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Jeff Allen :
I want brandon haywood or dampier if they are available

Haywood maybe, he's proven to be a decent guy, gives effort every night.

but Dampier no, for god's sake, he's a soft lazy bum and he's only playing half decent now because it's a contract year.

I'd agree to Gortat only because he has a decent contract and would help on defense, but only if Ibaka keeps improving on offense.

having Jeff Green + Gortat in the frontcourt would mean 4 or 5 ppg in the paint at most.

I watched a few of the games. He's playing on the perimeter, that's just his game. He's shooting something like 45% from the field, in the D-League. He'd be lucky to shoot that well in the NBA, and it's still a poor number for a center.

He's talented and has some nice skill for a guy his size but he isn't close to 'getting it'. Maybe in a couple years.

@justin
Yes, his summer-league jump shooting was irritating. But I am encouraged by his decent rebounding numbers in Tulsa. Has anybody actually watched him play in Tulsa that can comment on this?

Regardless, if Mullens wants to play on the perimeter, then the coaching staff can beat it out of him. If OKC can make him physical and focused on boards, then I don't see any reason why he shouldn't excel in the NBA.

I guess I wouldn't mind Gortat THAT much, but it'd be an underwhelming offseason if that's the kind of player we get. He could fit well on our team defensively but he wouldn't do much for our offense which is where we need the help.

My problem with Mullens is that he doesn't seem to have the mindset of a center. He said it himself that he's a PF or something ludicrous like that, and he prefers to stand around the perimeter. If all that's the case, I'd rather have Krstic. At least Krstic is a smart guy and knows how to play...

Marcin Gortat's strength is his athleticism. He can dunk from the free throw line (or could a couple of years ago, anyway). I think he could be a decent defensive player, and he is on Orlando, but I don't think he's worth his contract.

He did play better toward the end of the year.

This is such a long shot, but I figured I would try. Through some unexpected events, my husband and I are now able to get to OKC on Saturday. If you hear of someone selling their tickets b/c they are suddenly not able to go to the game, please let me know! I am sure that there is no shortage of people willing to buy tickets, but figured it was worth a try. :)

@The DON
I think you're over-estimating. I think that Mullens could contribute next season, and I think that in two seasons, an Ibaka-Mullens front court could be a reality.

At any rate, look at how good this team is right now with Krstic, Collison, and Ibaka. As our guys age, they will only get better--we should realistically expect more than 50 wins next year, right? We'll continue to compete in spite of our "weak" front court.

I like Krstic, but I really think that Mullens will be better soon--he's bigger, and he's more athletic. And I really think that long, athletic guys like Ibaka and Mullens (who can run the floor and play active defense) fit well with the team's identity.

@Danny

Mullens, if he EVER pans out, is still like 3-4 years away. And him panning out is still a big if.

Do you really wanna risk wasting the next 3-4 years for KD and Russ hanging onto the hope that one day Mullens will become a serviceable center? Or would you rather use our money NOW this summer and get our guys a proven center?

MastrMatt :@justin

Totally agree with no Gortat. He has been HORRIBLE this year. He had some flashes of being good last year and cashed in. I didn’t want him last year and I dang sure don’t want him this year. He just doesn’t seem athletic at all. I’d take Collison and Kristic over him 10 out 10 times, especially considering the financials involved. Plus … I love Collison. You just can’t go wrong with a guy who does absolutely everything with what he has and accepts his role as the garbage man with pride. I just wish he was a little bit meaner and fouled some of the other bigs a little big harder.

Ok you had me there for a minute but then you completely lost me with the "he doesn't seem athletic at all" comment

If there's one thing gortat is, it's athletic. He is one of the most athletic centers this league has. It's just that he's not that good in the skills department

But I agree that he is not what we need to be pursuing

@Danny

Byron Mullens is what Ibaka was last year imo. He will develop and that 3 pointer is gonna be deadly.

You can tell that the game still hasn't slowed down for Harden yet, when it does, watch out.

I want brandon haywood or dampier if they are available

Okay Okay. We're a center away, right?

Am I the only person crazy enough to think we might already have the pieces? Mullens is producing in Tulsa (13/9 in 4 games in 26 minutes). Yes, it's Tulsa. And yes, it's Byron Mullens. But I think it's obvious that he's tremendously athletic for a 7-footer. He should only be a Sophomore in college, and the Thunder have been excellent about bringing our other young guys along...

With (at the very least) Green, Ibaka, Mullens, White, and another 1st rounder, I think that the Thunder have an above-average front court in the years to come. Yes, it would be excellent if we could integrate a more legitimate starting 5, but I hope it doesn't come at the expense of team-chemistry (i.e., trading anybody important).

