The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward D.J. White from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.
White was rather studly for the 66ers, averaging 17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in almost 38 minutes a game. I guess Sam Presti saw all he needed to see from White in Tulsa, and the numbers pretty much back that up.
I know that for these last 12 games I’d try and and get White at least 10-15 minutes a game. Malik Rose (likely) won’t be here next season so someone is going to have to fill the role of solid big guy off the bench. Nick Collison does a fantastic job with it right now, but it never hurts to have two of those especially since White has a little more skill and offensive ability. The Thunder bench is a relavtively obvious weakness to this team and White should shore that up a bit.
The major problem the OKC bench has is that there’s nobody on the pine to put the ball in the bucket. Collison is a glue guy that does little things. Kyle Weaver can knock down a jumper but he’s not going to give you much more than eight points or so in 20 minutes. Chucky Atkins can miss an open three with the best of them. And let us not speak of Earl Watson right now. I love the thought of having a physical big man that can come in grab some rebounds, knock down a 15-footer and score the ball.
Hope you enjoyed T-Town D.J., because hopefully you’re in OKC for a while.
I think Collison would be the most "pass first" of that whole bunch. The whole bunch you mentioned, including Westbrook, is that all of those guys look for their shot; not necessarily a bad thing, but on a team of shooters, there is a place for a pass first facilitator.
Mills had 10 assists and One turn last night. Curry had six turns.
@Keith
The main difference is that Westbrook is much more athletic and Collison is a lifelong point man that's played the position for four years. As opposed to Westbrook who is just now learning it.
Collison is a solid player but I don't know if he's much more than a second string point guard and guys like Eric Maynor, Ty Lawson or Patty Mills could fill that role in a much better way.
Collison is basically the same player as Westbrook, just not as good. He's not a great ball handler, passer, or shooter. He makes a living on the defensive end and does enough to play point in college, but is going to be a project or forever tweener in the pros.
How about Darren Collison? From what I've read, he's a solid, defensive minded pure point who would make a darn good NBA backup. Sounds like what we need.
Can you imagine Billups/Hamilton/D-Will/CP3 backing Curry down? They'd have a field day with him...
@Kev
He lacks the speed/size to guard in the pros...
Why draft a guy meant to fit in with the Suns/Warriors/Knicks when we look more like the Spurs?
A shooter would be great, but all scouts question his slashing abilities, lateral quickness, ability to fight through screens etc.
Kev :
FYI - for those that haven’t seen the schedule , there should be a pretty good matchup between Curry and Mills tonight on ESPN 2 (Davidson at St. Mary’s). These are two guys that the Thunder are (probably) scouting with a keen eye . . .
Thanks Kev. I haven't seen Mills play yet. It's past this old mans bed time, but I set the DVR.
@Vega
I think so. I like him and Eric Maynor the best. Even more so than Ty Lawson or Jonny Flynn (and Flynn is supposedly coming back to school).
Mills can shoot, slash and manages the game in an excellent way. Heck, he could be a starter.
I like him as well, but not as much as Curry - still, if we dont get a point with the first pick, he would be a nice pickup with the second #1 . . .
Does anyone think that Mills could be the backup point guard that we have been looking for?
please elaborate . . . he's the best shooter in the draft , something of which we are in short supply . . .
I doubt the Thunder would consider drafting Curry...He doesn't fit our defensive mindset...
I love Curry - we will see which player (and team) wins the matchup - it's easily the most anticipated NIT game for me in a long time . . .
Kev :
FYI - for those that haven’t seen the schedule , there should be a pretty good matchup between Curry and Mills tonight on ESPN 2 (Davidson at St. Mary’s). These are two guys that the Thunder are (probably) scouting with a keen eye . . .
I'll be watching. I love Patty Mills.
