Oklahoma City Thunder 2020-21 season

[dankrutka]

It's such a paradox watching this team. It was fun to see such a group or fringe NBA players take down a talented team like Toronto. At the same time, wins like this could really set OKC back in their rebuild. The Thunder really need to drop below teams like Toronto in the standings and this game really put that in doubt. Anyway, Tyler Parker wrote an excellent article on the paradox of rooting for a team you want to lose if y'all are interested.

[Anonymous.]

OKC is arguable playing the worst lineups they could and is still scraping out some Ws... Presti facepalming.

Yes we need to lose out.

[dankrutka]

Poku being hurt hurts. He’s always part of the worst possible lineups. I think our worst lineup possible is Poku, Josh Hall, Isaiah Roby, Moses Brown, and Tony Bradley. It’s still probably succeed. Lol

[Bellaboo]

We shouldn't have any trouble losing the next two.

[warreng88]

Just thinking through it, I wonder if Presti is building up for two things: 1. 2021 draft and 2. 2022 Free Agency. Some of the biggest names come back on the market in 2022, and three of them I doubt would be coming back to OKC (KD, WB, JH), but a lot of others are out there as well. Developing the young players, getting really good picks in the next couple of drafts and a big free agency could spell a great future for OKC.

[SouthOfTheVillage]

That mykhailuk kid is looking like a young Clay Thompson.

Might need to send him down to the Blue for a few wks so his high level play won’t interfere with Operation Tank.

[dankrutka]

Just thinking through it, I wonder if Presti is building up for two things: 1. 2021 draft and 2. 2022 Free Agency. Some of the biggest names come back on the market in 2022, and three of them I doubt would be coming back to OKC (KD, WB, JH), but a lot of others are out there as well. Developing the young players, getting really good picks in the next couple of drafts and a big free agency could spell a great future for OKC.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but OKC will likely never be a player in free agency. OKC couldn’t get mid-tier free agents when they were a top 3 team. The biggest free agency signing is... Raymond Felton? It’s always going to be drafts and trades.

[Laramie]

Thunder @ Suns
Friday, April 2
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix
Bally Sports Oklahoma, 9 p.m.

[Laramie]

Thunder 103 @ Suns 140

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401307535

[Laramie]

Thunder @ Trailblazers
Saturday, April 3
Moda Center Arena, Portland
Bally Sports Oklahoma, 9 p.m.

[Laramie]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but OKC will likely never be a player in free agency. OKC couldn’t get mid-tier free agents when they were a top 3 team. The biggest free agency signing is... Raymond Felton? It’s always going to be drafts and trades.

Yes, we're a small market less than 2 million MSA population area. Drafts & trades will always be a vehicle to improve the Thunder franchise. As we develop players like Maledon & Pokusevski (couple of 19 year olds), there's always enthusiasm we'll see a brighter future. We're competing with small markets like Milwaukee, New Orleans, Memphis and Salt Lake City--all appear to have bright futures.

Many of the quality free agents demand the big bucks, the bad news about free agents--how many of them are worth it.

[Laramie]

Thunder 85 @ Trailblazers 133

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401307544

.

[Laramie]

Pistons @ Thunder
Monday, April 5
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Bally Sports Oklahoma, 6 p.m.

[nighttrain12]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but OKC will likely never be a player in free agency. OKC couldn’t get mid-tier free agents when they were a top 3 team. The biggest free agency signing is... Raymond Felton? It’s always going to be drafts and trades.

Two words: Paul George They were also able to resign KD and Russell as extensions of their rookie contracts.

[dankrutka]

Two words: Paul George They were also able to resign KD and Russell as extensions of their rookie contracts.

The Thunder traded for Paul George and drafted Kevin Durant and Russ. It's exactly my point.

[BoulderSooner]

The Thunder traded for Paul George and drafted Kevin Durant and Russ. It's exactly my point.

the also signed PG as a free agent ..

[Bellaboo]

the also signed PG as a free agent ..

Yes they did..... then a big party night.

[dankrutka]

the also signed PG as a free agent ..

Re-signing your own players is absolutely not the same as signing a free agent. Every team re-signs or extends their own players. Only some teams can attract quality free agents. The bigger point here is even after OKC re-signed Paul George, but then quickly forced his way out too. OKC cannot rely on signing good players. They have to rely on trades (see Paul George, SGA) or the draft (see KD, Russ, Harden, Serge). At best, OKC can sign Raymond Felton, Patrick Patterson, or Nenad Krstic in free agency.

Yes they did..... then a big party night.

The Thunder traded Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis for Paul George and then had a "Welcome to OKC" party at the Jones Assembly. Paul George was forced to OKC in a trade and had no choice.

[BoulderSooner]

Re-signing your own players is absolutely not the same as signing a free agent. Every team re-signs or extends their own players. Only some teams can attract quality free agents. The bigger point here is even after OKC re-signed Paul George, but then quickly forced his way out too. OKC cannot rely on signing good players. They have to rely on trades (see Paul George, SGA) or the draft (see KD, Russ, Harden, Serge). At best, OKC can sign Raymond Felton, Patrick Patterson, or Nenad Krstic in free agency.



The Thunder traded Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis for Paul George and then had a "Welcome to OKC" party at the Jones Assembly. Paul George was forced to OKC in a trade and had no choice.

and then he was a free agent a year later and then he resigned in OKC as a free agent and had a party with westbrook at a mansion in OKC

[Jake]

Raymond Felton and maybe Mike Muscala are probably the best FA signings in team history. Dan is right, Paul George re-signing isn't anywhere near the same as signing a free agent. It's splitting hairs. PG was technically a FA after he opted out of his contract, but it's been reported that Presti spoke with him and basically said, "Look, sign with us and if you aren't happy, we'll trade you to where you actually want to go."

If Paul George reached free agency while he was still with the Pacers, there was basically zero chance he'd sign with OKC. I doubt OKC would have even gotten a meeting with him. That's just the way it goes for small markets, unless you're like Charlotte and overpay for "middle-tier" FAs, and even that would be a stretch for OKC. Sam Presti knows this as well as Royce Young and everyone that covers the Thunder.

If OKC ever contends again, it will be through the draft and trades.

[dankrutka]

and then he was a free agent a year later and then he resigned in OKC as a free agent and had a party with westbrook at a mansion in OKC

No would say the Thunder signed Russell Westbrook in free agency, but if you want to play this game: OKC can never rely on signing good free agents that are not on their team. They will have to rely on trades, the draft, and re-signing their own players.

[Bill Robertson]

No would say the Thunder signed Russell Westbrook in free agency, but if you want to play this game: OKC can never rely on signing good free agents that are not on their team. They will have to rely on trades, the draft, and re-signing their own players.

Absolutely right. Re-signing current players and attracting outside free agents are two different worlds. OKC will probably never be an acceptable destination for big time free agents to want to come to. We will have to rely on trades and pray that draft picks actually rise to their potential.

[Laramie]

Pistons 132 @ Thunder 108

Box score http://https://www.espn.com/nba/boxs...meId/401307558

[Laramie]

Hornets @ Thunder
Wednesday, April 7
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Bally Sports Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

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[nighttrain12]

PG turned down the Lakers for us. OKC was seen as a better option.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_George

While he still wanted to return to Southern California, George also "loved the situation" with Oklahoma City. He decided weeks before free agency began on July 1, 2018, that he would stay with the Thunder, and never arranged a meeting with the Lakers. On July 6, George re-signed with the Thunder to a reported four-year, $137 million contract.