There’s always a lot of smoke on draft day. For instance, that the Spurs might trade Tony Parker for a lottery pick. Which is why I wouldn’t get too hot and bothered at word that the Thunder are shopping Eric Maynor to move into the first 14 picks.
Is Thunder point guard Eric Maynor worth a lottery pick? Sources say the Thunder have been quietly gauging interest in Maynor during the past few days in an attempt to move up into the top half of the first round. They’ve spoken to the Kings (No. 7) and Bobcats (No. 9) in particular in the past few days.
Maynor was the 20th pick in the 2009 draft, which was one of the most loaded point guard drafts. With so few quality point guards on the board this year, would a team covet him more than Kemba Walker or Jimmer Fredette?
Who are the Thunder after? Like a lot of teams, it seems they are in hot pursuit of Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas.
If you recall, there was a lot of talk that the Thunder were in heavy conversations with the Pacers involving Maynor last draft day. With Maynor being one of the premier backup point guards in the league and likely starter material, Sam Presti is probably trying to gauge a little value with Maynor. How good do other teams thing he is?
But if the Thunder could give away their backup point guard who sees 10-15 minutes a night for a lottery pick they’re very high on and then use the 24th pick on Reggie Jackson or another backup point guard, it makes a little sense. A lot of teams are high on Valanciunas, the Thunder being one of them I guess.
Where it doesn’t make sense is that the Thunder already have a long-term center in Kendrick Perkins and already have an international project in Tibor Pleiss. Not to mention Byron Mullens and Cole Aldrich. I just don’t see where Valanciunas really fits in to the future of the roster. Unless it’s not Valanciunas they want. (Maybe it’s JIMMER?!?!)
It’s going to be tough to retain Maynor in the future anyway as he’s too good to afford but not good enough to pay. Maybe Presti is trying to get out in front of that issue and shuffle in a new backup to Westbrook.
I think this is more of a smoke rather than fire deal, but something that will make tonight’s draft a bit more interesting for Thunder fans for sure.
It won't happen.
Sorry.
remember last year when everyone was convinced okc was taking orton. good times.
Also Rich Cho just won himself the title of best front office trader. He just got charlotte pick 7 and didn't even give up pick 9
Maynor has the highest trade value on this team besides the obvious. hahahhaaha Since when have you heard a trade from Presti before it happen:) Just sayin
Trading Maynor is a smokescreen. @Kcic66
Espn is reporting the cavs are gonna take Jonas. So if we still trade up, the reason was not initally Jonas.
I am a huge Maynor fan because of his style of play-- the traditional point guard. I am not sure I agree with Presti on this one, I think we should keep Maynor, and aim for a Small Forward instead. The duel of Westbrook and Maynor, who play different styles of ball when they are on the court (and a great small ball tandem when on the court together), give teams havoc when prepping to play against the Thunder. As much as I want Nate to get some playing time, I would prefer to keep Maynor and let Nate cheer from the sidelines still.
So we take jackson and trade Eric to move up in the daft. But why are they trying to move up in the draft? Who do they have their eye on
If Presti could some how pull of getting Leonard and Reggie Jackson? Ok I'm getting way ahead of myself lol.....
I hope like hell they don't get jimmer he's a joke
If you can move Maynor for a high lottery pick then you do it. There's a lot of really interesting players there. Vesely, Leonard and Fredette would all fit on the Thunder.
It wouldn't be that hard to pick up Nolan Smith to replace Maynor.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
i agree i think we end up trading maynor or nate plus extras to get an already drafted player.
@diddoff
one more year to determine if cole is worthless or not..... if he is then Pleiss gets run. Sounds good to me.
I was surprised last year when we traded into Cole Aldrich. But I have a feeling I'll be even more surprised by what we do this year.
The only gut feeling I have about this draft and our selection is that there will be more trades than usual, and we'll end up with a guard (1 or 2). I thought we'd be going after another 3 to back up KD, but my gut tells me we'll get a guard. Probably a combo guard.
Tibor Pleiss officially stays in Germany next season.
And the next....
and the next......
Either Ford or Broussard reported that Jonas hadn't signed the buyout agreement yet. He could try to re-negotiate things so that he could come over this season. Currently he wouldn't be able to come until next year.
No question that the biggest drama of the night will be if Utah still has the #12 and Jimmer is still on the board. They have to be under tremndous pressure to draft him.
I have a gut feeling that jonas goes 4 to cleveland. So I think presti is blowing smoke to get someone else in the lotto
I would be very happy with Leonard and Reggie Jackson for Maynor. Pruiti appears to like Jackson quite a bit as well.
@Royce Young
You got plenty of server space for tonight? :)
Jonas's contract I heard runs till 2015. So I. Assume that would mean a huge buyout to get him this year. Not happening. Hoping we move up to get these guys in order: leonard,kemba,jimmer,burks
PNT :@andrew The source Chad Ford has may not be in the OKC front office. It may be on the other side of the deal.
