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OKC for the future or for next year?
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  1. jamsmashers
    jamsmashers
    Posts: 276

    Posted 06/21/2012 10:04 PM

    After watching this great finals series, and being relieved the hate talk bout Lebron is silence for now; it got me wondering; is this OKC team for the future or now? Yes, Durant and Westbrook are for future, but in no way can they keep this team in tack. A best case scenario, after amnesty of Perkins saving 7 and a quarter million in cap room, there is no way this team can be afforded. Ibaka will get 10-12 Million and Harden will want 12-14 million after next season. Four main players alone, Durant -close to 15  Westbrook 15 mil (after extention starts next year) Ibaka 10 and Harden 12, the team will owe 52 million in 4 players.  A year later, Sefelosia's contract will be up, and he is only making 3 million and will at least want 8 mill I believe. They would have to fill either C or PF (depending how they want to play Ibaka) and spend some money there. Then a bench. Keep in mind OKC is a small market.

    All this to ask this question, "Is there a piece blazers would want from OKC?" Westbrook and Durant are untouchable, but are they willing to part ways with Harden? Ibaka? Perkins? (ew) 

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  1. D_pickett
    D_pickett
    Posts: 608

    Posted 06/22/2012 12:42 AM

    And that, my friend, is NBA basketball. The good teams are split up due to salary cap issues, and with or without a championship ring the team is going to look different the following season. We will not see this same OKC team in the playoffs again. (Ironically, two of the players with rings--Perkins and Fisher--will be among the first to go.)

    In relation to the Blazers, I would say the only piece that's really attractive is Ibaka. But I wouldn't trade LA for him and thus he has no position on the team. Harden is an incredible 6th man and scorer, but the entire face of the Portland franchise would need to change before Harden fit the situation. Despite being the clear winners of the west, I do not think the Thunder have anything of true consequence to offer the rebuilding Trailblazers.
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  1. jamsmashers
    jamsmashers
    Posts: 276

    Posted 06/22/2012 9:24 AM

    ibaka can play center, we have attractive pieces for okc maybe? including a pick and  matthews, or 2 picks, or batum (keeping harden at 6th man) and include joe freeland
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  1. cmeese47
    cmeese47
    Posts: 2281

    Posted 06/22/2012 10:34 AM

    The most attractive piece on OKC is Harden by far.
    I am a fan of Getting Defensive Players This Summer.
  1. jamsmashers
    jamsmashers
    Posts: 276

    Posted 06/22/2012 11:01 AM

    so do you think harden can be on the trading block? its basicaly a dicision  between harden or ibaka, and if they take ibaka they can pay sefelcia what he wants
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  1. Blazer247
    Blazer247
    Posts: 503

    Posted 06/22/2012 11:05 AM

    Harden is most attractive overall of their pieces available, but I think I agree about Ibaka, he's young (22) and defensively strong, might be a nice piece to have alongside whoever we end up with between Drummond/Leonard/Zeller/Przy/Thabeet as well as someone who will grow with the team... any downside on a guy who just played solid D on a team that made it to the finals?
    I am a fan of BLAZER BASKETBALL. Not drafts, not business, not trades, not David Stern. Just BLAZER BASKETBALL.
  1. cmeese47
    cmeese47
    Posts: 2281

    Posted 06/22/2012 11:18 AM

    Got to consider though that outside Ibaka and Sefelosia, Harden was the Thunder's best defender.
    I am a fan of Getting Defensive Players This Summer.
  1. D_pickett
    D_pickett
    Posts: 608

    Posted 06/22/2012 2:43 PM

    Last time we picked up a former 6th man of the year, it was a total flop. I think the 6th man role is the biggest role that is entirely dependent on the surrounding roster. Since Portland barely has a semblance of its 2012-13 roster, bringing in a great 6th man is the last move you want to make; he needs to fit the situation, roster, and system.

    And my point about Ibaka is not that he has a downside, it's that I can't justify giving up our biggest offensive threat to get him. If you're imagining a lineup like this:

    Lillard/FA
    Matthews
    Batum
    Ibaka
    Przybilla/Rookie/FA

    Suddenly you have no post offense, and all your scoring aside from 3 pt shooting is going to need to come from the PG.

    Nor would I put Ibaka at center. His strength is being the wily athletic post defender next to the brute force of Perkins. His block numbers and overall effectiveness would plummet if he were moved to the 5.
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  1. jamsmashers
    jamsmashers
    Posts: 276

    Posted 06/22/2012 6:51 PM

    do not have to give up aldridge, it could be batum,  and if we do, we would get more than just ibaka ( ibaka and sefelosia)
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  1. D_pickett
    D_pickett
    Posts: 608

    Posted 06/22/2012 7:44 PM

    Oh... well, in that case, OKC would never go for it.
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  1. boomtown
    boomtown
    Posts: 272

    Posted 06/22/2012 10:09 PM

    well, hopefully for OKC's sake, the guys don't all command huge payrolls, maybe some are willing to accept less just to keep things together best they can.. it isn't unheard of.  If they keep things intact, and are good in the draft and free agency, there's no reason to believe they wont' be contending for the next 5-10 years.  The Spurs have done a good job holding it together with Manu, Duncan, and Parker.  OKC can do so with westbrook, durant, and harden... they got some pieces around them that can be replaced via draft, trades, free agency.  I think they'll be fine.  Any team built around Durant and Westbrook is going to be fine.  Just ask Jordan and Pippen.  all they needed was Grant or Rodman and Cartright.  
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