OKC Thunder 2014 - 2015

[adaniel]

With LeBron going to Cleveland a lot of other free agency dominoes should start to fall.

My biggest fear is if Bosh goes to Houston and they match Dallas' offer sheet for Parsons. They'd be paying a lot, but that would be a very good team...

Mark Cuban is too much of a passive aggressive bastard to let that happen. And maybe it was just me but I remember Parson and Harden butting heads a few times during their playoff run.

[BoulderSooner]

Mark Cuban is too much of a passive aggressive bastard to let that happen. And maybe it was just me but I remember Parson and Harden butting heads a few times during their playoff run.

Cuban doesn't have a say. He was restricted. If Houston matches he is theirs for 3 years

[Anonymous.]

SOunds like that's exactly what HOU is doing.

However, the amount of money they're going to be paying is insane. Howard, Harden, Bosh, Parsons.... BIG $$$

What's funny is they had 3 of those 4 and lost to a bad Portland team in round 1.


Sounds like Houston likes to throw away money.

[codyt]

I don't get why the Rockets are placing so much value on Bosh. The Rockets were a great shooting and rebounding team last year but lacked good, consistent point guard play and were in the bottom half of the league in assists. Now they're trading Lin and adding Bosh who is arguably the worst passing big in the league?

[Anonymous.]

Awesome. Bosh resigning with the Heat.

This means what is coming from this so far...

Cavs will be a good East team. Heat will still be a good East team.


Now if Melo stays in the East, all will be well in the world.

[dankrutka]

Per Darnell Mayberry, the Thunder picked up Anthony Morrow - great 3 point shooter, not good at anything else. Good pick up though.

We got him for $10 million over 3 years with a third year team option (meaning OKC decides whether to use the third year). This is a pretty good deal in a market where a lot of guys are getting overpaid.

[Jake]

Maybe he could be used as a Daequan Cook, 3-point specialist. Hopefully Brooks doesn't inexplicably play him 30 minutes a game.

[dankrutka]

Here are some highlights of him putting up 42 a couple years ago:



He's been a consistently great three point shooter... definitely better than Daequan. Morrow is pretty bad defensively. I am guessing he'll come off the bench and Roberson will start, but we'll see.

[Jake]

I'm just glad the Thunder finally got a shooting guard that can actually shoot.

[BoulderSooner]

Maybe he could be used as a Daequan Cook, 3-point specialist. Hopefully Brooks doesn't inexplicably play him 30 minutes a game.

He is light years better than cook

[Jake]

I know he is. That's why I think he'll be beneficial to the team. A 3-point specialist that is actually good at shooting 3-pointers.

[rlewis]

I guess this finally closes the book on Caron Butler. It's better for the long-term health of the Thunder to develop Jeremy Lamb and Andre Roberson anyway.

[OKCJapan]

Read this report this today. Looks like Washington is already aggressively making moves for Durant in 1016.

Wizards say goodbye to Trevor Ariza to position for Kevin Durant | Comcast SportsNet Washington

[Laramie]

Read this report this today. Looks like Washington is already aggressively making moves for Durant in 2016.


Wizards say goodbye to Trevor Ariza to position for Kevin Durant | Comcast SportsNet Washington

2016 There will be a lot of teams positioning for Durant. Let's hope that the Thunder ownership can get the pieces around him so that he has a chance to win a championship in Oklahoma City.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[PWitty]

Read this report this today. Looks like Washington is already aggressively making moves for Durant in 1016.

Wizards say goodbye to Trevor Ariza to position for Kevin Durant | Comcast SportsNet Washington

No surprise there. They have a decent shot of making that happen too. They already have one of the best young backcourts in the league (Wall/Beal). As much as I'd hate to ever see KD in anything but an OKC uniform, I couldn't blame the guy for heading home to try and win a title. Especially if it doesn't happen in OKC these next couple of years.

[Easy180]

No surprise there. They have a decent shot of making that happen too. They already have one of the best young backcourts in the league (Wall/Beal). As much as I'd hate to ever see KD in anything but an OKC uniform, I couldn't blame the guy for heading home to try and win a title. Especially if it doesn't happen in OKC these next couple of years.

And especially if they don't fork over some dough to land a high quality free agent. He will jet if they continue this spending pattern.

[dankrutka]

And especially if they don't fork over some dough to land a high quality free agent. He will jet if they continue this spending pattern.

What spending pattern? I hear this complaint primarily from people who don't understand much about the CBA. If you do understand it then I'd like to know what you mean.

The Thunder aggressively is trying to spend everything allowed under the CBA this year by going after Gasol, Miller, Morrow, etc. We were willing to go well over the tax to re-sign Harden at over $55 million. A team that drafts top notch players usually spends it's money on keeping those players. There may not be a team in the league with a better top 3 or 4 players. The Thunder-is-cheap narrative is often confused with (a) where they spend their money (their own players), (b) when they spend it (not in free agent bidding wars in July that drive players prices up), and (c) their commitment to not taking on bad contracts. I think the Thunder have shown a willingness to spend money when it helps the team win.

[rlewis]

Washington is going to have its own spending dilemma in 2016. Bradley Beal's rookie contract will be up then, so they will have to make a decision on whether to pursue Durant or re-sign Beal. Would Durant even be interested in forming a Big 3 with John Wall and Marcin Gortat instead of staying with Westbrook and Ibaka? I think the latter option is more attractive. Of course, if we win a title it will likely be a moot point.

[Easy180]

What spending pattern? I hear this complaint primarily from people who don't understand much about the CBA. If you do understand it then I'd like to know what you mean.

