With OKC acquiring Tyson Chandler but giving up two rotation big men, where does the Thunder bench go from here? What if somebody gets hurt, then what? One reader looks at this issue.
Let me preface this by getting a couple things out on the table. First, I will be writing this from the perspective that the Thunder will compete in every game the rest of the season and should actually be worried about this year’s performance regardless of their record so far. I don’t subscribe to the shutting it down for a better chance at the man-child that is Blake Griffin (40 and 23 in a conference game? Really?) theory.
Second, I loved the Tyson Chandler trade. It was a very coy and patient move by Sam Presti to not give up any of the five first round draft picks the Thunder has even though you know the Hornets surely started negotiations by asking for one or more of those picks.
It gives the Thunder a rim protector in a 26-year-old center that, by all accounts, will fit right in with the culture that has been created by this team. I, however, have one worry after watching Tuesday night’s heartbreaker against New Orleans. Scott Brooks obviously has no confidence in Robert Swift or Mouhamed Sene as NBA centers and that could be a major issue if Chandler, Nick Collison, or Nenad Krstic gets dinged up during the rest of the season.
Against a Hornets team that rotated Sean Marks and Hilton Armstrong (not exactly a intimidating combination) at center Brooks did not play Swift or Sene a single minute in the 100-98 loss. If he was going to run Sene or Swift out against any other centers in the league this would be it. Instead Krstic played 31 minutes off the bench while Collison logged 27 as the starter. By no means am I saying that I blame Brooks for not playing Swift or Sene. My main concern is that he has no confidence in either one of them and with Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox now gone depth could be a major issue if any of the frontline players get hurt.
Assuming Chandler and crew stay healthy this whole issue won’t be a problem. And maybe Swift and/or Sene are banged up and couldn’t play any minutes even though they were listed as DNP-CD. Either way, I will be the 96th person to say what a good trade this was for the Thunder. I just hope, for this year’s sake, that the front line stays healthy and everyone gets a chance to see what this talented, young group can do. – Jordan Bass (you can reach Jordan at jordanrbass@gmail.com)
Jordan is dead on here, but this is something I’m sure Presti has thought about and hopefully has covered. Some people have said that if Presti knew he’d be able to make this deal, he probably wouldn’t have signed Krstic. I disagree. If he didn’t have Krstic, then he’d have just Nick Collison left as his rotation big men (other than Chandler). Krstic provides big time security in case there’s an injury and more importantly, depth. The Thunder front court was a weakness early on but is shaping up pretty nicely with Chandler, Green, Collison and Krstic. If D.J. White can ever get healthy, that’s a pretty strong unit.
Plus, at tysonchandler.com, they’ve compiled a ton of quotes and trade reaction. Check it out.
its not the end of the world. and though he may not have a history of injuries, a big man with foot problems (even if he's 26) is a red flag. still, he would have been a nice addition.
Says that he failed the physical and that we rescinded the trade
This is going to be great for team morale!
Trade rescinded? Seriously?
Ahahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha...The Clay Curse strikes!
Trade rescinded.... NO!!!
Tyson failed physical - trade rescinded!
Wtf???!!!
MartzMimic :
Am I just crazy, or is this actually turning into a basketball blog? I mean that in a good way.
That was always the idea :O)
I think they are sitting Swift and Sene because they have no intention of bringing either back next year, and no incentive to improve our record this year at the expense of giving guys that WILL be around additional court time as a unit. I don't consider this "tanking"- It's just the smartest way to use the resources we have.
Am I just crazy, or is this actually turning into a basketball blog? I mean that in a good way.
In the excerpt above, Jordan Bass suggests that Presti held out (coy and patient) and didn't give up a first rounder, even though NO surely wanted one. I don't necessarily think that is true. See, this was a total salary dump. Wilcox and Smith can both be allowed to walk away for nothing, they can be resigned, or they can be traded this summer in a sign and trade or any other type of deal. They are unrestricted, but the rules favor the original team. If Presti had added a first rounder, this likely adds salary. First NO has their own first rounder, and then they would have one of ours. First rounders have guaranteed contracts, and as such must be paid. So they would be on the hook for the salary for then next 2-4 years for two more players above and beyond making a decision about Smith and Wilcox. They probably wanted a second round pick (which doesn't have a guaranteed contract requirement), but we already traded ours to Denver in the Petro trade.
