What if, eh?
Let’s take a look back at the NBA Draft of 2009. Sam Hinkie-Presti had the third pick in this draft class. Golden State had the seventh pick.
This is actually where Oklahoma City eventually lost Steph Curry to the Golden State Warriors….not in the summer of 2016.
Hinkie-Presti with Kevin Durant already on board opted for James Harden with the third pick in the draft while passing on what would have been the second generational player on the Thunder.
Obviously, Harden wasn’t a bust, but why in the world would you tank in Seattle to get the rights to pick Harden if you weren’t going to keep him after the 2012 Finals’ run?
Why?
This is why as I sit here watching this bullshit tank in 2021 I feel OKC tanking is a complete act of misplaced futility.
If as an organization you passed on Steph Curry, then in essence hit a home run with James Harden then why in the world are you tanking now? You’ve proven that even when you hit the lottery…you don’t know how to monetize the lottery into a championship. In essence…you passed on Steph Curry for a one year rental of Kevin Martin, Steven Adams, and two busts in Jeremy Lamb, and Alex Abrines.
That’s what you did even if we’ll never hear that on a Thunder broadcast.
You have shown it doesn’t matter if you tank then hit a home run… that you as an NBA organization can’t navigate the waters to win a championship.
And if you can’t navigate the championship waters like Golden State has done then why go through the process of tanking in the first place.
Just admit what you are, accept it, and be a competitve team which makes the playoffs, but never rings the ring beyond the first or second round…..kind of like Oklahoma State football.
But why in the world put your fanbase thru this if you can’t as a GM team build at an elite level.
The Thunder have never gone out and made a splash head coach hire. Never hired a head coach with a strong personna who would have reeled Russell Westbrook in. So if you’re never going to do any things like this….then why TANK IN THE FIRST PLACE?
This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Beyond the pale of Operation Bongo as far as self-inflicted pain.
Enough of that.
Steph Curry, congrats later tonight when you break Ray Allen’s three point shooting record. You’ve had a generational career and literally changed the game of basketball.