The NBA trade deadline expires later this afternoon and quite frankly I don’t expect Oklahoma City to do much beyond possibly moving Steve Novak’s expiring $3.75 million contract to make a roster spot available for a late season buyout of a player like say Kevin Martin.
OKC is every bit as elite offensively as Golden State so even adding Martin isn’t that big of a deal unless you’re one these types who believe Kevin Martin is an overall better player than Dion Waiters. He isn’t. Waiters is much better defensively than Martin. Martin is more efficient offensively, but as we saw in the Golden State game–Waiters only took five shots, so that isn’t what got the Thunder beat. Defense is where Oklahoma City has to become better if they’re to make a special run this post season.
Defense is where OKC will either improve or not make it to the NBA Finals. With Roberson at some point reentering, plus Donovan’s confidence in both Waiters and Singler—those three guys are key to OKC improving their perimeter defense as we move along into March and April. Again, Kevin Martin would do nothing to meet that end and OKC is already elite offensively.
It’s all about defense. If you doubt, ask Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. Another words, taking the other guy’s space and time away from him as much as humanly possibly.
Some have talked about a DJ Augustin and Mitch McGary deal for PJ Tucker, but I don’t think so for two reasons.
One, Cam Payne got eaten alive in the Golden State game. Not dissing Payne because I like him, but it might be good to have Augustin around for the post season just in case.
Two, Presti might actually need McGary next season because common sense would say Serge Ibaka could very well be traded next season in preparation of Durant, Westbrook, and Adams all becoming free agents at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. Of course, in writing this I’m assuming Durant signs a one year extension after this season to stay with Westbrook.
In the event OKC keeps both Durant and Westbrook long term, there’s no way they can afford to keep both Adams and Ibaka. Let’s be candid, Adams has caught Ibaka and will probably pass him as an overall player. Plus, with Adams at center and Durant at the power forward spot, OKC can more than match the type of matchups Golden State dictates, it’s going to be about small ball in many instances and Serge Ibaka becomes expendable. In fact, if OKC makes it to the conference finals against Golden State—where exactly does Serge Ibaka fit in?
He doesn’t–as we saw on Super Bowl Saturday as he couldn’t keep up with Harrison Barnes. Golden State is changing the way the game is played and to beat them you either adapt or get beat. Not complicated.
Maybe Presti will surprise me and make a major move, but I don’t think so, at least not until sometime next season.
The Thunder have a good team, just tweak some things defensively and see what happens is my take given what’s available currently.