Orlando/OKC

[KingSpeed]

I can't navigate through these long threads to find out what you guys thought of the Ibaka trade. Are we scared of a RW/Oladipo backcourt? Are you bummed they got Sabonis? I want to know people's thoughts.

 

[riverman]

They got the A+ deal of the day...I still can't believe Orlando did that trade...it's going to make OKC a lot better and possibly keep Durant happy

 

[Five Second Violation]

Orlando is just a gigantic bag of WTF right now. They gifted us Harkless last year for nothing, then they dumped Tobias Haris for Ilyasova and friggin' Brandon Jennings, and now they overpay big time for a declining and soon to be expiring Serge Ibaka. They are suddenly giving Sacramento a run for the most clueless franchise.

 

[drexlersdad]

Ibaka is probably the best player in the trade, but dude has fell off. He was 1st team all defense 3 years straight but the last two years has been shite.

That said, I expect a monster contract year push from him, OKC could have used him more than these other guys. Maybe they are acquiring guys to bring in Jimmy Butler or something.

 

[BonesJones]

Ibaka and Vucevic fit perfectly together. I think the Magic are gonna max out Heal or Barnes. A lineup of Payton/Fournier/Barnes/Ibaka/Vucevic with Jennings, Herzonja, and Gordon off the bench is pretty solid.


OKC has no shooting now. I don't think it's that big of an upgrade tbh.

 

[Blazinaway]

I think clearly OKC won the trade long term but the problem is Oladipo is a poor shooter and overall OKC lacks outside shooting. and Oladipo will get paid next year as will Westbrook and Adams and if Durant stays je gets pd huge this yr.

 

[selloutking]

I was sad but ok with Orlando getting him, they do well with picks when its a big.

was pissed when I heard he got traded to chokelahoma

 

[Blazers Roy]

Orlando made a good trade, they sent Oladipo who is a bit of a stiff shooter and got a legit starting big who came from a PACKED offensive team.

It's actually too bad we didn't get Ibaka instead.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I was sad but ok with Orlando getting him, they do well with picks when its a big.

was pissed when I heard he got traded to chokelahoma

Any chance he even sees the ball in OKC? Westbrook spent years freezing out Durant in the 4th quarter of close games and this year, in the playoffs, Coach Russ benched Enes Kanter, who averaged 21.7 pints/36 and 13.9 reb/36 during the regular season.

Oh well, Westbrook will probably be gone after next season anyway, so Baby Sabas may actually get to touch the ball his sophomore season.

BNM

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'm pissed that they landed Sabonis.

PISS'T.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Seems to me that OKC won this trade. They get a really nice big who they can develop in Sabonis. A SG who has "disappointed" to the tune of 16/5/4 on 48% shooting from 2pt and 35% from 3pt with a 16.7 PER. Add in a vet forward who can shoot and play a bit of defense off the bench, and this is a complete steal for OKC. They still have Adams and Kanter, so it's not like they are hurting for bigs. Most of all, and an added bonus, the Thunder can now let Soup Juggler walk

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Ibaka and Vucevic fit perfectly together. I think the Magic are gonna max out Heal or Barnes. A lineup of Payton/Fournier/Barnes/Ibaka/Vucevic with Jennings, Herzonja, and Gordon off the bench is pretty solid.


OKC has no shooting now. I don't think it's that big of an upgrade tbh.

Ilyasova is a better shooter than Ibaka.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm pissed that they landed Sabonis.

PISS'T.

He can fight it out with the last Sabonis - Mitch McGary.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

One thing I mentioned in the thread that Eric can't be bothered to read through: maybe the Magic decided that they wanted to make Hezonja their full time starter at SG. Also: maybe they know Oladipo was planning to leave and they're getting something for him ahead of time.

Sorry - best I can do.

 

[Sarni]

One thing I mentioned in the thread that Eric can't be bothered to read through: maybe the Magic decided that they wanted to make Hezonja their full time starter at SG. Also: maybe they know Oladipo was planning to leave and they're getting something for him ahead of time.

Sorry - best I can do.