I think KD and Westbrook are definitely going to start, regardless of who we add through the draft/trade/free agency. Green, Thabo, Krstic are all good enough to start, and SHOULD get significant minutes regardless. If White pans out, thats 6 quality players who should all be slated for significant minutes. Just by getting older and playing together, this team is going to get better- but for us to get play-offs better over the next two years, we need to add a couple of guys to make the likes of Thabo/Krstic/Green great BENCH players. 1-maybe 2 fifth through eighth placed picks and a couple late first rounders are not likely to net us starters better than what we have now. Consolidate those picks to get a top 1 or 2 pick and just one established, big named player(Kamen/Lee/Boozer)- now we're talking play-offs. We could have a great 8 player deep rotation NEXT YEAR, plus Weaver who I think has potential plus Ibaka whenever he lands plus whatever other magic Presti could work.@Kev
FYI - for those that haven't seen the schedule , there should be a pretty good matchup between Curry and Mills tonight on ESPN 2 (Davidson at St. Mary's). These are two guys that the Thunder are (probably) scouting with a keen eye . . .
@Joe
I agree with everything you said.
I'm especially anti-Jordan Hill. Way too many Wilcox parallels for my taste.
@Joe
hope DJ can do that - Hill is overrated and Thabeet (unless he improves ALOT) won't be an offensive factor for the Thuner . . . IF DJ can give us ANY low post offense - and that's a BIG if until he proves otherwise, then Presti can use the pick on the perimeter (preferably a pure point) . . .
I think the team had/has very high hopes for D.J.; and calling him up is obviously an opportunity to see where he is at and where he fits in the pro game. We've got San Antonio twice, the Lakers soon etc. He may get a few minutes against Duncan and Odom/Gasol. It's a good tool to take into the off season, where he can look at tape.
It's also a time of validation. If D.J. shows promise up here, and assuming that we don't get the top pick, if D.J. is what Presti probably thinks he is, there is no reason to draft big with the 2-8 type of pick unless someone really wows you. From what I've seen, the top big men below Griffin probably aren't much of an upgrade over DJ; guys like Jordan Hill and the big guy from Georgetown. I think DJ can give you most of what those guys can give, so therefore you can draft "best player available" instead of drafting for need. Collison is still under contract for two more seasons after this one, and Green likely also, plus DJ for three more, so really unless somebody wows Presti, or Blake Griffin is available, getting DJ some run is a good thing.
One of the biggest needs this team has is somebody who can get easy, high percentage offense with his back to the basket. Nobody does it consistently on this team, nor has anybody in years, but is essential to have an inside out game.
@Crow
I like that analogy, I hope it comes true.
If Westbrook is a young or poor man's Payton, look at Weaver as a McMillan.
If you wanted to get some more value out of practice do some things you won't do in games (though I'd be for that the rest of the way too)- Westbrook vs Thabo at SG, Weaver vs Watson at PG. Durant-Green at PF. Collison vs White at C. See how they do.
Among near or playoff teams Chicago has about the worst core player pairs or coaching or both. Rare to get to .500 if the top 3 guys playing together are incompatible based on on +/-. Probably pretty close to impossible to be .600+ with that situation. What is that Chicago triplet? With Gordon being fairly likely to leave it is Rose-Deng-Thomas. Westbrook-Durant-Green is different looking enough but with some similarities (mainly body type and all three very young) but not on results.
@Kev
co-sign
If they mix it up and it is Durant vs Green teams- something I'd guess they don't do and won't do but probably should to try to fire defensive contests for each other (and really check out alternative futures)- who would win more? Of course you can tip it one way of another if you wanted to by how you split the roster or you could make it real competitive. I would probably do the latter.
I disagree with Steve's comment on "cracking the rotation". The only sure starter we have is Durant - everyone else's spot can be upgraded. RW is not a pure point, Thabo has limited range offensively, Green is really a #3, and Kristic/Collison can't (consistently) score inthe post . . . Let's be real people, the Thunder's record (even in 2009) is still under .500 - upgrades CAN and SHOULD be made when possible . . .
When they scrimmage in practice I don't know but assume they go starters vs subs. Who wins more, Durant's team or the subs? White vs Green should be coming... does that start to tip the balance more toward the subs? Does Westbrook vs his future sub tip it even more?
As I have said elsewhere - My elvaluation of RW's defensive abilities is lower than almost everyone else's - when's he's off the ball, he is very undisciplined and often loses track of his man. Jax's previous comment is spot on. He CAN play great defense , but WILL he?
