Daily Thunder.com

Whew! You lot went hyper on me.

Since I'm late, let me just recap on a couple thoughts through this, rather than respond to individual posts.

1. The reason it's cool to like Gortat is not because his per-minute numbers are great. Lot's of guys have great per-minute numbers on short time, but it doesn't translate to the same production with more time. However, there are some numbers that do translate, namely, the ones that Gortat puts up. I'll grant you that he plays on a team with a unique style, and that system might enhance his strengths and downplay his weaknesses. But, just like rebounding rate from college to the pros, Gortat's numbers translate well to more minutes. He's not a scoring machine, but his mechanics and instincts are tuned in to the defensive and rebounding side of the game, and that translates well, especially for a big. Remember, guys who play the 5 don't log tons of minutes. Lastly, Gortat has practiced against Howard, and has been instructed by Patrick Ewing for several seasons now. That's like the Harvard of basketball school. If I were to invent the best possible way for Byron Mullens to learn the center position, I'd put him in Gortat's shoes and give him 3 seasons to develop. Don't knock the 2nd round pick. Anyone remember a guy named Blair that was a second round pick that no one bought into? His game has translated really well so far, and he didn't graduate from the Orlando School of Basketball.

2. Ibaka, as talented as he is, will not be ready to dominate for several more seasons. He'll have barn burning stretches, but no consistency for a while. I know Presti will be patient with him, but be careful anointing him the Savior of the Center right now.

3. I am on board big time with Alabi as a prospect. If we can't work out a deal for a Center, I wouldn't mind drafting Alabi and waiting while him and Ibaka become the most dominant duo since Batman and Robin. But, right now that's a pipe dream. There is more to basketball than passing the eye test, especially with young, raw athletes.

4. I prefer Biedrins myself, and would be willing to trade several picks for him. I do not think Chris Bosh is our answer, due to our location and due to our rebuilding process I don't think he would be interested. If he is, then he could really help us.

Okay, for everyone who thinks Monroe (he's a PF in the NBA, sorry fellas) and Aldrich are the only centers to choose from in the draft, you're all sleeping way too much on Solomon Alabi...bad.

Alabi (from Florida State like someone else posted) should not be the fourth or fifth center/big brought up in next year's draft discussion: He should be the second, if not the first depending upon how he develops in his sophomore season. The kid is 7'1, 245 lbs and has better vision, footwork, spacing and offensive touch than Hasheem Thabeet had as a freshman. Plus, Alabi does not shy away from contact like Thabeet does and is just as talented as a shot blocker and rebounder as Thabeet.

It would not surprise me at all if Alabi plays his way into being a Top 10 pick next year, if not Top 5. His length, motor, athleticism and penchant for absolutely owning anything around the glass and rim are the things that make scouts drool.

Trust me, remember the name Solomon Alabi and watch as much of Florida State as you can next year. He's not nearly the project people think or want to make him out to be. You can write it down and keep this post (Royce) and bash me for it if I'm wrong (everyone), but Alabi will be one of the elite prospects in next year's draft.

And to answer the question, Alabi is the "other guy from Africa" that people are talking about and yes, if you add his wingspan and height to an Ibaka frontcourt tandem then, for heaven's sake, hide the women and children.

So there's a free preview on the next J.G. "Thunder Draft Prospectus" for the 2010 Draft. :)

@Brew

Nick Collison is a better player than Marcin Gortat, and his extension was only four years. A much smaller deal overall.

Nick is not a center so obviously comparing him to Gortat is apples to oranges. His production at the time he signed his extension was better, though.

I don't like the word 'potential' used for players who sign multiyear guaranteed deals. Potential is for draft picks and players like Thabo Sefolosha who are on small deals that will have to be extended. In these situations you really can't lose because your investment is small. Picking up an unproven commodity like Gortat who is already on a multi year guaranteed contract, although maybe there is some potential there, is a stupid risk. Honestly, I'd probably much rather trade for someone like Dalembert who is way overpaid but only has a couple years left, and will probably play better than Gortat anyway.

@GAP
Gotcha. I didn't catch that on the first read.

@Dai
I was just naming the other bigs if we couldn't draft into the lottery.

Hey does anyone know what would Gortat's contract do to our contract situation. Especially when we have to resign KD and Uncle Jeff and RW?

That Reply was from the last page. I didn't notice both players were mentioned on this page.

We could get both Monroe and Aldrich with our multiple picks next draft. I see Monroe at the guy who could actually bench Green. He has a nice defensive game, but he can score as well. Aldrich is the classic center that we are looking for.

@GAP
Cole Aldrich and Greg Monroe could also be drafted.

Personally, I love Anonymous's plan. Well, I doubt we'd get Aldrich as well, but stealing Bosh from Toronto would be incredible. He'd be in his prime for likely the duration of any contract we give him, he's the ideal PF who can score inside, stretch the defense, and rebound, and he's an almost automatic 20 and 10 with good work ethic. I'm not sure how much we have available next summer, but who wouldn't want to play with KD and Russell if they improve as much as we think. Bosh could even play center if need be (he's actually taller than Dwight), assuming Green turns into the quality starting 4 we desire.

