How sad. I mean…resetting is one thing, a full set tank is another. With the trade of Jerami Grant today for a first round pick from Denver, the Thunder are officially in tank mode for the first time since their first year in Oklahoma City when they went 23-59 with Russell Westbrook as a rookie guard who everyone said could never become an NBA point guard making his entry into the league.
Kind of puts a lump in my throat. Jerami is a player who I hoped would be able to stay with the team. But in the end cutting his salary gets the Thunder to within $2 million dollars of being out of the luxury tax if I read it correctly.
One would assume more moves are coming. Recently signed free agent Alec Burks opted out today and has joined the Warriors instead. Mike Muscala might stay. I have no idea if Nerlens Noel was offered the option of opting out given his recent signing as well.
The Thunder are in tank mode in that they have their own pick in 2020 and Denver’s first round pick as well.
But you would think the exit of Russell Westbrook is next and it is critical for Sam Presti to get something of real worth for Westbrook moving forward. RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox with the NY Knicks would be nice. Russell in New York with Spike Lee likely wouldn’t be dull. Tell me New York would not embrace that celeb partnership.
I thought I was led to believe the Thunder Doctrine of Sustainability did not include tanking, but here the Thunder are despite the repeated mantra that the Thunder would be more like RC Buford’s San Antonio Spurs than twenty-eight other teams in the NBA.
But here the Thunder sit after failing gloriously to chase Durant’s Warriors for three seasons. Maybe it was foolish pride which cause the Doctrine to be ignored by the Thunder leadership. Maybe heavy drinking was involved when they traded Oladipo and Sabonis for the chance to get even with Durant.
But we know this now…the Thunder are dealing with the aftermath and hope to be relevant in three years or four years after purging themselves of Durant envy.
Thou shall not covet Golden State, but even the Warriors are now on the outside looking in at the Staple Center occupants.
Hopefully…this isn’t a full fledged Sam Hinkie Process Tank and is only a Mini-Tank.
But we know now the Thunder are tanking and are not in reset.
The Art of Tanking by Sam Hinkie. I love Rachael. I wish Daily Thunder could trade Little Nick Gallo for Doris Burke and Rachael Nichols.