It’s at this point in the prospectus that we’ll start to see some redundancies, both in the prospects themselves but in what these prospects might bring to the Thunder that is already there but maybe just not in the way or package that the Thunder need.
For example, you could argue that the next two prospects to come are more or less Ibaka clones. And if you said that, I would not argue at all. The difference though is in play style and skill-set more than physical stature. And by no means do I want this to come across like these players would replace Ibaka in any way. They would ONLY be taken if the Thunder brass thought they could complement what was already on the team for the future, i.e. Ibaka and Green in the paint (I’d add Collison off the bench but Krstic and Collison have contracts ending soon so I’m not going to presume to say that I know what the Thunder front office will do with them).
But we still come back to the Thunder’s need of a low post scoring threat, a defensive rebounding fiend and a rim protecting shot-blocker (who combined with Ibaka would make for quite a nice “think twice before attacking the rim” tandem, no?).
Well, how’s about two out of the three with a potential in two-to-three years for all three?
#3 – Larry Sanders – 6’10, 220 – PF/C – VCU
And somewhere Eric Maynor rejoices.
This was a hard pick for me personally because there are more skilled and immediately better players available here than Sanders. Also, Sanders is only 220 lbs and even though he clearly has the body type to be able to add on 20 lbs in the next few years without seeing any adverse affects to his game so he could play center in the NBA like Ben Wallace did (calm down people, just a physical comparison, not a comparison about who Sanders will be at the next level–though Sander’s style of play would probably best resemble a much lesser, lesser Ben Wallace), we’re still talking about someone who is physically too light to handle the post in the NBA right away. Again, Sanders has the wide shoulders and broad build to add weight, but being able to add it and then doing so are two totally different things.
6’10 and can play center? Sure, happens all the time. Dwight Howard is 6’10 in shoes. Deandre Jordan is 6’11. And Al Horford is 6’9. Sanders would absolutely have to add weight, but the fact that he A) Has an almost absurd 7’6 wingspan and B) Would immediately be one of the best athletes at the position upon entering the NBA, would easily make his transition to playing center at the next level a more viable option than most.
Is he a perfect fit at center for the Thunder? Definitely not. But at this stage in the draft, he has serious potential there and that’s more than most would have. And don’t read the ”he’d be one of the best athletes at the position entering the NBA” and think it’s just mere hyperbole or is me just over hyping Mr. Sanders. You will struggle to find a 6’10 player in the NBA that has Sanders’ combination of elite explosiveness, eye-opening agility, quick feet and surprising end-to-end speed outside of anyone not named Dwight Howard.
But all that athleticism would mean nothing if he didn’t show signs of developing a nice offensive game despite poor ball handling skills, okay hands, still raw footwork and only slightly above normal touch around the basket. But all of these have shown signs of improvement, and that’s what’s promising. He’s shown flashes of a post-up game and even some go-to paint moves. Most surprising has been the emergence of a 15 foot jump-shot for Sanders, who could then be considered a pick-and-pop threat at the next level. So while he wouldn’t be an immediate assistance as a low post scorer right away, the potential is there in a few years if he can continue to improve and be paired with a legit point guard.
Now onto his strengths: shot-blocking and defensive rebounding. Sanders would IMMEDIATELY help out these two biggest areas of need for the Thunder. Yes, I said it. He would. How can I say that so definitively? Try 4.4 blocks and 7.6 defensive rebounds per 40 minutes pace adjusted. He has great timing, elite athleticism and a genuine desire to swallow the ball whole if it approaches the rim or bounces off of the rim or backboard. To put it bluntly, he is the type of defensive post player who forces opponents to change their game-plan. On the defensive end, he is a game changer.
But with that strength is also his weakness: At the next level, Sanders will get pushed around down low and his still raw skill-set will get him embarrassed on both ends more often than not until he can develop a more fine-tuned fundamentals game. His length and athleticism would surely help ease these troubles, but without adding strength most opponents would simply have to back him down into the post to negate his athleticism and incredible timing.
Also, he’s not going to get you offensive buckets in the paint by himself, he’ll need help. Maybe for his entire career if his offense doesn’t improve like it could. However unlike some bigs, he WILL finish at the rim when given those opportunities (usually with a ferocious dunk). Just ask Maynor.
Best of all, his engine always runs hot. He does not quit and he will not allow others around him to lighten up their intensity or effort. Also, he has progressed while at VCU which should lend some credibility to the notion that he’ll progress further at the next level.
Did I mention that he gave Cole Aldrich all kinds of fits at the skills camp over the summer? ON BOTH ENDS of the court? So as you can see, the potential is there on both offense and defense (though his defense is already really, really good), the problem is only “how much improvement” and” when.”
And for the Thunder, those two might mean that Sanders would be too much of a project to take on despite being an incredibly intriguing talent. After all, what if he could develop…right?
Tune in tomorrow for #4…
J.G. Marking is the author of the inspirational book, “A Voice Is Calling.” He’s currently working on his first fiction novel, “The Gift of the Greenstone.”