@justin

Totally agree with no Gortat. He has been HORRIBLE this year. He had some flashes of being good last year and cashed in. I didn't want him last year and I dang sure don't want him this year. He just doesn't seem athletic at all. I'd take Collison and Kristic over him 10 out 10 times, especially considering the financials involved. Plus ... I love Collison. You just can't go wrong with a guy who does absolutely everything with what he has and accepts his role as the garbage man with pride. I just wish he was a little bit meaner and fouled some of the other bigs a little big harder.

@justin
I'm still having flashbacks from Krstic getting dunked on 1 foot from the basket by Bynum. I still don't know how he ended up behind him.

@justin

Definitely Dwight. Those are the money beets.

Pleeaaase no Gortat.

@f5alcon I'm almost positive Gortat is better than Collison and a late first or 2 at this moment(Even though Presti might surprise us and find a 7 foot Blair). Especially if you give him the minutes he wants and consider the fact he goes up against one of the best centers in the NBA in practice. I don't think Ibaka would be best playing center. The lineup could be like this.
PG-Westbrook/Maynor
SG-Harden/Thabo
SF-Durant/Green
PF-Ibaka/Green
C-Gortat/Krstic

super durant for mayor!

@AC
I was half-joking. I still think that B.J. has a decent shot at being a decent backup center in the NBA.

Super Durant is a franchise center we can all get behind. In 10 years Durant will have played four positions, based on current advanced projection metrics developed by john hollinger:

2007-2008: Rookie Durant -SG 6'9" 195
2008-2011: MIP Durant - SF 6'10" 210
2011-2015: MVP Durant - PF 6'11" 230
2015-2065: Super Durant - C 6'11" 260

@Vega
I can't tell if you're joking or not. So I'll keep it short. I meant a large bodied big man who has more than ten career rebounds in the nba.

the answer is to bulk durant up. barry bonds diet. durant - 6 ft. 10, 270 = starting center...a combo of hakeem/reggie miller once he works on his post game...westbrook/harden/green/ibaka/super durant...now that's a starting 5...

@justin
That may be true. Particularly because of the "accusations" from the Northwest and the fact that this is OKC's first team, the attachment of the local diehards is pretty thick and can get defensive. I'm a transplant myself (arrived here days before the team did) and I understand -- but only a little.

And that looks nothing like Conan. I stand by Dwight Schrute, but that may be because I'm watching the Office.

@Vince

Not that it really matters, but I think because I followed the team from Seattle I'm a little more removed from them so don't have the attachment. I'm sure if I lived in the OKC area and went to games at the Ford Center and stuff I'd have a different perspective.

@Vince

Sorry, I don't think I was clear about that. I meant SAM PRESTI and management shouldn't be getting attached to the players... after all he's the one doing the evaluating. I just happen to look at things from that perspective most of the time.

Anyway there are players I am attached to on this team. I will defend Russell Westbrook to the ends of the earth despite his short comings - as well as Kevin Durant. I have done so on this board. Same with James Harden.. I like Harden a lot.

And in the heat of the moment I'm not thinking of stats or anything.. but again, for me anyway, it's fun to think about in between games and (especially) in the offseason.

P.S. the avatar is Conan O'brien!

justin :@Vega

It’s folly to get too attached to your own players.. you have to be objective if you want to evaluate them fairly.

What? You're a bright guy and a good commenter, but how the heck can you say that? What's the point of being a fan if you don't get attached? You can run numbers and stats and game film telling me Jeff Green is not the best power forward going forward. I don't give a damn. Know why? I like Jeff Green. He's on my team. If I didn't like Jeff Green, I wouldn't spend a couple of hundred dollars (heck, more than that) and a couple of hundred hours a year on this team. I don't want to "fairly evaluate" my team. I want to root for them.
Is that how you wound up on this board? Do you have a secret formula that calculates youth, talent, strength of schedule, and size of commenters on the main blog and figure out that the Thunder were the best team for you? Is that why your avatar looks like Dwight Schrute?

@Vega

To be fair, I never considered Jeff Green an optimal option at starting PF.

Like Sammy said, it's fun to think about trades and things like that. It's folly to get too attached to your own players.. you have to be objective if you want to evaluate them fairly. I'm sure Sam Presti doesn't have the same emotional attachments to the players that the fans have, so he would consider all options that improve the roster and make the team better. Trading Jeff Green for any number of legitimate power forwards would probably make the team better.

@Vega
I know with me I enjoy video games because you can be the all knower we makes all the decisions. To be honest I can play that part of the game for hours on end without even play an actual game. There some sort of wierd excitement about being creative and thinking of crazy or cool situations that could "help" the team you have. Man thinking back to last years playoffs I remember watching all the teams play and actually envisioned Pietrus, Gortat, Bass, and future draftees like Chase Budinger,Griffin, and even Harden in our jerseys playing this year.
Basically ITS Fun... PERIOD.....
It is a little silly to be talking about it while we are in a heated battle in the playoffs but weirdly still fun to see what people think about future acquasitions.

@AC
Already got a large-bodied role player big. His name is B.J. Mullens.