Yeah but Ibaka is also UFA next year so they are not sure they will be able to keep him either unless he's given assurances (extremely unlikely).

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think Orlando is just completely lost as to how to make all their seemingly talented pieces fit together, so they're trying to see if they can make something work. If Ibaka and Vucevic can coexist smoothly, then perhaps they'll have something worthwhile upon which to build.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

All i wanted for draft day was sabonis. I hate that he is on a division rival. If he kicks our ass in playoffs im going to be force to hate him and i just dont want to hate a sabonis

 

[selloutking]

All i wanted for draft day was sabonis. I hate that he is on a division rival. If he kicks our ass in playoffs im going to be force to hate him and i just dont want to hate a sabonis

YUP
like I said, was sad but ok with Orlando getting him, but soon as okc stuck their nose in ...

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Reminds me of the Gasol Trade to the Lakers that was the catalyst for multiple championships, unfortunately.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Reminds me of the Gasol Trade to the Lakers that was the catalyst for multiple championships, unfortunately.

Oladipo is no Pau Gasol.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Bet Dion Waiters is pissed, though.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Oladipo is no Pau Gasol.

Oladipo >>> > Waiters.

They just got a LOT better defensively, which is weird because they traded away a defensive standout. They already have a championship caliber offense that Gasol helped them with. Now they have a championship caliber defense, too.

 

[Pinwheel1]

If this trade excited Durant enough to re-sign then it was a huge trade for them. Serge is only 26 though so maybe it ends up pissing him off. Tough to know.

Sabonis is a solid young player, but nothing special right now. Hard to know how much better he will get. Can he step outside and shoot? He is a solid post up player, but will his short wing span be an issue against NBA talent? It' not like he is a leaper. Not saying he won't be good, just not as good as Ibaka.

To me them getting Oladipo is the key. Granted he lost his starting position in Orlando, but having him come off the bench in OKC might turn out to be effective. On one hand what will he do when Westbrook dominates the ball? But those two defensively in the back court will be very disruptive. I like the move for OKC if they get Durant back.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think a good comparison for this trade is the Kevin Love-Andrew Wiggins trade. It's eerily similar, except, weirdly, you switch the status of the teams. It's the worse team getting the established rebounder/three point shooter.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Let's revisit this after Durant re-signs. Because if he doesn't, Ersan Ilyasova is instantly OKC's best shooter.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm just really not that impressed with this trade. When we were talking oladipo and vucevic for CJ there were people who thought it was a bad trade.

 

[drexlersdad]

It's a sweet nba2k trade for okc, but the more I think about it, Orlando got the best player, and okc is worse next year with the deal. They traded away the 3rd guy in their "big 3" again. That said, this deal hinges on sabonis. If he develops into an all star then yeah, okc is stoked, but if not...Also I expect a resurgent year from ibaka, walk year and whatnot.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Let's revisit this after Durant re-signs. Because if he doesn't, Ersan Ilyasova is instantly OKC's best shooter.

I heard on the radio that Ilyasova is only guaranteed until June 30th and that to save cap space OKC may not pick up his option.

I also heard that Serge and Durant were not the best of buds........Serge was often pissed because he never got the ball.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I heard on the radio that Ilyasova is only guaranteed until June 30th and that to save cap space OKC may not pick up his option.

I also heard that Serge and Durant were not the best of buds........Serge was often pissed because he never got the ball.

They said they are going to keep him.

 

[Chris Craig]

I don't this trade is as good as it appears for OKC...Should he stay he will likely have to wait for the development of Sabonis to eye a championship. OKC lost the third guy in its big three, and even with Adams and Kanter, it weakens their front court at least for the short term. Oladipo and Waiters aren't going to get along, Waiters is being replaced, it's the Reggie Jackson thing all over again. So is Illyasova OKC's starting 4 now, or will they give it to McGary

Orlando while conceivably ironing out their front court take the risk of getting their team for a rental. Will Ibaka really choose to stay in Orlando after next season, I doubt it. I guess Orlando and OKC for that matter are crossing their fingers. This all seems pretty desperate on both sides.