To be honest. I think dalembert would be an okay trade. For how desperate Sixers are right now to relieve some cap I think Presti can work his magic and even have us tag along for a three team trade so the Sixers can get rid of Igoudala and Dalembert at the same time. If we do that I bet we could really get something in return plus we would have Dalembert. I'm not the thunder organization but i think we should pounce on it before its to late. We really don't anything else for the team so why not get exactly what we need. By the time his contract is up we can decide then if we need him or not plus im pretty sure its the same year that we resign most of young players so then we will know if we have the flexibility to resign him.
The Thunder is 5th in the playoff race and two games out of 3rd!! I love this game!
The best predraft analysis about the Durant/ Oden situation was one scout that said Durant was a maladjusted gym rat and Oden was a guy you'd like your daughter to marry. How funny is that in hindsight?
@Kivman
I know exactly how you feel!
@justin
Got it...my bad. Hey...I love trade deadline - but I'm still waiting for the first meaningful trade to go down - even if it doesn't involve OKC.
I hope the thunder take a number one pick and and expiring contract and trade for Someone and make a run at it this year for the finals, Camby? Ray Allen? How many late number one picks are gonna be on the roster any way every year. Lakers might get injuries, thunder are close to beating the rest of the west,why not?
@Sammy
No the clips just jacked up a garbage shot with like 4 seconds left and the ball bounced right to him...
@andrew
Hs. No. Did he miss on purpose or something?
@Sammy
Did you see his last rebound? That was the best part :)
Hot damn, have you guys seen Curry's line tonight. Pace caveat duly noted, but 11/22, 7/11 3P, 10 Reb, 13 Ast, 3 Stls, 6 TO, 36 pts.
Hey I want to bring it back to the celts for a new York minute here. They didn't need a big man. They had perk and big al as well. I mean I am a Celtic fan and I prolly woulda wanted oden but I'm not suprised if they took durant. That lineup would be unstoppable
@Kivman
I meant this kind of trade wouldn't be a long term acquisition and really add any money (since we'd have to add money next year anyway to get to the minimum salary). That's why this makes a lot of sense..
Signing a David Lee, Brendan Haywood, or even Chris Bosh, or trading for an Okafor or Bogut, I don't think Presti's going to commit to the years of money that entails.
It could also be worked out the frame work of a larger deal involving Iguodala and Amar'e swapping teams like has been rumored.. I'm not up for pondering that though.
I don't think they will make a trade either, Justin. However, it's a lot more fun to speculate...and like I said, I'm "feeling" this Philly trade.
@Sammy
Me either.. teams don't give up lotto picks very easily. Honestly, I don't think we would take on Sam's whole salary anyway. If we send Krstic we still have ~$6M or so in cap space next year and could do a similar bail out trade during the year.
I'm feeling more and more this team isn't going to make a big long term acquisition with the lockout threat.
Sammy :@justin
I like Harpring, Thomas and both our 1st rounders for Dalembert + Philly’s pick. I don’t know that they’d go for it though.
You know...they just might. Would be worthwhile to ask and negotiate. 2nds, White, Weaver all could be considered to make it work.
@justin
Agreed. But it's worth the offer - I'm feeling this trade. Add 2nds or, as you say, do Harping/Thomas/2 firsts for Dalembert/1 first. See if Portland would take Krstic for expirings. If not, live with the logjam for a year and let Krstic do his best Etan Thomas impression next year (when he would be a "valuable expiring").
@justin
I like Harpring, Thomas and both our 1st rounders for Dalembert + Philly's pick. I don't know that they'd go for it though.
Well his TS isn't very high but it is by our standards, is what I meant. :)
@Kivman
I think a trade like Krstic, Thomas, Minnesota's 2nd for Dalembert and Philly's 2nd is workable. I don't think Philly will give up draft position to get out from only half of Dalembert's contract. If we send them BOTH Harpring-Thomas and absorb all of Dalembert's salary next season, then maybe they swap picks with us. But that creates a big log jam in our front court.
Looking at Sam's #'s this year, his TS% is very high and he shoots over 80% at the line. The way he gets offensive rebounds, I don't think going from Krstic to Dalembert is even a downgrade offensively to be honest.
Philly of course gets cap relief and a couple of prospects (and Krstic could be valuable to them, too).
justin :
What’s your idea of long term? Two years? Five?
I still think Dalembert would be interesting and it’s the kind of contract Sam Presti would take back in a trade (short term). Really how much different from the Chandler trade would a Dalembert trade be? Essentially the same.. everyone liked the Chandler trade when it happened right?
How about we give both our firsts plus Thomas-Krstic-and/or Harpring's contract for Dalembert and Philly's first? Perhaps the work ethic of our team rubs off on Dalembert and we also get a better prospect in the draft.
PS- I apologize for being a Simmons clone. I just don't know why he would make this up, and he seems like someone who would have inside information.
