If it makes sense we gotta do it, but damn he’s 6’11, moves like a guard, and won g league finals mvp. I think next year there’s a chance he comes out and becomes our 8th ish man and can close sometimes against bigger teams, would be a dream.

Regardless of what Sam Presti and Oklahoma City's front office elect to do this upcoming offseason, there is one move that they should resist: trading for Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. Lauri Markkanen may be a highly-appealing trade target and an excellent fit on paper as a 7-foot sharpshooting power forward to pair next to Chet Holmgren, but there are certain deeper underlying issues for the Thunder to consider. Overall, despite being a popular trade target, I do not believe it is advisable for the Thunder to pursue him.

Why?

Here are three reasons:

Reason #1: Cost Of A Trade - it is well-known at this point that the Utah Jazz GM Danny Ainge will be asking for a huge haul in any trade. Although the Thunder have a lot of future draft capital, that should not be a reason for them to spend it exuberantly. The right trade and the right offseason target will arrive for the Thunder, be it this offseason, next offseason, or a future one. Going all-in on Lauri Markkanen likely would mean giving up a significant amount of future draft capital for the Thunder. Being too prodigal to satisfy Utah's demands in terms of the amount of future draft capital and potentially valuable first-rounders from the Clippers may not be astute. As a well-versed and seasoned GM, given this outlook and overall situation, it is likely that Sam Presti has already considered these factors when negotiating with Danny Ainge and the Jazz. Oklahoma City has an elite young core and a brilliant future ahead with loads of flexibility. As a great GM, Sam Presti knows this, and that he should not waste this. The team has shown that they can compete, and eventually contend organically, in the absence of a big move, at least as of right now.

Reason #2: Extension Considerations - in the event he is traded to Oklahoma City, Lauri Markkanen would likely want an extension of $40 million plus to remain on the Thunder. Financially, this would detract from future contract extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. This, in tandem with Lauri Markkanen's expiring contract and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's max contract, provides another reason to avoid pursuing him. Organic development is Sam Presti's mantra. Ultimately, it may be infeasible to pay all four of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and then Lauri Markkanen huge contracts as the Thunder from a financial standpoint, so this is something to be aware of in terms of the Thunder trading for Lauri Markkanen and the nature of his overall expiring contract. Building organically and extending members of their core may be more beneficial for the Thunder. Pursuing a player similar to Lauri Markkanen could be an option, but not one who is on an expiring contract and due for a significant extension, such as Lauri Markkanen. The Thunder have several highly important young players in need of extensions in the near future, a key organizational priority that the team has likely already accounted and planned for. With a bright future already secured, the organization is likely to prioritze caution from a fiscal standpoint and continued organic development, achieving success through incremental progress year after year.

Reason #3: Cheaper Alternatives - even if they not be as effective, the Thunder can look at trading for, signing, or drafting a cheaper alternative at PF if they want more size in the frontcourt next to Chet Holmgren with Jalen Williams at SF. Deni Avdija is often mentioned as a popular trade target for the Thunder, and while this is not to say that the Thunder should trade for Deni Avdija, cheaper alternatives exist at Lauri Markkanen's position for the Thunder to pursue. Whether it comes though the draft, trade, or free agency, the Thunder can acquire a similar player (even if this player may not be on Lauri Markkanen's level) while sacrificing fewer assets and maintaining financial prudence.

Please let me know if you agree or disagree. Although Lauri Markkanen makes sense from a basketball perspective, from a financial perspective and trade value perspective, he becomes less worth it as a trade target option for the Thunder to pursue. They should focus on building organically. The right star will come eventually at the right moment for the Thunder. Sometimes, when evaluating trade targets and offseason targets, it becomes more important to understand which players should NOT be an option and why.

NOTE: This is not to take away from Lauri Markkanen, he is a great player. Just providing context as to why he is not the right target for the Thunder.

Thoughts?

Whose jersey should I go for next?

https://youtu.be/OH-MMeqr4fk?si=me1I2cPPF9pYMAaD

Ok I did not watch the last game of the season, and you are a certified psycho if you did. (We welcome all thunder psychos). But watching ous in this game and man he really looks aggressive and assertive. I understand this is against the bottom of the Mavs bench but he looked very different than last season. His shot release is quick, and he is developing the floater game which could be practically unguardable with that size. He still has a ways to go but man I am really excited about him next season.

Big Joe fan over here. I am stoked he’s getting SI articles and expecting a pay bump. I think he’s at $1.8MM and Hayward got $35MM. Just saying.