@justin
Nick is making six plus for those numbers. Is he the defensive player that Gortat could be?

Excuse me I meant but come on.....ya'll know how it is when you don't proof read first

@Steve H
It's funny how you got all this inside knowledge on how the prospects I mentioned will be even close to Swift or Petro, if you know so much you should be right next to Presti......oh I forgot you're on here posting with all the rest of us. Not to be disrespectful, buy come on Steven you should know Presti hasn't made a mistake yet, so lets give our bigs a chance and IF Presti drafts one of the guys I named I would still trust his judgement before I ran with a guy who hasn't landed a job with the Thunder.

@Chas

exactly not only the floor but has quick lateral movement also.. which will probally mean that alot of the big banger type centers will get call when he spin moves past them (at some point.)

I think that the salary is OK to work with and take a chance on (see Thomas) but 5 years? I like the thought of having Gortat to see if it worked but if it didn't his salary would start to haunt us (see Swift). Big guys have a propensity for injuries so it would just worry me. I also don't believe that all centers have to be 7'. Ibaka will bulk up more but his allure is his mobility. When's the last time you saw a guy his size run the floor like that leaping panther? I don't know.

Just because there are no attractive alternatives does not mean you take whatever you can get. This is the kind of management style that gets a team crippled with bad contracts. We obviously need a capable center on this team at some point, but what is the rush? Marcin Gortat 'his own self' was a second round pick for the Magic. OKC is never going to be a big spending team, it would be foolhardy to take on his salary for even the top end of what he might produce on the court. There are always options - anyone forsee the Tyson Chandler trade before it happened? That would have set us up nicely had it worked out.

This team is going to be built on patience, Sam Presi isn't the kind of manager that's going to risk future flexibility on a $35 million flash in the pan.

@Steve H

hey you painted it first.

@dork
No, but thanks for that ugly, ugly image.

and I win at leaving words out... "did you just suggest that...."

@Steve H

...wait did you just that Gortat would be doing favors for Krstic?

@B-RY

well luckily for you! you happen to be in the pew infront of a Holy Fart Connoisseur! In my oponion Gortat is not going to be that big of a deal in say.. 2 years. If we do draft a center then its INstant log jam at the C spot with gortat, krisic, and draftee

@B-RY
Nice point about the less attractive wing-man for Krstic. Reason #12 for signing Gortat: We have a better chance of re-signing Krstic if he's getting laid once in awhile.

I want Greg Monroe.

@dork
Of course you might be right, but Gortat's status as a restricted FA put Presti in something of a bind. The Magic did not have the option of fielding trade offers this off-season, they could only match what others bid, or let him go- and they were willing to go deep into luxury tax country rather than lose him for nothing. The only way Presti could have got him was to pay the unknown amount more than the 35 mill he was re-signed for that would have been high enough to back Orlando down. Instead of getting into a bidding war, he now has the option of trying to trade for Gortat at a lower price. Makes sense to me, but we will just have to wait to see if this is whats happening. Sure hope so.

Oh, and for some reason I keep posting as both "Bryan" (work computer) and "B-RY" (home computer). I'll merge my two personalities someday....

And now everyone will go back to their lives and my post will just linger like a fart in church...

@GAP
Well allow me retort on that comment from like twelve pages ago when I stopped to make diner and everyone decided to show up and post more comments than any day I've seen since we were talking about the Harden/Rubio debate....

I think you got me confused for Steve H, who was the one mortgaging the family farm for Gortat and Reddick (spelling nazi). All I said is that if the two of them could be had for one big, one little, on first round pick and one second round pick... I would be down. I don't think it's a risk at all. Gortat is not a guaranteed game-changer, but neither are any of the potential draftees that have been mentioned. At least Gortat and Reddick are tested and ready to contribute on day one. That said, I would not want to spend too much money on their contracts, as we still need enough in the bank to up the core players when the time comes.

Meanwhile, we would still have plenty of young talent to develop.... and Kirstic would have an ugly, white, eastern European buddy to hangout with.

@dork
Yeah, I get that too.

I just like the idea of Ibaka playing the 4. If we get another stout, defensive 5--think of how many blocks and rebounds the two would get! Paired with Durant, Thabo, and Westbrook: nobody could out rebound that team. It would be a thing of beauty.

Now we just need to get that center, and Ibaka needs to improve that much in the next few years. But, this actually seems within reason--I am inclined to agree with what Snowflake just posted.

@Steve H

Presti doesn't think like every other GM. He doesn't go appear to really go for people that have Big splash value. Or truely untested players at the NBA level unless he can get that player for cheap. He also drafts differently than most GMs going for what he wants rather than the concencus best talent available.

I think if he REALLY thought Gortat would pan out we would already have him. We don't. To me that says Gortat isn't going to be worth it. And imho the only thing I got to see from Gortat is size, banging, and hustle. which if you take away size is a Collison but a little less motor/hustle. I say don't do anything rash just to "have a big" when in reality we could already be set giving time and room to develop.