@justin
GMs take the draft game theory/secrecy thing to another level. Look at what happened with DeJuan Blair this year. Even though he had no freaking ACLs and it was public knowledge, no GM came out and said they were too scared to take a gamble on him; he was a 'lock' to go mid-lottery. Would it really surprise you to find out that there were some GMs that were privately concerned about Oden's injury risk, enough to go with the 'safe' pick in Durant? In the end it was a decision between concerns about long term durability vs. value of an elite big man over an elite scorer.
Yeah, I like Dalembert, too.
The lottery took place before the season ended, before a lot of the scouting and athletic testing was done. The Celtics knew they had no shot at Oden or Durant long before the bulk of the workouts, etc. Did they even work out Oden or Durant officially? I don't know. I doubt Danny Ainge developed a serious opinion either way on who he would have selected since he knew they had no shot before the playoffs even ended.
@Mark!
-raises eyebrow- You say if Oden turned out to be "legit" meaning he would have proven himself after a couple years I assume. So say he is the second best center in the league behind Howard. You really think people are going to be furious about having an extremely efficient 30 ppg guy instead of him? Your argument is flawed sir. And if its pointless to speculate then why are you adding your 2 cents :). I am only trying to say that there was a GM who would have taken Durant over Oden.
@andrew
And they would've been murdered if they passed on Oden and he turned out to be legit with a lineup of Rondo-Filler-Pierce-Jefferson-Oden.
Revisionist history is pointless to speculate on.
@justin
Simmons is the biggest and most vocal Durant fan in the mainstream media, and he always has been. He is also the foremost voice on the state of the Celtics. I have a hard time believe the Celtics would have been SLAMMED for taking Durant and seeing what they could do with a lineup that included Rondo-Pierce-Durant-Jefferson-filler..(Tony Allen?)
Dalembert would be okay.
I don't believe it.. the way the Celtics were, they would have gotten SLAMMED if they took Kevin Durant over Greg Oden. Of course people are going to say they would have taken Durant now. LOL.
The Sonics would have taken Oden over Durant also, every team would have.@justin
I took this comment from the Portland game thread. You are wrong. Simmons says he knows for a fact Danny Ainge was prepared to take Durant if they won the 1st pick in the draft. Not to be a pain, just trying to be correct :)
LAkers are crazy good when Odom is playing well and initiating the offense. They have looked way better without Kobe freestyling all the time..
Utah is also losing.
Dalembert has a much higher TS%, he's second in the league to Camby in total rebounding percentage.. much higher block percentage than Camby. Camby gets a lot of steals ane he's a better passer. Dalembert almost never misses games..
I'd trade Nenad Krstic and Etan Thomas for Sam Dalembert. Then you're only paying him the difference between his and Krstic's contract next year. Unless the Thunder are planning on maybe signing a big FA or making a decent sized move..
I know it's meaningless, but unless phoenix makes a huge comeback we will be in the #5 spot tonight!!
Camby's very injury prone..26000 minutes in 14 seasons. By comparison Tim Duncan has 40000 minutes in 13 seasons. Camby's ageless because he's hardly played! Like Grant Hill.
Maybe we could include our highest 2nd round pick in that deal. Then I would do it.
Camby might be able to play until he is 40, he seems pretty ageless.. Maybe we could resign him to a 2-3 year midlevel exception type deal.. Its not like we cant phase him out as our young bigs get better..
@justin
ESPN said the turnstile count for the MIL/NJN game was 1,016. Paid was over 12,000.
What's your idea of long term? Two years? Five?
I still think Dalembert would be interesting and it's the kind of contract Sam Presti would take back in a trade (short term). Really how much different from the Chandler trade would a Dalembert trade be? Essentially the same.. everyone liked the Chandler trade when it happened right?
The only way I'd be interested in Camby is if he'd be able to play, and be worth the money, for next year as well, and if I was sure that Mullens would be ready to take his place after that. In other words, not interested.
No to Camby. We need a center who will be around long-term.
I wouldn't include the pick for Camby as he has no utility beyond this year for us. I would like to see how the team does with a legit shot blocking / rebounding force in the middle though..
Can't the Zombies just trade Etan Thomas's expiring + Phoenix's 2010 No. 1 for Marcus Camby and make a run at this? Why not?
Taken from the honorable Bill Simmon's Twitter account.
Is the 6'10 legit? He looks shorter than tiny gallon in the videos.
Phoenix is making the Blazers look like the Showtime Lakers. Don't know how much of that reflects on the Suns defense or ours..
Ibaka seems to do much better guarding PF's..
If Mullins and Ibaka) make improvementsand become better next year.(especially Ibaka) I think any if those guys would make for some good center reserves with mullins and who whoever we draft. We may or may not have krstic too
7'6" is a ridiculous wingspan and all but make up him lack of size. I really want to watch Whiteside to play. Right now I really like Monroe, Whiteside, and Sanders.
Portland beating Phoenix. If Phoenix loses we pass them in the standings right?