Carmelo Opts In

[Scapegoat]

This was taken from a Thunder board.


No one should be upset that he opted in. Everyone should be upset for Presti having the disaster that was last off-season. That is why OKC is in this mess. It is going to continue to get worse before there is any chance of it getting better.


Melo opting in was the only way OKC had a chance to improve the roster. They still have to get him to waive his NTC and get a team to take him to buy him out just to use his contract as an expiring, but if he opt out OKC had no real options to improve the roster. They still have the taxpayer's MLE either way, but assuming PG stays that is all they were working with. Atlanta could be interesting if they want to clear space for next off-season. Melo and Singler for Bazemore and Schroder. OKC gets another 3&D wing in Bazemore and a young backup PG in Schroder. Atlanta clears their space to go into next off-season with room for 2 max FAs. Assuming their youth shows flashes they can offer FAs a chance to play in a city with a big hiphop community and get paid. I think Atlanta should be looking at 2020 not 2019, but you never know what a team is thinking.

LAC could wanting 2019 cap space and OKC gamble on Gallinari for Melo.

Memphis would be interesting with Parsons for Melo. If Parsons were to stay healthy in a 6th man role OKC could get a nice boost. Memphis probably also includes future picks to unload Parsons. Melo seems to still think it is 4-5 years ago and at that time Conley, Melo and Gasol would have probably been a 2nd round playoff team so Melo could waive his NTC and Memphis also seems to be thinking that way so they might like Melo.

Melo for Ryan Anderson might still be on the table.

 

[Ojb81]

"If Parsons were to stay healthy". . .

 

[flyerhawk]

Carmelo isn't going to accept any trades except for a high profile squad that isn't going to want him. His pride is absolutely not going to allow him to be part of a salary dump trade.

I would be shocked if Carmelo doesn't play the entire season in OKC this year.

 

[tlance]

Carmelo isn't going to accept any trades except for a high profile squad that isn't going to want him. His pride is absolutely not going to allow him to be part of a salary dump trade.

I would be shocked if Carmelo doesn't play the entire season in OKC this year.

Exactly.

For better or worse, Thunder are stuck with Melo.

Thunder should focus on getting Melo to buy into accepting a bench role instead of wasting energy discussing trades that won't happen.

 

[tlance]

This was taken from a Thunder board.


No one should be upset that he opted in. Everyone should be upset for Presti having the disaster that was last off-season. That is why OKC is in this mess. It is going to continue to get worse before there is any chance of it getting better.


Melo opting in was the only way OKC had a chance to improve the roster. They still have to get him to waive his NTC and get a team to take him to buy him out just to use his contract as an expiring, but if he opt out OKC had no real options to improve the roster. They still have the taxpayer's MLE either way, but assuming PG stays that is all they were working with. Atlanta could be interesting if they want to clear space for next off-season. Melo and Singler for Bazemore and Schroder. OKC gets another 3&D wing in Bazemore and a young backup PG in Schroder. Atlanta clears their space to go into next off-season with room for 2 max FAs. Assuming their youth shows flashes they can offer FAs a chance to play in a city with a big hiphop community and get paid. I think Atlanta should be looking at 2020 not 2019, but you never know what a team is thinking.

LAC could wanting 2019 cap space and OKC gamble on Gallinari for Melo.

Memphis would be interesting with Parsons for Melo. If Parsons were to stay healthy in a 6th man role OKC could get a nice boost. Memphis probably also includes future picks to unload Parsons. Melo seems to still think it is 4-5 years ago and at that time Conley, Melo and Gasol would have probably been a 2nd round playoff team so Melo could waive his NTC and Memphis also seems to be thinking that way so they might like Melo.

Melo for Ryan Anderson might still be on the table.

Can't really blame Presti here. In fact, not to long ago, Thunder fans were praising the hell out of Presti. Highly predictable that his moves to acquire George and Melo failed, but, it was what he had to do in order to convince Russ to sign the extension.

There is a 0% chance Oladipo would have blossomed into the star he is now playing alongside Russ. Their games don't fit at all.

So now you have Russ locked up, and have a shot at George too. OKC will be about what they were this year moving forward.

 

[flyerhawk]

Can't really blame Presti here. In fact, not to long ago, Thunder fans were praising the hell out of Presti. Highly predictable that his moves to acquire George and Melo failed, but, it was what he had to do in order to convince Russ to sign the extension.

There is a 0% chance Oladipo would have blossomed into the star he is now playing alongside Russ. Their games don't fit at all.

So now you have Russ locked up, and have a shot at George too. OKC will be about what they were this year moving forward.

Honestly, if they can convince George to stay then I would say that the moves were a huge success. Sure Melo is going to suck again and be a huge waste of resources on the court, but he definitely helps to entice George to stay in OKC.

So 2019 will likely be more of the same but the Warriors are winning in 2019 anyway. For the 19-20 season the Thunder will have 2 All-NBA levels players a bunch of cap room. That is not a bad place to be.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Presti is an idiot. The day he let harden go was the day he said goodbye to being a contender.

 

[Heatles84]

Presti is an idiot. The day he let harden go was the day he said goodbye to being a contender.

