The official: The OKC Thunder shop is open!

[KqWIN]

I'm very optimistic about the Clips picks. Kawhi got his deal... then got injured again. He is just broken. PG will bail unless they max him out. Harden likely stays but he is one of the scariest dudes to pay money imo. Next year the west is gonna be most likely even more competitive. A 20 game absence from 1 or 2 of those guys or if one bails and I think they could quickly fade into the lotto. Their top 7 guys were really healthy this year (compared to where they normally are). Westbrook also sounded like he will look elsewhere and he was a cheap and valuable player for them during the regular season.

I think they most likely end up around the play in territory and will need to be healthy at the right time to avoid the lotto. I will take that bet.

That said I like the Houston trade as I like Green, Smith Jr, Whitmore more than Giddey (I think they keep Cason off the table) and I would rather have #3 and the Brooklyn 2026 pick more than the Clips picks (and the protected ones).

I guess it’s all relative. It’s definitely better than a protected pick or some distant pick from a team that is almost certain to be good. I guess I just mean I’m not optimistic about a LAC collapse. Ballmer has an unlimited checkbook (meaning they’ll resign their guys) and Ty Lue has proven to be very good with a skeleton crew. I don’t think the scenario you’re saying is that unrealistic though.

In any case, I think Rockets have the better assets….OKC probably has more incentive to make a deal given that they are much closer and could R+E Lauri I believe.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I guess it’s all relative. It’s definitely better than a protected pick or some distant pick from a team that is almost certain to be good. I guess I just mean I’m not optimistic about a LAC collapse. Ballmer has an unlimited checkbook (meaning they’ll resign their guys) and Ty Lue has proven to be very good with a skeleton crew. I don’t think the scenario you’re saying is that unrealistic though.

In any case, I think Rockets have the better assets….OKC probably has more incentive to make a deal given that they are much closer and could R+E Lauri I believe.

I think both teams could manufacture enough space to do a R&E. I think Houston is actually more likely to do something with the owner kinda pressuring the FO and not having full control of their own picks. OKC should be more motivated but they are really patient. Maybe motivation is a toss up.

 

[framer]

Meh, even outside of the off court stuff I don't want to be in the Josh Giddy business. I'm going to need Wallace at a bare minimum in addition to whatever OKC would offer. He's going to be better than any of the draft picks they could offer.

 

[sip]

I guess it’s all relative. It’s definitely better than a protected pick or some distant pick from a team that is almost certain to be good. I guess I just mean I’m not optimistic about a LAC collapse. Ballmer has an unlimited checkbook (meaning they’ll resign their guys) and Ty Lue has proven to be very good with a skeleton crew. I don’t think the scenario you’re saying is that unrealistic though.

In any case, I think Rockets have the better assets….OKC probably has more incentive to make a deal given that they are much closer and could R+E Lauri I believe.

I feel pretty good about a total clipper collapse for that 2027 pick swap. To me that is the real prize that the thunder own. If we are doing a deal with the thunder then these are the picks I'm demanding.

12th pick this year
Clippers 25 swap rights so either the clipper or thunder pick
Clippers 26 pick
Clippers 27 swap rights so either the clipper or thunder pick
Mavs 28 swap rights so either the mavs or thunder pick

If we get those picks I'm fine with them keeping Cason and us taking back Giddey and Dieng.

 

[KqWIN]

I feel pretty good about a total clipper collapse for that 2027 pick swap. To me that is the real prize that the thunder own. If we are doing a deal with the thunder then these are the picks I'm demanding.

12th pick this year
Clippers 25 swap rights so either the clipper or thunder pick
Clippers 26 pick
Clippers 27 swap rights so either the clipper or thunder pick
Mavs 28 swap rights so either the mavs or thunder pick

If we get those picks I'm fine with them keeping Cason and us taking back Giddey and Dieng.

So I mistakenly thought that they only had 25 and 26 from the Clippers, the value goes up exponentially so 27 Clippers swap is a really good pick to own. The 27 swap was not included in @Handlogten's Heros proposal, but I think it's inclusion would be pushing the "hard to say no" boundary.

Still, I think HOU can compete with this offer and they might want to.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

So I mistakenly thought that they only had 25 and 26 from the Clippers, the value goes up exponentially so 27 Clippers swap is a really good pick to own. The 27 swap was not included in @Handlogten's Heros proposal, but I think it's inclusion would be pushing the "hard to say no" boundary.

Still, I think HOU can compete with this offer and they might want to.

Missed the 27 swap. OKC and Houston… our lines are open.

 

[sip]

So I mistakenly thought that they only had 25 and 26 from the Clippers, the value goes up exponentially so 27 Clippers swap is a really good pick to own. The 27 swap was not included in @Handlogten's Heros proposal, but I think it's inclusion would be pushing the "hard to say no" boundary.

Still, I think HOU can compete with this offer and they might want to.

With Houston, Okc and maybe even the spurs I think you could see quite the bidding war to keep Lauri out of the other teams hands. Out of those 3 teams though houston can probably put together the best offer. An offer of Jabari Smith and the 3rd pick is pretty enticing because it is immediate young talent. Those nets picks and swaps could also be up there with the clipper picks and swaps.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

With Houston, Okc and maybe even the spurs I think you could see quite the bidding war to keep Lauri out of the other teams hands. Out of those 3 teams though houston can probably put together the best offer. An offer of Jabari Smith and the 3rd pick is pretty enticing because it is immediate young talent. Those nets picks and swaps could also be up there with the clipper picks and swaps.

I'm not really in the mood to think about it too hard, but I would much rather Lauri going to Houston vs OKC.

 

[sip]

If we do end up moving Lauri to OKC or Houston I bet the spurs would have some interest Sexton. I think he would be an ideal fit on that team and they would probably consider Sexton for the 8th pick and Graham if they really want to go into win now mode.

 

[sip]

I'm not really in the mood to think about it too hard, but I would much rather Lauri going to Houston vs OKC.

Lauri with the thunder has the potential to be scary good. That starting lineup would be insane and fit together so well.

 

[KqWIN]

With Houston, Okc and maybe even the spurs I think you could see quite the bidding war to keep Lauri out of the other teams hands. Out of those 3 teams though houston can probably put together the best offer. An offer of Jabari Smith and the 3rd pick is pretty enticing because it is immediate young talent. Those nets picks and swaps could also be up there with the clipper picks and swaps.

HOU and OKC are the most obvious destinations IMO, but I expect Lauri to have a ton of suitors. I don't think it's unreasonable to think that some younger teams would want to go after him in an attempt to improve fast (SAS, DET, CHO) and I also think he will have interest from the older, desperate teams trying to reach contention (GSW, LAL, MIA). There are also teams like NYK and BKN who have been heavily rumored to want to trade for a star soon. Maybe even ATL hops in with the #1 pick.

Not everyone will be interested or have enough of the goods, but I think a bidding war would ensue. I think HOU would have the most elite, top heavy assets. Amen, Jabari Smith, and #3 would be at the top of my list. If they want to hold tight onto either or both of those players, Eason, Green, Whitmore are interesting pieces and they still have the BKN picks.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Lauri with the thunder has the potential to be scary good. That starting lineup would be insane and fit together so well.

Very likely they would be amazing.

There's a chance that they would have too many mouths to feed though.