KG4Ever wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 9:39 pm
In playoffs, Nembhard is shooting better than 46% from 3 and last year was better than 48% from 3. Efficient scorer and good assist to turnover numbers. He also is averaging 1.6 steals these playoffs and is a decent defender. Why did TC pass on Nembhard for Wendell Moore? I had Nembhard ranked ahead of WM, but I guess genius boy can't miss. LOL
I am really enjoying watching OKC and Indiana. Two small market teams playing basketball the right way. Lots of two way players, playing with heart and hustle the whole game. Wolves could certainly learn from these two teams.
KG4Ever wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 9:39 pm
In playoffs, Nembhard is shooting better than 46% from 3 and last year was better than 48% from 3. Efficient scorer and good assist to turnover numbers. He also is averaging 1.6 steals these playoffs and is a decent defender. Why did TC pass on Nembhard for Wendell Moore? I had Nembhard ranked ahead of WM, but I guess genius boy can't miss. LOL
It was definitely a swing and a miss with Moore over others especially Nembhard. But that happens. The key for our organization is to recognize and take advantage of the draft talent we DON’T miss on. OKC and the Pacers play and develop the talent they draft. Nembhard has been a major rotation piece in all three of his seasons and here he is as a major contributor in the NBA finals in only his third season. Other key players in the Pacers regular season and playoff rotation include Mathurin and Sheppard, both in only their second seasons. OKC’s rotation includes 3rd year Jalen Williams, 2nd year Holmgren, and 2nd year Cason Wallace who averaged 27.d4 minutes per game this season.
How do you get to the NBA finals? Draft well and then develop your talent by playing them. If you make a mistake like Moore, you move on from him as TC did. But when you hit what looks like pay dirt with picks, you have to find a way as an organization to get them meaningful minutes to evaluate and develop them. I’m thinking of TSJ, Clark and Dilly.
Last edited by Lipoli390 on Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I love watching these two teams. And I also keep seeing lessons for the Wolves. If. You want to know what Ant needs, just watch this series. Ant needs what SGA has - namely Jalen Williams. I don’t Jaden will ever be the ball-handler and shot creator that Jalen Williams is. But I can see TSJ becoming that guy - or maybe Dilly - maybe even Clark.
And who’s our Caruso? Could it be Donte?
I’m picturing a Wolves team in two years that can go toe to toe with either of these two teams and beat them. The Wolves team I’m envisioning includes Ant, Jaden, Naz, TSJ, Dilly, Clark, and Donte with a couple draft additions - Fleming and Konan Neiderhouser.
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:03 pm
I love watching these two teams. And I also keep seeing lessons for the Wolves. If. You want to know what Ant needs, just watch this series. Ant needs what SGA has - namely Jalen Williams. I don’t Jaden will ever be the ball-handler and shot creator that Jalen Williams is. But I can see TSJ becoming that guy - or maybe Dilly - maybe even Clark.
And who’s our Caruso? Could it be Donte?
I’m picturing a Wolves team in two years that can go toe to toe with either of these two teams and beat them. The Wolves team I’m envisioning includes Ant, Jaden, Naz, TSJ, Dilly, Clark, and Donte with a couple draft additions - Fleming and Konan Neiderhouser.
Clark is our Caruso and in fact he's not a bad upside comparison for Jaylen. The problem is OKC has like three Carusos: Caruso himself, Dort, and Wallace. All three are absolute attack dogs on defense and they can all make 3s.
Shannon is the closest to Williams in terms of scoring ability and size-wise, but I think Jalen has better handles and more shake to his game. TSJ is also a year older than Williams and I question if there is realistically much runway for him to develop a bunch more. Not that he's stopped improving, but I just don't see this huge gulf between where he's at now and what his ceiling could be.
Dillingham is unlike any other player from OKC or Indiana. That could be good or bad ultimately, depending on how he develops.
Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:03 pm
I love watching these two teams. And I also keep seeing lessons for the Wolves. If. You want to know what Ant needs, just watch this series. Ant needs what SGA has - namely Jalen Williams. I don’t Jaden will ever be the ball-handler and shot creator that Jalen Williams is. But I can see TSJ becoming that guy - or maybe Dilly - maybe even Clark.
And who’s our Caruso? Could it be Donte?