Presti can only do what ownership allows him to. I'm sure Presti would've been glad to lockup Harden to a max deal. Ownership didn't want to pay him the money; hence, why Presti had to trade Harden for quarters on the dollar that didn't pan out.

 

[bksballer89]

Carmelo isn't going to accept any trades except for a high profile squad that isn't going to want him. His pride is absolutely not going to allow him to be part of a salary dump trade.

I would be shocked if Carmelo doesn't play the entire season in OKC this year.

You think he will accept a buyout?

 

[jakedog56]

Why would Atlanta want to free up room for 2 max FAs? They are not currently a top level FA destination.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I mean they had one of the best starting lineups last year like +14 or something. Their bench just blows

 

[Scapegoat]

Presti can only do what ownership allows him to. I'm sure Presti would've been glad to lockup Harden to a max deal. Ownership didn't want to pay him the money; hence, why Presti had to trade Harden for quarters on the dollar that didn't pan out.

Not quite. Ownership gave Presti the green light to sign him. The problem is that OKC already had 2 max 5 year players. They could not offer Harden the 5th year that he wanted. Also Harden was a 6th man and wanted to be the star on his own team. There was no guarantee that he could carry his own team. Presti had to believe that Harden wouldn't re-sign with OKC. He tried to trade for Beal and Thompson but Washington and GS didn't want Harden.
It just wasn't as simple as Presti didn't want Harden or OKC wouldn't pay Harden. If the rules would have been different OKC might have been able to keep Harden and had a totally different team.

 

[Gman]

 

[Heatles84]

Not quite. Ownership gave Presti the green light to sign him. The problem is that OKC already had 2 max 5 year players. They could not offer Harden the 5th year that he wanted. Also Harden was a 6th man and wanted to be the star on his own team. There was no guarantee that he could carry his own team. Presti had to believe that Harden wouldn't re-sign with OKC. He tried to trade for Beal and Thompson but Washington and GS didn't want Harden.
It just wasn't as simple as Presti didn't want Harden or OKC wouldn't pay Harden. If the rules would have been different OKC might have been able to keep Harden and had a totally different team.

The problem wasn't the 5th year, the problem was that it wasn't the full max:

Windhorst: OKC Thunder stay true to themselves

"The Thunder maintain a philosophy that the individual sacrifices for the whole. In this case, that would have meant Harden agreeing to accept less than the maximum amount for a four-year extension, which was $60 million. Reportedly the Thunder's final offer was in the range of $55 million for four years."

And Harden admitted that leaving/being traded was about the money in the end:

James Harden Admits Money Was Deciding Factor in Leaving OKC Thunder

“I still think about it,” James Harden opens up about being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder

 

[wildturkey]

Can't really blame Presti here. In fact, not to long ago, Thunder fans were praising the hell out of Presti. Highly predictable that his moves to acquire George and Melo failed, but, it was what he had to do in order to convince Russ to sign the extension.

There is a 0% chance Oladipo would have blossomed into the star he is now playing alongside Russ. Their games don't fit at all.

So now you have Russ locked up, and have a shot at George too. OKC will be about what they were this year moving forward.

Not only that, but Oladipo said the trade is what motivated him to change his diet, workouts and really refocus on his game. The fact that he had been traded twice in his young career said it woke him up and made him realize he wasn't doing what he needed to be doing. If he stays, he's still the same player that he was in Orlando and OKC on top of never being a good fit with Russ.

But, like you said, their offseason moves last year were a success because the main goal was to convince Russ would stay long term. He needed to be shown the organization was willing to take chances to win. It worked.

 

[trojanfan12]

Agree with tlance, Heatles and wildturkey...hard to blame Presti.

Dude did what he had to do.

If he had done nothing and Westbrook walked, OKC fans would have lost their shit.

 

[Scapegoat]

Not only that, but Oladipo said the trade is what motivated him to change his diet, workouts and really refocus on his game. The fact that he had been traded twice in his young career said it woke him up and made him realize he wasn't doing what he needed to be doing. If he stays, he's still the same player that he was in Orlando and OKC on top of never being a good fit with Russ.

But, like you said, their offseason moves last year were a success because the main goal was to convince Russ would stay long term. He needed to be shown the organization was willing to take chances to win. It worked.

Oladipo has also said that seeing the work Westbrook put in showed him that he could work harder.

 

[thunderc]

Presti can only do what ownership allows him to. I'm sure Presti would've been glad to lockup Harden to a max deal. Ownership didn't want to pay him the money; hence, why Presti had to trade Harden for quarters on the dollar that didn't pan out.

Isn’t it about time to quit talking about Harden? He wanted out, is not a team guy and will never win shit.

 

[flyerhawk]

You think he will accept a buyout?

Sure. Just not one that would be worth it to the Thunder.

If they buy him out at 22 million, what is the point?

 

[Heatles84]

Isn’t it about time to quit talking about Harden? He wanted out, is not a team guy and will never win shit.

I agree actually. I'm just disputing the notion that Presti is a shit GM whom couldn't hold onto Harden. It was evident as to why Harden wanted to be traded/not sign an extension.