So glad clay is the owner of okc!!!!

[magnifier661]

Their franchise is doomed. They have an ownership group that would rather stay out of luxury tax then win a title. Eventually Durant will bolt and the franchise will be another Nola type that just never made good decisions after they lucked out on draft day.

Westbrook will probably be the last to leave because he's so me me me. I fucking hate okc!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

He had a dynasty in his hands and got cheap about it.

Now trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe with the new CBA he figured that the penalties are so high being over the cap that the route to an NBA title is staying below the cap and trading max type players for draft picks while keeping the superstar. But I take comfort in the fact that if Allen ever stumbles onto a dynasty roster, he will pay to keep them together.

 

[BBert]

Yep that Harden trade was penny wise but pound foolish. I also agree with many that if he 'had' to trade one of the big 3 it should have been Westbrook. He would have gotten a better return too. Fuck Clay Bennett where the sun don't shine. He deserves worse than what's coming to him.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Makes me wonder how long it would take the fans to turn ugly ....

 

[magnifier661]

Makes me wonder how long it would take the fans to turn ugly ....

Hopefully sooner than later. Then when clay is crying in the bathroom; he notices that his wife left him for another woman.

 

[Boise Blazer]

If Durant does bolt I almost feel like we have earned first dibs and at a discounted rate!

 

[BBert]

Between the two I'd expect Durant to me more team-first and Westbrook to be more me-first. Ergo, if things don't work out I won't be surprised to see Westbrook in a Flaker or Meat jersey before Durant.

 

[illmatic99]

They didn't have to trade Harden or Westbrook. They could have amnestied Perkins and gotten a ton of flexibility to extend Harden.

It's both dumbass management and cheap ownership.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

They shouldn't of signed Ibaka to that ridiculous contract and/or should've traded him.

Getting rid of Harden was not the prudent thing to do - in fact, I believe I took heat from some posters around here when I said trading Harden will doom them.

Edit: I believe people said that Sefolosha was a better defender and Kevin Martin would pick up the scoring load and Harden was "just" a 6th man.

 

[Pinwheel1]

They didn't have to trade Harden or Westbrook. They could have amnestied Perkins and gotten a ton of flexibility to extend Harden.

It's both dumbass management and cheap ownership.

Exactly. Do it just like Miami. Get three really good skilled players and worry about the rest later. Good Vets will want to come to your team for a less amount in order to chace the ring. And having three players like Durant, Westbrook, and Harden would have attracted some bigs who can rebound and play D. They had their big three for years to come, and fucked it up. Now it will be harder to get that 3rd guy again.

 

[Boise Blazer]

3 does seem to be the number even if one of the three is a borderline superstar (Allen, Bosh, Ginobli)

 

[Rhal]

They could have easily traded Westbrook for Say Rondo/Sullinger or Fab Melo and saved about 4 million a year on that then amnesty Perkins when they needed extra money. This OKC team is going to be the next Suns and as much as i'm happy about that I think it hurts the league as a whole when you have cheapass owners.

 

[santeesioux]

And yet Presti still pisses gold to most people and can do no wrong. Probably not his fault that the owner is a cheapskate though.

 

[illmatic99]

3 does seem to be the number even if one of the three is a borderline superstar (Allen, Bosh, Ginobli)

I think Nic can get to that level. Allen from 07-10, Bosh from 10-present, Manu from 03-07 were all complementary players during that time even if they were big names. And I do believe LA is a great #2 (KG, Wade, TP).

The pending question to me is whether Dame is a #1. If he's not, then we need a great #4 and a solid bench.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I think Nic can get to that level. Allen from 07-10, Bosh from 10-present, Manu from 03-07 were all complementary players during that time even if they were big names. And I do believe LA is a great #2 (KG, Wade, TP).

The pending question to me is whether Dame is a #1. If he's not, then we need a great #4 and a solid bench.

I have complete and probably almost too much faith in Lillard to be the #1 guys and I really really really want Batum to be that 3rd guy. im just not as sure about it

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think Nic can get to that level. Allen from 07-10, Bosh from 10-present, Manu from 03-07 were all complementary players during that time even if they were big names. And I do believe LA is a great #2 (KG, Wade, TP).

The pending question to me is whether Dame is a #1. If he's not, then we need a great #4 and a solid bench.

I think that is our best bet too. IMO if we had a really good SG to go with Lillard, LMA and Nic we will be in good shape. I would prefer to keep Wes because he can play both the 2/3 off the bench, but if we have to sacrifice him then so be it. But I really doubt we will get that SG via a trade so I don't think he needs to be sacrificed.

It would be nice to get lucky like last year and land that young SG in the draft, (I understand that is a long shot)
then get a average center in FA.

 

[Eastoff]

I have complete and probably almost too much faith in Lillard to be the #1 guys and I really really really want Batum to be that 3rd guy. im just not as sure about it

This is where I'm at too, but leaning on the "Batum is not that guy."

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

If we signed a guy like Iggy, batum would be #4

 

[MARIS61]

Their franchise is doomed. They have an ownership group that would rather stay out of luxury tax then win a title.

So they're in the exact same boat as the Blazers.

 

[magnifier661]

So they're in the exact same boat as the Blazers.

Paul Allen has already proved he isn't afraid of going into luxury tax.

 

[Pinwheel1]

If we signed a guy like Iggy, batum would be #4

Until the playoffs start.
Iggy IMO is not very good in a half court situation. But since he will not be opting out of his 16 million contract for next year, we will not have to worry about it.

 

[illmatic99]

This was his comment on 3/31

"Players get like $50, $60 or $70 or $80 (million over multiple years), whatever the number was, they gave up a big number (in an option season by opting out)," he told Tomasson." But in the grand scheme of things, pretty much get it back. You got security."....

"Obviously, it's a business, so you're going to look at your options," he said. "Here we have some good (prospects). But I'm not making any promises. But I've liked the last month and a half, two months, three months or however long (that Denver has been on a roll). It's important for the future, so I'm just trying to win.'''

Link.

If he's expecting even 50 mil deals, he's more jaded than most NBA players.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Until the playoffs start.
Iggy IMO is not very good in a half court situation. But since he will not be opting out of his 16 million contract for next year, we will not have to worry about it.

Has he said he would opt in yet? April 7th Iggy was saying it all depends on how Denver does in the playoffs.

Iggy and pick 10 > McGee or Jordan by a long shot

 

[Pinwheel1]

This was his comment on 3/31



Link.

If he's expecting even 50 mil deals, he's more jaded than most NBA players.

Thanks for the link. I understand his theory, and agree with it if the player makes close to the salary he is giving up in at least one of the years in his new contract. But I don't think he will come close. I would not give him a dime over 11 million. So unless he gets hurt this next year which would have prevented him from getting a decent 3-4 year contract next year, I think he loses in the long run. Either way he set for life...

 

[PapaG]

OKC was up 3-0, yet in Game 3 Westbrook gets taken out by an unnecessary play, and suddenly OKC is a mess?

 

[magnifier661]

OKC was up 3-0, yet in Game 3 Westbrook gets taken out by an unnecessary play, and suddenly OKC is a mess?

Dude I hate okc almost as much as the lakers. I am myopic!

 

[MARIS61]

Paul Allen has already proved he isn't afraid of going into luxury tax.

You've got it backwards.

He used to be fearless, and we were competitive.

Then he lost his nerve and now each spring we're hiding in the cellar with the other chintzy cowards.