicker... Then, he thought Dion Waiters was the answer. Double snicker...

And, here's the icing on the cake. Presti passed on Rudy Gobert, who UTA took one pick later, to take Roberson. I thought you'd be all over Presti for that monumental fuck up. Five picks after Rberson, Olshey took Allen Crabbe, a much better player.

2013: Adams picked at 12 (Olshey picked CJ at #10. Not bad. Who knows who Presti would've taken at #10? But both of them whiffed on Giannis Antetokounmpo. )

Adams is decent, but will never be an all star. C.J. will be.

This is so ridiculous. The Thunder had a legitimate shot at a title last season. They were 3-1 up. They have a young and improving roster. And you're telling me Presti's bad because he didn't trade Durant earlier? So what does that make Olshey? Our team wasn't even that great and Aldridge had been moaning for a while and yet he didn't trade LA.

And, they could have made the finals several years in a row and most likely won multiple titles if Presti hadn't fucked up the Harden situation.

Young and improving roster?????? Seriously? They just lost one of the top 5 players in the game and are about to lose another one. He also traded away a future top 10 player for table scraps. How is that an improving roster. Do you actually think OKC wins more than 55 games this year (or the year after, or the year after, or the year after)? Because that's what it would take for them to improve. Yes, he did a good job drafting with top 4 picks 7 - 9 years ago, but in the end he turned Durant and Harden into Steven Adams and is about to lose Westbrook for chump change.

Olshey did a GREAT job recovering from Adridge's defection. Let's see how Presti recovers from losing Durant.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Wow, Olshey sure won people back fast after draft night and "whiffing" on Whiteside, Parsons, Gasol et. al. Must be those Soap Opera good looks.

He didn't have to win back what he never lost.

BNM

 

[Rastapopoulos]

He didn't have to win back what he never lost.

BNM

Right there's a damn fine title for a Country song.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

And now has him locked up on a VERY reasonable contract.

FOR ANOTHER FUCKING TEAM! And he's not as good as the player taken MANY picks later by Presti!

I'm going to give up now. You're getting disingenuous, and you are evidently indefatigable.

 

[Boob-No-More]

and were getting destroyed by the Clippers until Chris Paul went down.

Revisionist history. We beat LAC in Game 3 and were ahead in Game 4 when CP3 went down. Stotts had made adjustments (using Plumlee as a distributor and putting Harkelss on CP3) that had turned the tide of the series BEFORE Paul got injured.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

FOR ANOTHER FUCKING TEAM!

Just like Reggie Jackson. You count that as a feather in Presti's cap, but he turned him into an overpriced back up and gave up a future 1st round pick in the process.

I honestly don't give a fuck who Olshey drafted before he came to Portland. That's completely irrelevant to me. He's obviously improved as he's gained experience. Thats all that matters to me - who he's drafted since he became our GM.

BNM

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[Minstrel]

Does that mean that Durant didn't take the easy way out, as he went to a worse team?

I agree with Iggy, though, that the Thunder were the most impressive team in the playoffs this past season.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I bet Iggy loves the taste of Kevin's sweaty balls after games.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Best at choking?

Doesn't matter, That team no longer exists.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

The Thunder didn't even make the playoffs without Durant. That's how great that team that Presti built was.

Blazers were 5th in the west without Aldridge.

 

[Natebishop3]

Wow, Olshey sure won people back fast after draft night and "whiffing" on Whiteside, Parsons, Gasol et. al. Must be those Soap Opera good looks.

How did he whif on Whiteside? Other than a rumor that we were going to meet with him, there was no indication that Neil was even pursuing him.

 

[blue9]

I think that probably says more about Aldridge than Olshey/Presti?

 

[Natebishop3]

Let's see how the Blazers do moving forward. I personally don't see us as "completely rebuilt". We DRASTICALLY overperformed last year (if we do the same or better this year, I will readily take that back) and were getting destroyed by the Clippers until Chris Paul went down. Even so, we don't have any assets that we can spare for a big trade, unlike arguably worse teams like Boston. How can we be so "rebuilt" if we have such shitty assets?

Don't get me wrong, I loved our team last year, and enjoyed the ride immensely. But I think we're kidding ourselves if we think suddenly we're a top tier team. We will again be very lucky to make the playoffs this year.

Down 2-1 in the series and winning game 4 = getting destroyed? That's interesting.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think that probably says more about Aldridge than Olshey/Presti?

It also says a lot about how valuable Durant was to that team.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Westbrick to gsw for curry and durrant.

 

[bigbailes]

I'd bet against Presti (or any GM) getting even one top-five player even with a handful of lottery picks, let alone anything more than that.

As I said, I think Presti is a good GM and he's already done a good job starting the process of a post-Durant world with the Ibaka deal (which was impressive in that the deal would have worked with or without Durant). A handful of lottery picks I'm sure will help. But the value he got from 2007-2009 was flukish. I'd say the same no matter what GM pulled it off, even RC Buford or Jerry West. I don't consider those drafts to be indicative of much beyond a good GM on a historically unique hot streak, that's all.

Isn't that more of a function of how great a player Durant is rather than anything Presti did? I mean you could put Durant onto any roster in the NBA and they immediately become much better, even one that set a record with 73 wins.

 

[Minstrel]

Isn't that more of a function of how great a player Durant is rather than anything Presti did? I mean you could put Durant onto any roster in the NBA and they immediately become much better, even one that set a record with 73 wins.

What I meant was that it wasn't a deal that gutted their present team (which would have screwed them if Durant stayed) nor was it a deal that hurt their future (which would have screwed them if Durant left). They got a good young-prime player in Oladipo, who would have fit well with the Durant team but also works fine on a rebuilding team and Sabonis, a player who does push some value into the future but not at huge cost to their present, and a shooter in his prime in Illyasova.

It was a very nice job of re-tooling in a Durant-uncertain environment, IMO.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What I meant was that it wasn't a deal that gutted their present team (which would have screwed them if Durant stayed) nor was it a deal that hurt their future (which would have screwed them if Durant left). They got a good young-prime player in Oladipo, who would have fit well with the Durant team but also works fine on a rebuilding team and Sabonis, a player who does push some value into the future but not at huge cost to their present, and a shooter in his prime in Illyasova.

It was a very nice job of re-tooling in a Durant-uncertain environment, IMO.

So - just like Olshey did in getting Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh for Nic Batum, right?

 

[Minstrel]

So - just like Olshey did in getting Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh for Nic Batum, right?

Er, yes, if I thought Henderson and Vonleh were of equivalent value to Batum, which I don't. I do think Oladipo, Sabonis and Illyasova were at least of equivalent value to Ibaka.