The Draft news keeps coming a mile a minute, but my attention has strayed in the recent days. Oklahoma City continues to keep most information close to the vest, and I really can't determine what counts as a 'rumor' anymore. What I do know, however, is that the Thunder are positioned to make some noise on Thursday AND the beginning of next month.
NBA Draft night is typically full of last-minute deals and 2009 is no different. Honestly I would hate to make a guess of how many before, during, or after trades are going to happen all in the first round. So many teams are struggling with getting under the salary cap that some definite head-scratching moves are bound to happen.
That leaves OKC in prime position to pull off a number of interesting moves. I am starting to get on the Thabeet band-wagon a little more but only because I feel it would allow for another, more expensive foreign player to join the mix. Hedo Turkoglu made himself quite a bit of money during Orlando's run to the Finals, and the basketball world knows it.
Now the Thunder just need to find a way to make an up-and-coming team a contender.
First, they need to stay away from any guard in the first round and focus on the UConn center. That will be the signal that Turkoglu is looking for in my opinion, as he wants to go to the best situation (and make $$$). Right now OKC has plenty of pieces and all that is missing is the 'glu' to keep it together.
How does this look for a line-up on Opening Day?
PG - Westbrook
SG - Durant
SF - Turkoglu
PF - Green
C - Krstic
You then have Livingston and Sefolosha as a powerful back court to go with Thabeet, White, Collison, and Weaver as the reserves. With a few improvements here or there, few if any NBA teams could match that kind of depth.
I am not much of a hockey fan anymore, but I could see some situations in Oklahoma City where you have 3-4 different 'lines'. It would all depend on the game situation, but that is a luxury you get with flexible players. Of the starting five listed above, each can play multiple positions and offer match-up problems along the way.
The Thunder hold all the cards with cap room and the willingness to take chances few teams will. GM Sam Presti continues to pull rabbits out of his hat, and I can't wait to see what he does next.
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