Not smart to make OKC—in our own division— an even bigger powerhouse for the next 6 years
The official: The OKC Thunder shop is open!
- Thread starter Shad
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fishonjazz
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I wonder if OKC fans thought the same thing when they traded Paul George to the clippers.
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Shad
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Didn't we already trade with the wolves twice who are also in our division? I don't think they care
IMO this is a deal that is OK if Lauri doesn't want to be here, but not exactly a deal that's too good to pass up. I think I like tanking w/Lauri over this. I'm not overly optomistic about the upcoming two years of Clipper picks, and returning our own pick doesn't do much for me because if we're trading Lauri we out to be tanking in 2026 as well.
I would HOU hope that would step up to the plate and beat this offer. They could offer the most premium assets, including #3.
Also, how do we all feel about Cason as an incoming trade asset? He was awesome as a rookie and a guy that every winning team will want to have, but is he what we want if we're going full tank? I think Cason is player who will be more valuable to OKC than us, so we should try to get more draft capital/higher upside instead. I think I would take Giddey+more picks.
Bawse Dawg
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A good chunk of the OKC farm for Lauri I think could be a pretty mutually beneficial trade.
I wonder if Lauri and Chet are too similar though, doesn't OKC needs more like a Kessler archetype? Or just one of the better, less expensive big men available (Jarrett Allen for example)
I wonder if Lauri and Chet are too similar though, doesn't OKC needs more like a Kessler archetype? Or just one of the better, less expensive big men available (Jarrett Allen for example)
They like to play five-out so I think Lauri is a much better fit than some of the bigs people have mentioned (Zach Edey) too.
Bawse Dawg
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It could be crazy good, and obviously Lauri is the best player of any being discussed here.
I guess I'm just wondering if the Thunder would feel their issues are solved on defense by just adding a second Chet. Maybe they do, and maybe they would! Or maybe Lauri and Chet are much less similar than my problematic mind is making them.
They'd still have the assets to get more giant bodies to throw down low if needed too I suppose.
I support the thread idea, is my overall point here.
Lauri can play with anyone and he would be a great fit with Chet and OKC. I think they would probably like to have a more physical option at C....but probably more as a backup who can give them a different look.
Their defense wasn't bad this playoffs....they just need more shooting around Shai. Lauri is a big upgrade over Joe/Giddey.
Cason and George are childhood friends and I think they would be fun to watch together. I love Cason and would love to see him play defense for the Jazz every night. I also think he is super young and so there is still a chance he could develop in to more than just a 3&D guard.
All that said, it's still a good point.
Something lost in Cason's draft eval was that he might have been the most mature and well rounded "PG" in the class. He was comfortable operating in PnR, didn't have a big weakness, and almost never made mistakes. I don't doubt that he has more than he's able to show in OKC....I just think that OKC is going to want to hold onto him dearly and if that's the case we might as well get paid handsomely in other assets.
I would definitely want Cason over Giddey, for example, but you're probably paying extra for Cason and getting Giddey on a discount. One player can't play in the playoffs for them and the other fills an important role perfectly.
Handlogten's Heros
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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).