@Snowflake

True that on Cole Aldridge.

I wouldn't call Patty Mills a true-pass first point guard. I would call him a shoot first shoot often combo guard.

I want Gortat, but only at a reasonable price. No mortgaging the farm.

The bigs we need to be looking at in next year's class are:
Greg Monroe Georgetown
Ed Davis North Carolina
John Henson North Carolina
Cole Aldrich Kansas
Derrick Favors Georgia Tech
Solomon Alabi Florida State (He would be a bit of a project)

If we could get one of these guys we will be scary good in 2 years. 2 of these guys and we're incredibly deep. But hopefully we do well enough where we're not picking in the Top 10. I'm thinking Presti ends up packing our 1st rounder with the Sun's 1st rounder to pick up one of these guys. Agree or Disagree?

@dork
Actually, you did get me with that one. And that was a brilliant move by Presti, but we can't count on that sort of lightning striking again and again.

@Steve H

Did you think we would find a lock down 2/3 in the penny-saver? eh got ya with good ole Thabo didn't I? hehe

@Danny

I say give Ibaka a year or two and he'll fill out. And Says you Have to be Muscular to Dominate the paint on D... See Mutumbo, and then if that didn't work might want to check out The Dream. Not ment to compare talent levels with this btw..

@justin
I have watched the guy play. He's got a good motor and athleticism. Trading for him would be a damned sight safer than spending the next few years with our fingers crossed hoping that a quality center slips to the middle of the first round. Gortat's 5.8 to 7.7 mill per is cheap. We are paying the upper end of that for Thomas as it is. Did you think we could find a quality center in the penny-saver ads?

@GAP
Your center prospects look every bit as promising as Johan Petro and Robert Swift. Did you work with the Sonics franchise by any chance?

If Presti trades for a big, I foresee it being another Thabo-esque trade that surprises everyone. Josh Boone is a possibility, although a splashy Chandler-esque trade for a guy like Biedrins is a possibility too, but the chances of that happening are probably rather remote.

Strength and later...sorry

http://www.newsok.com/article/3409221
Devon Hardin will be playing with the 66ers this season, so we'll get a good look at him and see if he can actually come in and help us with his size and strengh latter in the season. More probably next season though and I personally don't see Collison here after this season any way so there's on open roster spot because he wasn't a Presti pick.

@dork
While that would be a scary, athletic, and very long team, I hope that Presti does find a way to bring in stronger center that can control the paint. I grant that it will be difficult to do this without losing somebody important. So I hope that we draft Aldrich, and that he pans out--I think he's going to be a pretty solid player.

But, assuming Ibaka continues to the improve at the pace that we all hope:

5: solid, defensive, rebounding guy. (Aldrich?)
4: Ibaka
3: Durant
2: Sefolosha
1: Westbrook

I like Green a lot, but if Ibaka can provide more solid defense at the PF, he might be more useful providing a scoring boost from the bench. Ditto with Harden (unless he begins to provide so much scoring that he justifies a start over Sefolosha). Either way, this team would be energetic and long--a tough defensive match-up.

@justin
I agree.

@dork
LMFAO

The "opportunity to land Gortat"? Every year there's a backup big man that puts up good per minute numbers with limited sample size and gets signed to a ridiculous contract. How are Dan Gadzuric, Jerome James, DeSagana Diop, Mark Blount, Brian Cardinal, Tony Battie, and Kenny Thomas faring with their respective teams?

If you're going to take a risk on a big man, might as well make it a draft pick who will cost less with fewer guaranteed years. Do you really want Marcin freakin' Gortat making $7+ million five years from now when he's putting up 8 and 8? I don't.

err Not Congo but another kid from Africa... Bah! I must have Ibaka on the brain!

Oh, and I forgot Andrew Ogilvy-Vanderbilt

i've heard some rumblings of a 7'1" kid from the congo with abalities similar to Ibaka but... is a tad more underdeveloped as Ibaka (foot work woes) hehe

You act as if you have the inside on where we will be picking let the games be played first because we do have the Suns pick too and who knows how the season will play out for them. The Suns could very well be a lottery team this coming draft or we could pull a Kahn and trade a lot of those picks to get even higher and one or two of our own bigs to free up some roster space.

To answer your question....
Jerome Jordan-Tulsa
DeMarcus Cousins-Kentucky
Dexter Pittman-Texas....eww Texas
And that's if we don't get lucked into the Lottery.

@GAP
What CENTER prospects do you see that would be available where we will be picking? What other prospect that we could reasonably expect to land that would command playing time ahead of Westbrook, Livingston, Harden, Thabo, KD, Green, Collison, DJ White, Ibaka? And thanks for the spell check on Reddick, though I think the dude from "Pitch Black" would do better on the defensive end. Seriously though, WHO do you see that's out there that would be worth passing on the opportunity to land Gortat?

@GAP

LIES!! it was me all me!!! j/k

I guess that makes us the cool kids with the Trapper Keepers before anyone else got one right? hehe

@dork
You and I both, i'm sure you could find on older post me talking Ibaka up from the begining.