That's correct.
@kfmsooner
Amick put him there yesterday. However, I would think that pick might be part of the deal to move up. If not, kudos to Presti for the umteenth time. :)
What are the odds that both the Spurs and Thunder are trying to trade up into the lottery for the same player? I just find it interesting that both teams are allegedly willing to trade solid rotation players in Hill and Maynor to get towards the top of what most perceive as a weak draft.
How many centers can we wait on to "develop?"
@andrew
The source Chad Ford has may not be in the OKC front office. It may be on the other side of the deal.
Reggie Jackson is a cheap version of Russ. That would cause some bad DT comments during 82+ games next season.
@kfmsooner
I saw that on ESPN comments too. That deal looks good for all 3 parties. Usually in a 3 way deal someone is forced to get screwed because of bad contracts.
Mystery solved? @Sam Amick reports rumors OKC will take Reggie Jackson at 24 http://sbn.to/lMIXgh 3 minutes ago
Read more: http://hoopshype.com/twitter/media.html#ixzz1Q7LNjP1k
Dovetails nicely with Maynor being shopped...
I believe we are gauging erics value. However I doubt ford or anyone has any clue who presti is pursuing.
I wish Jimmer well in this league, just on another team. I do not believe he fits into our plans at all. I think where ever he goes he should either the second or at teh very worst 3rd option. On our team hell never pass 4
The other thing I find interesting about this situation is that it probably wouldn't work in a different draft. @ Daniel Plainview pointed out we'd rather have a lottery pick in next year's draft, but (assuming Maynor's value remains static) would he be worth a lottery pick next year? If we do pull the trigger on a Maynor trade to move up, I'd expect to also see us trade back in to the second round and probably still take Singler there (or someone else if the Singler talk is bogus.
I guess the staff feels better about Nate (for 1 year) than anyone thought they did if they are looking to use Maynor as trade bait.
Take this with a grain of salt...no real source:
"RUMORS out of Philadelphia...Sixers, Spurs and Jazz about to announce a three team trade.
Sixers send Andre Iguodala to Utah for the #3 Pick in this years draft. Sixers also get Memet Okur and R. Bell.
The spurs then send Tony Parker to Utah for the #12 Pick, Utahs 2nd round pick next year and Devin Harris and the Sixers M Speights"
@PNT
Oh, I did not know how that worked. Thanks though
@justin
obviously it won't be for mullens aldrich alone
throw in a nate rob, thabo, to bring back a player who can actually contribute. or clear some room for Pleiss, Lat Will
@Daniel Plainview
Marcus Thornton is an RFA. He can't be traded.
If Presti actually was attempting to move up to get Jimmer, his name wouldn't be dropped. The Valanciunas part is bogus.
Come on Presti, gimme some Jimmer!!
Jonas can't play this year, can he?
Wow! I forgot Cleveland still had the LeBron exception. Could they really get 3 lottery picks?
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/30688/sources-cavs-seeking-third-lottery-pick
@justin
I reluctantly agree with you. I love what Maynor brings to the team, but I can see where his trade value might be more beneficial right now than his on-court contributions.
justin :Sell high and buy low. Trading Maynor is selling high.
This. If this rumor is a smokescreen, I'm guessing it's the Valanciunas part not the availability of Maynor. I think the entire fanbase, team and front office love Maynor, but as many have pointed out there's no way we can keep him long term. And yes, we did make it to the WCF and thus should only be minor tweaks away from where we want to be....however, unlike other championship contenders our lineup will continue to evolve as our young players grow into and develop their game. Which is all basically to say that I wouldn't be surprised if @dwill is right that all this is "only the tip of the iceberg".
Next year is the year we want to land a lottery pick.
Again, I woulndt mind landing 7 if a package deal involving M Thornton and ditching two or three of our others stiffs (Thabo included), or scoring that 7th pick and trading back out to either KNicks who want to move up, if theyll trade us T Douglass and there 17, or HOuston and Brooks and their 14, as examples. Knicks want to move up BADLY and I think that coud be a scenario
There is no counter deal. Mullens is worthless, and Aldrich will be if he doesn't have a decent year.
if Presti is looking to trade up, via Maynor, and grab a big...what counter deal does he have in place for Mullens, Aldrich??
Perk trade was for Perk, Nazr trade was for Nazr sure...but mostly to have the cap to resign Perk.
If what is reported is anything close to true..it's only the tip of the iceberg.
Do it if it involves someone named Jimmer, or even Leonard/Burks. But not Valanciunas.
Don't do it!!
Don't do it Thunder-Maynor is a SOLID backup and potential starter is WB or JH go down
Sell high and buy low. Trading Maynor is selling high.