I’m picturing a Wolves team in two years that can go toe to toe with either of these two teams and beat them. The Wolves team I’m envisioning includes Ant, Jaden, Naz, TSJ, Dilly, Clark, and Donte with a couple draft additions - Fleming and Konan Neiderhouser.
Clark is our Caruso and in fact he's not a bad upside comparison for Jaylen. The problem is OKC has like three Carusos: Caruso himself, Dort, and Wallace. All three are absolute attack dogs on defense and they can all make 3s.
Shannon is the closest to Williams in terms of scoring ability and size-wise, but I think Jalen has better handles and more shake to his game. TSJ is also a year older than Williams and I question if there is realistically much runway for him to develop a bunch more. Not that he's stopped improving, but I just don't see this huge gulf between where he's at now and what his ceiling could be.
Dillingham is unlike any other player from OKC or Indiana. That could be good or bad ultimately, depending on how he develops.
TSJ will definitely improve simply by facing NBA competition. I’d be shocked if he’s already reached his potential. But I’ll note that he’s already an NBA caliber rotation player right now. I like Jalen a lot too. He’s definitely our Caruso and potentially better.
OKC has two 1st rd picks this season. (#15/#24)
OKC has three 1st rd picks next season.
OKC has two 1st rd. picks in '27.
So they're better positioned than the Wolves to get even better. And they have a younger, more talented roster already. For example, I think guys like Chet Holmgren or Cason Wallace would be much better in a year or two. EVERYONE is locked in contractually for next season and J. Williams and Holmgren are locks to be extended the year after that.
Keep the gang together... or... start trading assets for a bigger fish in the pond. Either way, no NBA team is in as good of shape as the Thunder are. It's actually sorta scary.
The NBA can start re-alignment any time... please.
AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 2:28 pm
OKC has two 1st rd picks this season. (#15/#24)
OKC has three 1st rd picks next season.
OKC has two 1st rd. picks in '27.
So they're better positioned than the Wolves to get even better. And they have a younger, more talented roster already. For example, I think guys like Chet Holmgren or Cason Wallace would be much better in a year or two. EVERYONE is locked in contractually for next season and J. Williams and Holmgren are locks to be extended the year after that.
Keep the gang together... or... start trading assets for a bigger fish in the pond. Either way, no NBA team is in as good of shape as the Thunder are. It's actually sorta scary.
The NBA can start re-alignment any time... please.
If all those picks hit that would be 7 players, almost an entire rotation. On the bright side, most of those picks will never be on their roster due to constraints of some kond OR they will push some of their 68 win rotation out the door. We shall see.
AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 2:28 pm
OKC has two 1st rd picks this season. (#15/#24)
OKC has three 1st rd picks next season.
OKC has two 1st rd. picks in '27.
So they're better positioned than the Wolves to get even better. And they have a younger, more talented roster already. For example, I think guys like Chet Holmgren or Cason Wallace would be much better in a year or two. EVERYONE is locked in contractually for next season and J. Williams and Holmgren are locks to be extended the year after that.
Keep the gang together... or... start trading assets for a bigger fish in the pond. Either way, no NBA team is in as good of shape as the Thunder are. It's actually sorta scary.
The NBA can start re-alignment any time... please.
If all those picks hit that would be 7 players, almost an entire rotation. On the bright side, most of those picks will never be on their roster due to constraints of some kond OR they will push some of their 68 win rotation out the door. We shall see.
Whatever TC gets paid, Sam Presti should make four times more at least. Those picks are contingencies. They can be used to trade for key role players in the event of injuries or other things, etc.
AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 2:28 pm
OKC has two 1st rd picks this season. (#15/#24)
OKC has three 1st rd picks next season.
OKC has two 1st rd. picks in '27.
So they're better positioned than the Wolves to get even better. And they have a younger, more talented roster already. For example, I think guys like Chet Holmgren or Cason Wallace would be much better in a year or two. EVERYONE is locked in contractually for next season and J. Williams and Holmgren are locks to be extended the year after that.
Keep the gang together... or... start trading assets for a bigger fish in the pond. Either way, no NBA team is in as good of shape as the Thunder are. It's actually sorta scary.
The NBA can start re-alignment any time... please.
I still can't get over the fact that in a single draft Presti snagged the second best player (JDub), 3rd best player (Holmgren) and a solid role playing big (Jaylin Williams) for what is likely a title team. So basically one trade and one draft formed the foundation of a historically great team. Tough to beat that body of work!
