khans2k5 wrote:I mean Wiggins and Lavine have been ironmen in terms of games and minutes while the frontcourt has been a disaster with injuries typically leaving us two healthy NBA players. I think just based on history it's smarter for us to load up on bigs than wings. Wiggins/Bazz/Rush can play the 3. Lavine/Dunn/Wiggins/Rush/Bazz can all play the 2 if needed. So we're a little thin at the 3, but that also happens to be where our biggest minutes and games played guy plays.
Agree, you can never have enough competent bigs. They get hurt so damn often, you have to have some depth at C/PF.
Question marks surround Garnett, Pekovic and Payne. I think it's getting safer to assume Thiboedeau isn't expecting much (anything) from at least two of them. You just don't need 8 rotation bigs taking up roster spots in today's game. So Payne is on the way out. Garnett may mentor at an elite level? And Pekovic will buy a few more suits?
Yeah, I have to believe something shakes loose in the coming weeks, meaning Payne is waived, KG retires, someone is traded, etc. I don't know what exactly will happen, but it does seem nonsensical to have three bigs on the roster that are for the most part unplayable. KG is part-time at best; Pekovic will likely never play again; and Payne is a danger to himself and those around him!
So I believe the Jordan Hill signing is the final prelude to a roster-balancing move where one or two of the other guys heads out and we find a combo forward and/or another wing.
The Thunder signed someone!!!! They got Alex Abrines a draft and stash 2nd round pick in 2013 signed a 3 year 16-17 million deal. What is he good for? Shooting. What does OKC need? Shooting. Seems like a pretty decent prospect.
Free agent Mike Miller has agreed to a two-year, $5M-plus deal to return to Denver, league sources tell The Vertical.
It's sort of amusing (and sorta sad) that 8 years later after that draft day trade Mike Miller is in higher demand (meaning he will be on a roster) than OJ Mayo.
khans2k5 wrote:I mean Wiggins and Lavine have been ironmen in terms of games and minutes while the frontcourt has been a disaster with injuries typically leaving us two healthy NBA players. I think just based on history it's smarter for us to load up on bigs than wings. Wiggins/Bazz/Rush can play the 3. Lavine/Dunn/Wiggins/Rush/Bazz can all play the 2 if needed. So we're a little thin at the 3, but that also happens to be where our biggest minutes and games played guy plays.
Agree, you can never have enough competent bigs. They get hurt so damn often, you have to have some depth at C/PF.
Question marks surround Garnett, Pekovic and Payne. I think it's getting safer to assume Thiboedeau isn't expecting much (anything) from at least two of them. You just don't need 8 rotation bigs taking up roster spots in today's game. So Payne is on the way out. Garnett may mentor at an elite level? And Pekovic will buy a few more suits?
Yeah, I have to believe something shakes loose in the coming weeks, meaning Payne is waived, KG retires, someone is traded, etc. I don't know what exactly will happen, but it does seem nonsensical to have three bigs on the roster that are for the most part unplayable. KG is part-time at best; Pekovic will likely never play again; and Payne is a danger to himself and those around him!
So I believe the Jordan Hill signing is the final prelude to a roster-balancing move where one or two of the other guys heads out and we find a combo forward and/or another wing.
I agree. I think we can be sure of a couple things. First, I think it's clear Thibs does not expect Pek to play at all. So I believe Thibs did say what LST reported he said to someone at his condo building -- i.e., that Pek's done. Thibs might already have a plan in place to buy him our or he may know that Pek intends to take a medical retirement. Second, Thibs is assuming KG won't be back. Recall what Thibs said during the Summer League game against the Suns on Sunday. When asked about KG, he said we have to be patient but in the meantime we have to plan for the season. Those were pretty much his exact words. The meaning is clear. The organization has reached a point this summer where they can't delay roster/personnel decisions pending KG's decision. I see the Jordan Hill signing as a clear sign that Thibs is planning for a roster without KG. And what if KG decides to return? Hard to figure that one out.
monsterpile wrote:Free agent Mike Miller has agreed to a two-year, $5M-plus deal to return to Denver, league sources tell The Vertical.
It's sort of amusing (and sorta sad) that 8 years later after that draft day trade Mike Miller is in higher demand (meaning he will be on a roster) than OJ Mayo.
Cocaine (or whatever Mayo can't stop taking) must be a helluva drug.
khans2k5 wrote:I mean Wiggins and Lavine have been ironmen in terms of games and minutes while the frontcourt has been a disaster with injuries typically leaving us two healthy NBA players. I think just based on history it's smarter for us to load up on bigs than wings. Wiggins/Bazz/Rush can play the 3. Lavine/Dunn/Wiggins/Rush/Bazz can all play the 2 if needed. So we're a little thin at the 3, but that also happens to be where our biggest minutes and games played guy plays.
