Interesting day. Sam Presti traded Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a second round draft pick for Carmelo Anthony. It now gives OKC on paper perhaps the second best roster in the West only behind the Warriors since Houston was heavily in the hunt for Carmelo as well.
Let’s do this first and insert the number 115.
What does that mean? It means on most nights, OKC will need to score 115 points or more to emerge from the West against both Golden State and Houston.
Does this do it for them? I don’t know.
Obviously, OKC will have a formidable starting lineup of Westbrook, George, Melo, Adams, and Roberson. But will it mesh since the three stars, especially Westbrook and Melo, need the ball in their hands?
I’m hoping Billy Donovan will be innovative and find ways to in essence use Melo as a sixth man at times when the other team’s second unit is on the floor. Another words, mix and match Melo as often as possible to utilized his offensive game.
Great move by Presti whether it works or not. He has done everything humanly possible this off season to give Russell Westbrook a contending supporting cast.
Mission accomplished. Now we sit back and see if these three stars can mesh their games and give the Warriors a run.