Unsexy: The current Oklahoma City Thunder

[HurricaneDij39]

They received first round picks for absorbing solid players with questionable contracts, Kemba Walker and Derrick Favors.

Since it seems unlikely that OKC will be able to re-route either player this summer, they'll have tremendous future flexibility while fielding a competitive team in the present.

Any western conference contender (my Nuggets included) will be in for something if they think they'll be in for an easy night when facing OKC...

Think Chris Paul in the sense that these two guys could be in for a career resurgence in a Thunder uniform. Walker probably won't be an all-star again in the west, but he could return to that level of production, while Favors could easily average a double-double. And of course, SGA is their current franchise cornerstone.

OKC ought to be a factor in the play-in series next season.

 

[DJ]

They could flip either player...

 

[thunderc]

I think they will flip Walker for sure, but you might be right. They love their first 3 picks, especially Giddy and Robinson-Earl from Villanova. The Thunder are a bit of a different organization, but they kind of have to be.

 

[thunderc]

I think another season of tanking could be on the horizon though. Would be the last.

 

[trojanfan12]

I think they will flip Walker for sure, but you might be right. They love their first 3 picks, especially Giddy and Robinson-Earl from Villanova. The Thunder are a bit of a different organization, but they kind of have to be.

Keeping Walker for a year to mentor those young guards might be beneficial. But, it might also lead to more wins than the Thunder might want next year.

 

[thunderc]

Keeping Walker for a year to mentor those young guards might be beneficial. But, it might also lead to more wins than the Thunder might want next year.

You are probably right, they were on track to win a lot of games with Horfords leadership last year and they had to shut that down. I still think Presti has a big trade coming. If he doesn’t they are planning on being in the lottery another year.

 

[The Q]

It seemed like Walker to the lakers was a possible thing until Westbrook became available.

 

[shopson67]

It seemed like Walker to the lakers was a possible thing until Westbrook became available.

Not sure how though. If not for Westbrook, the Hield deal was moments away.

 

[trojanfan12]

Not sure how though. If not for Westbrook, the Hield deal was moments away.

Walker was a rumor before the Westbrook/Hield/Lowry/DeRozan rumors started. Once those got going, Kemba was kind of forgotten about.

 

[shopson67]

Walker was a rumor before the Westbrook/Hield/Lowry/DeRozan rumors started. Once those got going, Kemba was kind of forgotten about.

For good reason. He's damaged goods at this point.

 

[trojanfan12]

For good reason. He's damaged goods at this point.

Yeah, as quickly as it went away, it's pretty clear he was just the first "name" that folks could attach to the Lakers.

 

[shopson67]

Yeah, as quickly as it went away, it's pretty clear he was just the first "name" that folks could attach to the Lakers.

He'll need a bounce-back season with OKC to rebuild his value.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Huh. Very un Sam Presti like to eat this money…

Tanking it is for OKC in this conference.

 

[shopson67]

Huh. Very un Sam Presti like to eat this money…

Tanking it is for OKC in this conference.

Haven't seen the numbers reported, but that could be a considerable payout to send him out. Definitely a poor job on the asset flip this time around. That is a LOT of money to turn Horford, Brown and a 2023 second into Boston's 2021 first and 2025 second. Would've been better off just buying out Horford (or dealing him for a pick). They did flip that Boston pick, along with a 2021 second, to Houston for two future 1sts, so there is that. Sacrificed Brown and Sengun (who's rights were traded to Houston), could've been nice building blocks.

At some point, OKC needs to actually use these picks, lol. There are only 15 roster spots, with at least 1 spot locked down by SJA.

(likely protections noted)
2022: 1sts from Detroit (1-16 protected, move to 2023?), Clippers, Suns and own (to Atlanta, but protected 1-14, becomes future 2nds)
2023: 1sts from Denver, Miami, Washington (1-14), swap with Clips
2024: 1sts from Houston (1-4, converts to 2nds otherwise), Clippers, Utah, and own
2025: 1st from Philly, some convoluted swaps with their pick (lol)
2026: 1sts from Houston (1-4, converts to 2nds otherwise), Clippers, own

 

[thunderc]

Haven't seen the numbers reported, but that could be a considerable payout to send him out. Definitely a poor job on the asset flip this time around. That is a LOT of money to turn Horford, Brown and a 2023 second into Boston's 2021 first and 2025 second. Would've been better off just buying out Horford (or dealing him for a pick). They did flip that Boston pick, along with a 2021 second, to Houston for two future 1sts, so there is that. Sacrificed Brown and Sengun (who's rights were traded to Houston), could've been nice building blocks.

At some point, OKC needs to actually use these picks, lol. There are only 15 roster spots, with at least 1 spot locked down by SJA.

(likely protections noted)
2022: 1sts from Detroit (1-16 protected, move to 2023?), Clippers, Suns and own (to Atlanta, but protected 1-14, becomes future 2nds)
2023: 1sts from Denver, Miami, Washington (1-14), swap with Clips
2024: 1sts from Houston (1-4, converts to 2nds otherwise), Clippers, Utah, and own
2025: 1st from Philly, some convoluted swaps with their pick (lol)
2026: 1sts from Houston (1-4, converts to 2nds otherwise), Clippers, own

How many untradeable assets did Presti turn in to something? This was bound to happen eventually, can’t win them all.

 

[shopson67]

How many untradeable assets did Presti turn in to something? This was bound to happen eventually, can’t win them all.

Of course. It's noteworthy that it didn't work.

 

[thunderc]

Of course. It's noteworthy that it didn't work.

Really we don’t know until we hear how much it cost them. I heard locally that Walker wanted out of his contract so hopefully he gave some back.

 

[tlance]

Of course. It's noteworthy that it didn't work.

He didn’t give up anything of value to take Walker on.

Now he is off the books.

I don’t think this is a bad outcome for OKC at all.

 

[shopson67]

He didn’t give up anything of value to take Walker on.

Now he is off the books.

I don’t think this is a bad outcome for OKC at all.

I would disagree. Horford has trade value, Brown has trade value (or roster value for development), etc.

 

[tlance]

I would disagree. Horford has trade value, Brown has trade value (or roster value for development), etc.

Brown yes.

Horford hell no.

He is a bad contract with negative trade value.