Judging from RW's defensive performance against Rose and Williams this past week, I'd say moving him to the 2 would be disastrous. Unless RW figures out how to channel his inner Thabo.
RW can play some good D when he makes up his mind to do so, but no rookie comes into the league able to shut down everyone. Maybe by his 3rd season he'll be back to that defensive force we saw in his collegiate days.
Good point Crow. One of the issues with Westbrook is that he is being forced to develop through heavy minutes and usage. While it might payoff in the future, I think he is destined to take the 2 spot. As you've mentioned, some of our best rotations are when we have multiple ball-handlers in the backcourt. Moving Westbrook over for a Calderon-type looks like the best option.
Also, as for the Clipper idea, that would be fantastic. Kaman is a big low-post player who grabs tons of rebounds and plays better defense than anyone we currently have up front (Green tries but is still too easily pushed around). It would be hard to see happening only because it would be so great, but still. I think regardless we need to target a 3-point shooting PG. Watson is as good as gone and it's too easy for opposing teams to sag off our guards. We need someone to give quality minutes at the 1 either in place of or behind Westbrook (and Atkins is not that guy).
Wade is high turnovers per game in large part because of his extremely high usage. This season is clearly his best turnover rate as a % of possessions used. Most players the turnover rate goes down as they get more experience though when the possession usage rate goes up it might not be noticed as much. I don't think Westbrook's average usage rate goes up much from here. I don't think it would be that wise at least based on where he is right now on shooting or turnovers.
The waivers may or may not affect the overall scorecard. He was given the leeway to take those losses.
I think it was just two years ago that Kamen and Tyson Chandler were battling for the leading rebounder in the league and Kamen was discussed as a legit all-star candidate. He has had some injuries this year- nothing major- that he has come back from. As much as I appreciate Collison's play, Legit 7 footers who can play are pretty scarce. Russ has done a fantastic job, but he seems just as comfortable- if not more so- as a 2 guard. I think we are pretty near the saturation point for first round picks. I don't see adding 4 more rookies over the next two years that can actually crack the rotation- especially if White lives up to expectations. Better to upgrade our "quantity" for "quality".@KingGondo
Presti did well on the Orlando / Phoenix deal, Weaver, Thabo and White. Maybe Milwaukee. On others (Boston, Cleveland, NY) it was in favor of the other team at least in the short-term. Denver hard to say yet.
I forget where I was reading this, it may have been this blog, but I saw where someone was comparing DWade's rookie numbers to RW's rookie numbers, and they are strikingly similar, right down to the area on the court where they tend to take their shots. So, that could indicate that RW has a very high ceiling. Of course, players are compared way too often, and that stuff rarely comes full circle. But then I found out the other day that DWade leads the league in turnovers, and RW is second to him. So, the first thought that pops into my head is... "So, you're saying this whole turnover thing isn't going to get any better?"
@Steve H
I dunno, I think Presti is pretty committed to Russ being our full-time PG. I'm also not convinced Kaman brings more to the table than Collison. Isn't he also a bit overpaid, from what I remember?
And it seems uncharacteristic of Presti to give away so many draft picks. I don't get the impression that he even sniffs a deal unless it seems to be greatly in our favor.
My latest off season day-dream has Rubio entering the draft and the Clippers with the No.2 pick. Those guys are absolutely stuck with B.Davis' contract, and there is no way they pay Davis to come off the bench. They also have Kamen carrying a pretty good sized contract (34 mill next 3 years), and Zach Randolf making almost that for the next 2 years. If we wind up around the 5th pick, we could offer them our 2 first rounder's this year, our first round pick next year (keeping the Sun's #1 in our pocket), and the contracts for Collison and Watson for Rubio and Kamen. This makes an insane amount of sense to me for both teams. Please basketball gods, make this happen.
I wonder if he could get mintues against L.A.?
Geez...what player/position do we draft if DJ ends up being just another killer draft pick by Presti...I say a solid 3 point shooter...
Great news, I'm happy for D.J.! He's persevered through a lot (much like the team itself), but through hard work and patience has finally seen his effort pay off. I look forward to seeing him in a Thunder uniform.