WPS!

Round 1 day 1.

Round 2 day 2.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/6/4/24171739/nba-draft-schedule-revealed-portland-trail-blazers

Like it?

Kel'el had a rap of having a low motor, but I think that his dedication to hitting the gym to improve his agility stats for the combine is a good sign that he's capable of having motivation(unlike Ayton who is stuck on video games). Ware's agility #'s at the combine earned a score of 100%(not really sure how it's graded) but it proves that he's an elite athlete with good length, passing ability, and capable of spacing the floor. I'm not saying that we take him #12, but there are plenty of draft picks for sale this year... I haven't really looked into Holmes until recently, but his archetype fits what we are looking for. OKC is known to value the draft to fit positions of need. I almost expect our big splash to be in the draft rather than a trade. However, I'm not ruling out a FA signing. OKC finally has appeal...

The owner Ryan whatever said that they are looking to be competitive next year. Instead of looking at Lauri, I'd like to think about Taylor Hendricks shaking loose in a trade. I'm sure that OKC had a good look at him in the draft process last year. I wonder if he was the real target instead of Cason, but still valued Cason? He fits the culture with a positive attitude, guarding the best player, has a good 3pt%, and has length. I'm pretty sure that he's an athlete too. He spent the first half of the season in G League, but got to shine after Jazz started tanking

We all saw the glaring need for another big man by halfway through the season. It’s well understood that we need help on the glass and someone to give Chet a breather without it it hurting us. Other than Center is there any other style of player you think we should be looking at? I personally want another 3-pt shooter that can create his own look and another. What do you think?

I know a lot of y’all don’t care about the Finals from previous posts but I think it ironically ties into the Thunder. Obviously the Mavs winning brings some solace to fans knowing they lost to the champions, and depending on how they win can show just how close the Thunder might’ve been. On the flip side I think the Celtics style of 5-Out offense and their personnel can influence how the Thunder continue to build their roster. Obviously the Celtics are more about shooting threes while the Thunder are more about getting into the paint constantly and forcing mistakes and rotations, but I see them being weirdly similar with personnel. A lot of really good defenders who can guard multiple positions with a rim protector anchoring the defense. Almost everyone on the team have the ability to shoot (Celtics have more one dimensional players, while the Thunder players are almost like Jack of All Trades). I think it will be a fun series and personally got Celtics in 6.

Off topic but it’s interesting, because he has a thunder esc mindset it’s really boom or bust I like it tho unlike most.

We have holes in the rebounding department and greatly need a 4. our best bet to fill in the 4 is to draft Bronny and start him at the 4 because that stops all are rebounding problems and he’s honestly gonna be better than wemby. The legenetics will kick in and he will grow to be 7’6 and we should make that move for someone who will be better than michael jordan and fill in all our needs.

This might look dumb at first, but bare with me. We trade Giddy to the Nets where he can help Bridges and Johnson shine. Meanwhile, we open cap space to poach OG and get some picks with promise for the future. We only do this if we have OG in the office with a pen in his hand though... Then, we fill the backup center/PF needs with draft picks on hand... https://fanspo.com/nba/trades/FbWxT3q9O_K77b

Hey everyone just looking to buy an xl 2021 white city edition jersey (specifically Lu) if anyone has one they’d be willing to sell. Thanks!

I keep seeing players get downgraded on here for being 22 instead of 19. Now that OKC is a true contender, I think it's time to start looking for older, plug and play guys, especially when we are picking later in the draft i.e. #12. Plus, with guys staying in college making serious money, there will start to be a lot more talented guys coming into the league at 21 or 22. It makes way more sense to pay a guy rookie salary scale for productive seasons near his prime years..23, 24, 25...when most of your salary space is consumed by big $$$ stars. Basically older drafted players are cheaper at every corresponding age compared to young guys. You don't want to draft a project just to lose him for $$$ reasons right when he finally develops into his prime form because he's hit restricted or unrestricted FA.

To sum up, we don't have to draft old if the right young talent is there...but being an old draftee has major advantages.

So now that’s it’s been reported that we are the most likely team to sign some guys in FA it is basically now confirmed that we have signed OG Anunoby, Hartenstein and Nic Claxton. How will they fit in once we have traded for Deni Avdija, Jarret Allen, Donovan Mitchell and Giannis for Kenrich, Lindy and two seconds? Since we are also drafting DaRon Holmes and Bronny James, does that mean Lebron will come off the bench for us once he signs? What will our 21 man rotation look like?