Agree, you can never have enough competent bigs. They get hurt so damn often, you have to have some depth at C/PF.
Question marks surround Garnett, Pekovic and Payne. I think it's getting safer to assume Thiboedeau isn't expecting much (anything) from at least two of them. You just don't need 8 rotation bigs taking up roster spots in today's game. So Payne is on the way out. Garnett may mentor at an elite level? And Pekovic will buy a few more suits?
Yeah, I have to believe something shakes loose in the coming weeks, meaning Payne is waived, KG retires, someone is traded, etc. I don't know what exactly will happen, but it does seem nonsensical to have three bigs on the roster that are for the most part unplayable. KG is part-time at best; Pekovic will likely never play again; and Payne is a danger to himself and those around him!
So I believe the Jordan Hill signing is the final prelude to a roster-balancing move where one or two of the other guys heads out and we find a combo forward and/or another wing.
I agree. I think we can be sure of a couple things. First, I think it's clear Thibs does not expect Pek to play at all. So I believe Thibs did say what LST reported he said to someone at his condo building -- i.e., that Pek's done. Thibs might already have a plan in place to buy him our or he may know that Pek intends to take a medical retirement. Second, Thibs is assuming KG won't be back. Recall what Thibs said during the Summer League game against the Suns on Sunday. When asked about KG, he said we have to be patient but in the meantime we have to plan for the season. Those were pretty much his exact words. The meaning is clear. The organization has reached a point this summer where they can't delay roster/personnel decisions pending KG's decision. I see the Jordan Hill signing as a clear sign that Thibs is planning for a roster without KG. And what if KG decides to return? Hard to figure that one out.
First on Pek. My guess is that he gives it another go. LST reports that Thibs said Pek is done. I think basically everyone here agrees that the case so for him to say that makes perfect sense. Here is the deal though. Thibs and Layden aren't going to hand out minutes to Pek if he does try to play this year because they don't owe him anything and now they have the depth they don't have to rely on him like the Wolves did before even last year he would have been really nice to have. We played Greg Smith a bunch of minutes down the stretch! This season he will have to earn them and any smart basketball person would get that Pek being able to give you anything at this point just isn't something you can plan on. If Pek wants to give it one more shot there isn't much the Wolves can do to stop him except tell him with all the depth they added it's unlikely he ever sees the court. I don't think doing that is a sneaky negotiating tactic it's just smart to add that depth because nobody should bet on Pek playing basketball especially at a high enough level to help you. It's too bad but that's reality. As for Pek giving it another try. It's frustrating that he might do that but imagine how he feels. Dude knows he can ball if he can just be healthy and it's not like the guy is lazy or something. If I was him I would probably try one more time too...maybe. It just sucks.
On KG. Let's be real here. Everyone including KG would tell you if he comes back he wouldnt be able to play more than maybe half the games and even the games he plays he can't play big minutes. Basically you have to plan that he is a limited factor at best and possibly sit out at least half the season maybe even more. In and article about Tayson Prince and Arnie that I posted another thread, Prince said even on off days when you are older you have to get some sort of workout in or it's really tough coming back from an off day. In other words if Kg is on the roster and he has any hope of playing he will be staying active possibly even participating in practice etc. Towns said today that only God and KG knows if he is coming next back. Sure there are likely a lot of layers to this whole situation but I do think based especially on Glen's comments KG still may not know what he wants to do. There is a lot of info we don't know and KG is just a different guy both good and bad so it's very complicated. He has taken plenty of time to decide in the past what he is going to do so this seems pretty typical for him.
Ultimately I don't think the roster moves say that either guy is or isn't coming back this season. They were wise prudent and possibly very good signings for a team that going into the offseason was desperately in need of front court depth especially for big guys that can play C and PF. Part of the reason for that need was the uncertainty of KG and Pek. They could both be on the roster for the whole year and never play a game.
monsterpile wrote:Free agent Mike Miller has agreed to a two-year, $5M-plus deal to return to Denver, league sources tell The Vertical.
It's sort of amusing (and sorta sad) that 8 years later after that draft day trade Mike Miller is in higher demand (meaning he will be on a roster) than OJ Mayo.
Cocaine (or whatever Mayo can't stop taking) must be a helluva drug.
So is Miller high on basketball? He is my guy but man I can't believe he is still getting a contract.
Thunder making Waiters a free agent and part of that is making a push to get Westbrook to sign with the Thunder at least through 2018. There are some reports Westbrook is ticked off at Durant leaving and wants to take it to the league this year. An even more ticked off Westbrook than usual being unleashed on the league? Hmm I may need to block off even more time for league pass next season.