Everyone is dismissing Ibaka at center. Sure short term it is not a solution but long term? He is 20. Does he grow another inch (not unheard of)? Does he gain 15 lbs? I don't see why he can't play at least half of his minutes at center, with a big, but not very skilled or expensive backup to help with the more hefty 5s (akin to a gortat or something).

I agree that given the fact that we have undersized backups (collison, green) we couldn't play ibaka at center, but throw in a role playing backup center that has size and that allows us to give Ibaka his minutes, but also allows us to hold our ground when playing teams with large centers. Also would give Ibaka a large body to practice against.

@Sammy
Eh. Maybe. But still, Thunder fans have gotten way too impatient. Trade this young player for so-and-so, trade the guy we just drafted third overall, etc, etc. It seems that lots of people have forgotten the Presti Method, which slowly allows young players to grow. The Presti Method is not hasty, and it certainly doesn't allow for giving up good young players.

Well Green shouldn't be traded and Harden either. I think Harden will be amazing next year and should not be talked at all in trades. With Green if he stays the pf of the future for the thunder. He will always struggle at least in most cases. He will have a good game or two but there is no way he can start at pf for the rest of his career. I think after this off season whenever Presti evaluates what all that has been done throughout this amazing year. He will hit a deal out of the park and we won't be having this convo at all about either Harden or Green because they will one be older with PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE and should be better fit in the Thunder game plan for this next coming year! If we really trade either I would actually be pretty mad because Presti would be giving up way way to fast on his game plan.

@Vega
We're not talking about dumping Harden or Green because we don't like them anymore. They're both valuable pieces. But there's nothing wrong with having some idle (or heated, as the case may be) discussion about what those pieces might fetch in trade, and weighing the potential risks and benefits between what we'd be giving up and what we'd be getting back.

It's funny how only a little while ago, Green and Harden were considered key players on this team, be it in the starting lineup or off the bench. Now, after a few bad games, including one in their second playoff game on the road against the defending champs, they're on the trading block. People, they are both VERY young players on a VERY young team! We should be expecting them to struggle, but no. They are expected to play perfect basketball in a very difficult matchup every single game. That is totally unrealistic.

Those of you that don't think Brooks deserves COY are ridiculous. He orchestrated arguably the greatest improvement from one year yo the next for a team that added no "significant" players. You all are spoiled because you see it everyday and your nitpicking (on timeouts, subbing...) could apply to any coach. All fanbases see faults in coaching.
Great job, Scotty. You are the MOST deserving coach for this award without question.

@Vega
there really is not much serious discussion on gettin rid of harden. I have seen a few people talk about it... Not everyone.. Green on the other hand has been widely talked about in trade scenarios.

Green is among the untouchable pieces of this team. We can sit here and talk about trading him all we want, but the fact is that trading a key young player does NOT track with Presti's style AT ALL.

justin :
There have been a ton of threads on RealGM trade board over the last few months involving Green / Jefferson and it seems the consensus opinion amoung Minnesota fans is that it’s not nearly enough.
If Kahn’s goal is to alienate the fanbase he’s on the right track, especially if he makes a move like that one.

what about Love?

I'd 100% for a trade that's something like Green + future 1st for Love.

Love is a beast, he can be a top 5 rebounder in the league if given enough minutes.

Holy crap. Talking of trading Harden already? The Thunder fanbase really is spoiled.

Love would be amazing with him and Ibaka we may be a "short" lineup but With Ibaka's athletism and Loves 260lb frame. We could defend the bigs well enough and still have a great scoring punch between the two of them.

There have been a ton of threads on RealGM trade board over the last few months involving Green / Jefferson and it seems the consensus opinion amoung Minnesota fans is that it's not nearly enough.

If Kahn's goal is to alienate the fanbase he's on the right track, especially if he makes a move like that one.

@Keith
Me neither, but they used that roster in the most baffling way all season. Until proven otherwise, I'm just going to take Kahn at his word and believe he's a complete imbecile.

@Sammy
Same here in that regard. I'd prefer Love, but I just can't imagine why a tiny market team with no star and no winning record would trade a rookie scale Love over Jefferson making more than twice as much.

@Keith
Yeah, I just mean between Jefferson and Love, I'd take Love. I don't think a lot of people realize how unique Love's skill set is. He's an elite passer for a power forward, an elite rebounder for any position, and he can knock down an open 3. That kind of package would help our offensive flow immensely.

Minnesota has to trade either Love or Jefferson. Can't see them keeping both after this season and Love's comments.

@Sammy

that'd be much better imo, and I think Minnesota is crazy / stupid enough to trade him.

@Sammy
I wouldn't want Ibaka to guard centers everyday all day for the club. He's said before he doesn't want to bulk up. But I would take Love off Minny's hands if they just want Green or Harden.

I'd rather have Love/Ibaka

I guess, it's a lot easier to have 2 scorers who can take attention from one another than to have 2 who will actually use that attention wisely and pass to each other when they have the advantage.