The Thunder didn’t do anything – what’s it mean?
The trade deadline came and went this afternoon and while half the league did some kind of maneuvering, the Thunder did not. Which was to be expected, but at the same time, kind of unexpected. I realize that makes no sense.
We’ve come to kind of expect that out of nowhere move from Sam Presti, the one that makes us slap the table and say, “Brilliant!” He pulled one off back in December, when he picked up Eric Maynor and Matt Harpring’s contract for literally nothing. And with Harpring’s contract and Etan Thomas’s expiring deal, most thought OKC would be a player at the deadline because of so many teams looking to dump salary. The Thunder has expiring contracts and expiring contracts have become gold bullion in the NBA.
I’m sure Presti’s phone rang, but he was probably waiting for a home run deal that never came. OKC didn’t need another second level player. I don’t think people realize how full the roster already is. As it stands, the Thunder has two guys (not counting Harpring) that definitely don’t fit into the long term plans (Kevin Ollie and Etan Thomas). Then there’s Nick Collison and Nenad Krstic, two veteran mid-level guys that may or may not be with the team long term. Pretty much everyone else is either set in stone or was drafted with a mind to develop. So there’s not a lot of wiggle room to make a move right now without messing the current infrastructure of the team.
And while yes, OKC has the expiring contracts that could have looped a team into giving them a good deal, the Thunder’s not of the mind to lose their cap room flexibility, especially when right now, the current roster is playing as well as it has all season. The Thunder’s won seven straight, this young roster is completely coming together and each guy’s role is becoming clear. The only “tradable” guys were really end of the bench players like Kyle Weaver and D.J. White, and what could Presti truly get for that? Obviously there’s draft picks, which OKC already has a warehouse full of, and those are better to deal on draft night, when everyone has a clearer picture of the draft. Which according to John Hollinger, the Thunder may be waiting for.
And again, the mid-level guys like Krstic and Collison could have been dealt, but do you really want to mess with what’s working at this point? This team was built for long term, sustained success. And just because they’re a year ahead of schedule doesn’t mean you start chasing blockbuster trades. At least that’s what I’m guessing Presti thought. Yeah, maybe OKC could have tried for Robin Lopez or a blossoming big man, but again, that guy may already be on the roster and the Thunder doesn’t have to lose an asset with their own guys.
So where do we stand now? OKC has the same roster it did yesterday, is still 10 games over and still right in the middle of the Western Conference. Presti and Co. decided to hang on to their assets and let the contracts expire. This means the Thunder’s going to have a heap of cap room and flexibility this offseason, which SHOULD suggest Presti wants to play the free agent market. Now if the Thunder takes a pass there, then you might see some concern on my face.
We know the Thunder’s working as the smallest of small market franchises, but why the reluctance to spend? The Tyson Chandler trade was rescinded last year because of Chandler’s bum toe, but some feared that OKC really couldn’t handle Chandler’s large contract. I realize a lot of it has to do with keeping money to re-sign Durant, Green, Harden and Westbrook WITHOUT busting the luxury tax line, but still a MLE guy will fit into the budget, I think. But we’ll cross that bridge this summer, after a playoff run amirite?
So if you’re disappointed that the Thunder was quiet on trade day, don’t be. Sam Presti obviously knows what he’s doing and has assembled a roster whose top four are all under 23, but yet are sixth in the West. He’s not going to run out and offer max deals or make blockbuster trades. Everything is calculated, everything is planned. You have to remember, OKC has already signed all its big name free agents in a sense, and they’re named Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. We’re not operating like other franchises that deal year to year, trying to keep their heads above water. At least, that’s not the current plan, from my understanding.
I think Presti made the best decision at the deadline he could've. The only guys who were probably available at Centre were Biedrins(And there are understandable reservations based on the length of his contract and the CBA), Dalembert(And Philly was saying that they weren't making financial trades, + 12 million a year), Thabeet(but Memphis was moving him for scoring to try and make the playoffs(Mayo + Thabeet for Monta Ellis(http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/64893/20100...), so not available to the Thunder. Given the fact that The Phoenix pick is unprotected and another key rotation guy, rather that 2 depth guys. Worst case sceanrio, from a draft POV, You end up with 23 and 20 or so, Which could be packaged to move up to about 14, and having about 11 million in space (After the pick salary). Monroe is(based on current projections) going to be available, or just gone, but that's not out of the question. If David Lee(Boozer) is available as a Free agent, He gives you garbage scoring and fixes the defensive rebounding problem, While Monroe also gives you inside scoring, and someone you can run offense through.
Monroe/Ibaka/Mullens
Lee(Boozer)/Green
Durant
Thabo/Harden
Westbrook/Maynor
With Collisons expiring contract, DJ White, and future picks to work on to get some kind of veteran(An experienced Centre?)
Could you have done better with making a move. Possibly, but not by much. You might either have to give up a pick to get someone, or take on a contract which restricts free agency options, and the picks you pick up for taking on a contract aren't of real value to the Thunder now.
Can that team win a title? I think so. Uncle Jeff and Harden lead the scoring for the Unit of the Bench, with Durantula, a great defensive backcourt starting, a solid to good rebounding team and prospects at Centre. I think Harden as the Sixth man has the ability to be a 18-4-4 type guy with good %'s and Westbrook is growing into being a PG, and will start to be less turnover prone over time. With no change in Defensive efficiency(fairly likely, if not an increase as less 2nd chance points), and possibly an increase in offensive efficiency(Less turnovers from Russ, more effective close range shooting from Bigs), It's not out of the question for that team to be top 5 in both offensive and dfensive efficiency. I'd say Presti's done well in keeping pat.
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