I need to start engaging again on the Thunder a bit and this is something I’d like to blog about. At the trade deadline… Tre Mann along with Bertans and Micic were traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for 14 year NBA vet Gordon Hayward.
From the Thunder perspective. I don’t see this as a real big deal given the shaky health of Gordon Hayward. But Hayward is on an expiring contract of about $30 million due I think…and at the worst the Thunder are taking on a short rental and then going to dump his salary I would think.
Tre Mann is a great kid in my view and I really found it perplexing he could never garner any real minutes with the Thunder this season. I guess he just didn’t fit the defensive mold of what Presti was looking for in one of his rotational guards. That’s a tough rotation for sure, and at least this way… Tre has a very real opportunity to show the league what he’s capable of doing if he’s given real game minutes and a role on a nightly basis.
To me, the big winner in this trade is Tre Mann. As for the Thunder it in no way changes my view on their prospects for the rest of this regular season and beyond. I just hope Hayward’s minutes do not reduce the roles of Aaron Wiggins, Isiah Joe, or Kenrich Williams. Those three guys have earned every minute they’ve gotten to date and from my view all three deserve tangible roles heading into the goal acheiving portion of the season.
I just don’t see Gordon Hayward at this point in his career being a game changer for the Thunder. But it’s nice Sam Presti made this move for Tre. Such a classy kid who did everything the right way during his stay in OKC. Like I’ve stated here on the okcthunderground.com blog many a time….the Thunder are the premier AAA/quasi major league franchise of any of the four major professional sports leagues.
Everywhere you look…there’s former Thunder players either winning NBA rings or perhaps getting to win one this season if Kawhi Leonard stays healthy and the LA Clippers continue on their upward trending pace….three more graduates from the AAA Thunder.
Sam Presti could bang that bell three times if the Clips win a ring and Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook win a ‘ship. I’m not being sarcastic here. Not at all. If you’re a major league baseball player or an aspiring NBA player who got drafted by the Thunder….this is a great place to hone your skills as a Dodger or a Thunderer for a couple of years and then get traded to a real major league city with real major league ownership with guys like Joe Lacob, the Gronkes, the Miami Heat mafia family, Steve Balmer, etc.
You’re not going to win championships in this league without big-time ownership and a big-time fan base which has the disposable income to keep your arena full.
Just several weeks ago, I checked the NBA attendance standings and the Thunder were in 24th place. Think about that. On my MVP list I have SGA in second place currently. I have Chet as my Rookie of the Year. I have JDub as my non superstar that every GM in the league covets most, and I have Coach Mark as my Coach of the Year.
If the most exciting young team in the league with those guys doesn’t place your team in the top eight in NBA attendance…what would?
But me…I’m just crusing through this NBA season. This doesn’t concern me. I have the Denver Nuggets, the resurgent Golden State Warriors with a freshly medicated, rebuilt Draymond Green. I have Austin Reaves bringing out the best of LeBron and Anthony Davis…. and I’m almost certain the Boston Celtics won’t choke this time around in the Eastern Conference.
When this season started I said these two things about the Thunder…I said if they could finish in second place in the Northwest Divison and win a first round playoff series for thr first time since way back in 2016 when Kevin Durant was carrying this city on his back…those two accomplishments would mean the Thunder had a really nice season.
Those two goals appear to be very reachable from my perch. Very reachable.
So you Thunder fans get out there and fill your current slum-dump arena. The billion dollar palace is on the way. We all know this current arena is a shit arena, just like the one Seattle had before their NBA was stolen from them…. but don’t ignore this wonderful young team.
Seriously, support your local team…even if half of your city can’t read a at seventh grade level.
Maybe tomorrow or Thursday…I want to blog about the rebirth of Johnny Kuminga and the radiant Golden State Warriors.
Tre Mann, I’m happy for you. You’ve escaped and I’ pretty certain from what I observed from you this Summer League….your future burns bright. I feel like your second uncle or something, kid.
Have a beautiful Tuesday evening.
Uncle Mike