This is a one year the future is now deal. Now way a small market team like OKC could keep these three stars beyond this year, but it makes for an intriguing NBA basketball season in Mystery, Alaska.
Can Carmelo put his ego to the side and play the Harden role? If I’m Billy Donovan, I start Patterson and bring Carmelo off the bench like Brooks did with Harden in 2012. There’s only so much iso ball you can play with these three together on the floor. Sure, I want Westbrook and Carmelo together at times, but to beat this Warriors team you have to possess a bench that scores with their bench units. BTW–you almost always see Durant or Curry sneaking out on the floor with those bench units. Fuck starting, it’s about winning a ring and who’s on the floor in the last eight minutes of the game. I’d play Carmelo 28-30 minutes a game and use him in multiple sets with various personnel.
But first, here’s Adrian Woj explaining how Sam Presti landed Carmelo in OKC. In essence, it was a free agent signing since Carmelo waived the no trade clause in his contract. Biggest free agent splash in Thunder history no doubt.