A new little weekly feature we’re going to try. Throughout the week some of you drop some brilliant or at least thoughtful comments and so this is a try at highlighting some of them. Disclaimer: It’s not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but they were interesting and well put.
Not the blue or the red one – the poison one. (Steve H): “Landing Gortat this summer would have required the sort of “Poison Pill” offer that Portland tried with Millsap/Utah- and as their example showed, even then it might not work. I do not think Gortat would be worth the $8-10million per it would have taken, but he would be a fantastic acquisition at his current price of $6+ per. I love the pairing of him and Krstic – our starting unit should be able to score in bunches without significant offense from the five spot- what it lacks is interior defense and rebounding.
Our second unit (Livingston, Sefolosha, Green and White) looks like a better defensive unit over-all that could really benefit from Krstic’s shooting ability. I still have my fingers crossed about landing Gortat this December – Mullens and a first rounder? Throw in a second round pick? Gortat certainly looks solid, but Orlando paying out over 1 million per average minute (after tax) on the floor seems plain crazy.”
Bringing home the prodigal CP3. (DSMok1): “By Wins Produced, [Chris Paul] is worth all of the Thunder’s roster put together. Seriously. In fact, he is the best player in the NBA by Wins Produced (above LeBron, Howard, and Wade). In fact, he is only the second player to go above 29 wins produced in a season (after KG from ‘03 to ‘05) this decade. If he were available … well, get him! He just carried an abysmal team to the playoffs (only Chandler and Posey were even above average!). Put Chris Paul and KD together, wait a couple of years, assemble a few pieces, and you have a title team. Seriously. Next year, you’d have a playoff team–even if you gave up Westbrook and Jeff Green. You would have the best tandem in the league, bar none. Of course, trading CP3 would be suicide for the Hornets. They better not do it!” Keep Reading…
New OrleanscTBD; Mon., October 12 vs. Phoenix 7:00 p.m.; Wed., October 14 vs. Miami 7:00 p.m. in Tulsa, OK; Mon., October 19 at Houston 7:30 p.m.; Tue., October 20 vs. San Antonio 7:30 p.m. in Austin, TX; Thu., October 22 vs. Sacramento 7:00 p.m.
a long way to go. The fact Thabeet struggled offensively is no surprise. But the fact that he was whistled for 26 fouls while blocking just four shots is worrisome.”
What should we expect from the Thunder next season?
As I said, I’m out of pocket for the day, but J.G. has hooked us up with another lengthy, yet very insightful column about Oklahoma City, the Trailblazers and next season.
By J.G. Marking
Special to Daily Thunder
In season three of a rebuilding effort, the hardest thing for the fan is the question of how tempered their expectations should be for the upcoming year. In most year twos of a rebuilding process, the fan typically witnesses the rock-bottom point of the franchise’s complete roster and organizational overhaul (3-29 anyone?), as pieces of the old regime get phased out (farewell Wilcox, Petro and Sene).
But at some point in year two of any successful rebuilding process, typically towards the latter half of the season as young talent begins to gain invaluable playing experience and starts developing some true chemistry, there is a punctuated leap of improvement (20-30 for the last 50, remember that?). This eye-opening leap sparks an ever dangerous ember in the heart of the fan, reawakening the glorious notion of next year. After all, that’s why the NBA Draft tantalizes every fan of every team. And there’s next year, isn’t there?
But what about the Thunder’s next year? What are we to expect from a team that had such a drastic difference in play last year, from the lows of one of the worst starts in NBA history to the highs of near .500 play and knocking off playoff bound competition for one of the league’s youngest and most inexperienced teams? Keep Reading…