The Thunder aggressively is trying to spend everything allowed under the CBA this year by going after Gasol, Miller, Morrow, etc. We were willing to go well over the tax to re-sign Harden at over $55 million. A team that drafts top notch players usually spends it's money on keeping those players. There may not be a team in the league with a better top 3 or 4 players. The Thunder-is-cheap narrative is often confused with (a) where they spend their money (their own players), (b) when they spend it (not in free agent bidding wars in July that drive players prices up), and (c) their commitment to not taking on bad contracts. I think the Thunder have shown a willingness to spend money when it helps the team win.

Didn't call them cheap just have a track record of bringing in average free agents and seem unwilling to go into the luxury tax to help land them a title. They haven't won one together by 2016 we might see some moving vans.

I agree with you that they spend on current players not free agency. So far that has not resulted in a title even with having two of the top 8 players in the world. Not griping at all as I'm more than pleased with the track record, but KD and Westbrook might look at it differently.

[Jersey Boss]

Career Stats- Points-8.4, Rebounds-1.8, Assists- 0.8, FG%-45.8. Could not crack the starting line up for the Pelicans last year. I'm not impressed.

[Laramie]

Career Stats- Points-8.4, Rebounds-1.8, Assists- 0.8, FG%-45.8. Could not crack the starting line up for the Pelicans last year. I'm not impressed.

I'm not impressed with his stats either. Who is available for the Thunder to fill the Butler void? Butler's playoff performance didn't come close to his stats; IMO, that's the risk with picking up a player during mid-season

New Orleans were two key pieces from being a decent Western Conference competitor. Pelicans finished the season at 34-48, their losses to the Thunder were 109-95, 116-94, 101-89; it was obvious that they didn't match up against OKC.

Morrow (28) could prove to be a key replacement for Butler, who apparently burned down his bridge with the Thunder through actions with his exit. As Grandma use to say, 'You done tore your draws with me (meaning: showed you ass)." Sam Presti is all business, he doesn't tolerate foolishness. Despite Durant's lobbying for the return of Butler, Caron sealed his own tomb with the Thunder.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[dankrutka]

If we hadn't got Morrow then I think Butler would have been a possibility. I don't think bridges were burned. KD spent this week recruiting Butler back.

Morrow is one of the best two or three shooters in the NBA. Exactly what we need. He's the best shooter in Thunder history. I think it was a fantastic move that still allows us some financial flexibility.

[Laramie]

What spending pattern? I hear this complaint primarily from people who don't understand much about the CBA. If you do understand it then I'd like to know what you mean.

The Thunder aggressively is trying to spend everything allowed under the CBA this year by going after Gasol, Miller, Morrow, etc. We were willing to go well over the tax to re-sign Harden at over $55 million. A team that drafts top notch players usually spends it's money on keeping those players. There may not be a team in the league with a better top 3 or 4 players. The Thunder-is-cheap narrative is often confused with (a) where they spend their money (their own players), (b) when they spend it (not in free agent bidding wars in July that drive players prices up), and (c) their commitment to not taking on bad contracts. I think the Thunder have shown a willingness to spend money when it helps the team win.

Agree dankrutka, a very expensive bidding war.

The cheap narrative like you said is often confused with how the team budgets for its (all) players. You can't have a situation like Miami where the Big 3 (James-Wade-Bosh) accounted for 80% of the team's salary. The Thunder needs to concentrate its efforts on Steven Adams, Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones in addition to welcoming Mitch McGary & Anthony Morrow.

Butler was an impossibility.

As far as Butler burning that bridge with the Thunder; what would you call a 'no show' for an exit interview? It's like telling someone to kiss your ass; only to remind them you would not give them the privilege. Butler isn't 'all that.' It's obvious he was behind K.D.'s last ditch effort lobbying to get him back on the team. What kind of man is that? As an Oklahoman would say, "Sam Presti doesn't 'cotton' to that."

Butler just signed with the Detroit Pistons. Would you say he's in a better position than he was at Milwaukee? Team record wise he's 50% better; however Detroit had more season coaching changes than an indigent changes underwear.

Anthony Morrow will have a chance to start out with the team which will allow him to become familiar with players & the system.

Welcome aboard Anthony Morrow & Mitch McGary!

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Easy180]

Agree dankrutka, a very expensive bidding war.

The cheap narrative like you said is often confused with how the team budgets for its (all) players. You can't have a situation like Miami where the Big 3 (James-Wade-Bosh) accounted for 80% of the team's salary. The Thunder needs to concentrate its efforts on Steven Adams, Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones in addition to welcoming Mitch McGary & Anthony Morrow.

Butler was an impossibility.

As far as Butler burning that bridge with the Thunder; what would you call a 'no show' for an exit interview? It's like telling someone to kiss your ass; only to remind them you would not give them the privilege. Butler isn't 'all that.' It's obvious he was behind K.D.'s last ditch effort lobbying to get him back on the team. What kind of man is that? As an Oklahoman would say, "Sam Presti doesn't 'cotton' to that."

Butler just signed with the Detroit Pistons. Would you say he's in a better position than he was at Milwaukee? Team record wise he's 50% better; however Detroit had more season coaching changes than an indigent changes underwear.

Anthony Morrow will have a chance to start out with the team which will allow him to become familiar with players & the system.

Welcome aboard Anthony Morrow & Mitch McGary!

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

But that situation turned out EXTREMELY well for the Heat

[dankrutka]

Here's a good explanation of why you can expect the Thunder to continue missing out on big names like Pau Gasol in the future... but that's not necessarily a bad thing: City Planning: The Thunder and their free agency flaws | Daily Thunder.com