Also, Brooks wasn't playing Wilcox unless he had to anyway. Smith yes, Wilcox, not so much lately, so really it seemed like he didn't have much more confidence in Wilcox than he did in Swift or Sene, so I don't think anything was lost there.
I think that Krtic and Chandler compliment each other. Now it's Brook's job to figure out the best way to use each. He really hasn't used Krstic in any other way than the pick and Pop, but that's not the way they used him much in NJ a few years ago when he was a borderline all star. I am sure this year is all about exploration from this point on. Next year will be about winning.
AD, you're my hero!
If we get Blake... they'll trade or keep "Chewie" in Europe.
If we dont get Blake... I think there's a strong possibility Presti brings him over for next season.
I said two years ago (although I have no proof...but I did) that it would be the irony of ironies if the Sonics moved here and the Hornets moved to Seattle in a couple of more years. Now its becoming more and more of a possibility. The easier reality would have been to just leave the Hornets here and work with Seattle to find a solution. But now that I have the Thunder, I wouldnt want the Hornets back... I do hope things will work out in New Orleans and Seattle.
Has there been any update on D.J. White's progress and if/when he will be available this year? I for one think he could be a really solid 8-10 minute contributor, much like Kyle Weaver was prior to D-Mase's injury.
Another frontcourt player that you must remember is Serge Ibaka. I don't think he'll be on this team next year, but I believe he will be on the team at the beginning of the 2010 season. If he's not, I think it's safe to say that he was one of the MAJOR assets used to move up for Blake Griffin or trade for a real-live SG.
I don't like Shinn. I think he has a history of being a cheap son of a gun. If he sells the team to Seattle ownership, then it's a great deal. If he's the guy in charge, then it's fool's gold for Seattle fans.
And the more moves I see Jeff Bower make, the less I like him. Peja, Mo Pete, for THAT kind of money? Really? I'm sure he'd have loved to ditch those guys on a team that would buy, but problem is, no one would. Of course they wouldn't. Chandler is the only guy any team would buy (West and CP3 not for sale).
I realize that as an Oklahoman, and a Thunder fan, that no one in Seattle gives a rip about my perspective. I'm sure they scoff at me giving a thumbs down to Shinn when Bennett is my team's owner. I'm sure they think I don't want them to have my first loved Hornets and that I'm just making excuses. I realize that may be the case, but in fact I don't wish death and curses on Seattle folks (though the reverse seems true most of the time). If Seattle gets the Hornets, then if there is any justice, it'll be a Shinn-less, possibly Bowers-less Hornets.
Kornheiser on PTI just said that the Hornets cannot survive in NO and should move to Seattle. That would be the ultimate irony. You guys get the Sonics, and then the team you really wanted all along moves to Seattle.
LB :This year can be exciting from a playoffs point of view is a lost cause.
That meant to say 'This year can be exciting but from a playoffs point of view it is a lost cause'.
I wouldn't worry about the depth so much. This year can be exciting from a playoffs point of view is a lost cause. We have 3(?) first round picks next year and i'm sure Presti will be looking for quality backup big men. Though i'd like to see us get a point guard and move Westbrook to the 2 as I see him as a scorer not a PG. Also, don't forget Mason in there. He is a good guy, who can hit open shots and hustles around the court.
Depth Chart specifically for MM...
at the 5... Bing, Nads, Nick, BigRedTat, Mo-Diggity
at the 4... Uncle Jeff, Nick, Kid-Delicious
at the 3... Kid Delicious, Uncle Jeff, D-Wilks
at the 2... Boll-Weevil, Jet-Zero, Popcorn, D-Wilks
at the 1... Jet-Zero, E-WHAT?, Popcorn
at the 5... Chandler, Krstic, Collison, Swift, Sene
at the 4... Green, Collison, Durant
at the 3... Durant, Green, Wilkens
at the 2... Weaver, Westbrook, Atkins, Wilkens
at the 1... Westbrook, Watson, Atkins
This is where we are right now... Trade deadline has not passed yet... plus the roster is open to sign someone if need be...
Concerns about the 5 (center position)while they may exist are not the most pressing... I'd be more concerned about the 1, 2, and 3... We are blessed with players that can play more than one position, but when one looks over the depth chart it is a bit scary to think of an injury.
Lets wait and see what Presti does, and what our roster looks like tomorrow at 2:01 PM Central Standard Time.