ghst187
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The Thunder are truly one player or less from winning a title and disbanding San Antonio once and for all. I'd sure love to have those first two games back where Ibaka was out, but anyway here's my board for OKC for hopefully realistic picks at 21 and 29. I would love Payne (if he slips to 21) and one of any of the others.
1. Adreian Payne (PF Mich St): He can do the one thing NO ONE in OKC can currently do, score down low with his back to the basket. Imagine OKC with a player who was a threat in the low post who could draw doubles and kick out to wide open Durant….Ibaka is a great player but he's not a threat down low in the post up, and Adams isn't yet either. Not only that but Payne can block shots, knock down jumpers and threes, and rebound.
2. T.J. Warren (SF/SG NC St): Can do something only three people (KD, RW, and RJ) in OKC can do currently, create their own shots. Guy is a pure scorer. Warren would present a solid scoring wing option and ease some of the pressure on the stars.
3. Jarnell Stokes (PF Tenn): Cheaper version of Payne (above). Like Payne, Stokes can bang down low and that physical low presence is what did the Thunder in, and has for the past three years (besides poor coaching). Stokes can score a bit and post up a bit, good defensively too.
4. Mitch McGary (PF Mich): Pending how his back checks out he hits all the same points and makes sense for the Thunder for the same reason Payne and Stokes do. He can bang, score, post, defend, and rebound down low.
5. Shabazz Napier (PG UConn): Depending on what Presti plans to do about Reggie Jackson's pending free agency (after next season I think..?), Napier could make some sense. He's a true PG (something Westbrook isn't) and can truly quarterback an offense with controlling tempo and setting up good looks for teammates. He's good driving and can score in his own right. In fact, he's a lot like Reggie Jackson so would make sense if OKC just uses him to replace Reggie.
1. Adreian Payne (PF Mich St): He can do the one thing NO ONE in OKC can currently do, score down low with his back to the basket. Imagine OKC with a player who was a threat in the low post who could draw doubles and kick out to wide open Durant….Ibaka is a great player but he's not a threat down low in the post up, and Adams isn't yet either. Not only that but Payne can block shots, knock down jumpers and threes, and rebound.
2. T.J. Warren (SF/SG NC St): Can do something only three people (KD, RW, and RJ) in OKC can do currently, create their own shots. Guy is a pure scorer. Warren would present a solid scoring wing option and ease some of the pressure on the stars.
3. Jarnell Stokes (PF Tenn): Cheaper version of Payne (above). Like Payne, Stokes can bang down low and that physical low presence is what did the Thunder in, and has for the past three years (besides poor coaching). Stokes can score a bit and post up a bit, good defensively too.
4. Mitch McGary (PF Mich): Pending how his back checks out he hits all the same points and makes sense for the Thunder for the same reason Payne and Stokes do. He can bang, score, post, defend, and rebound down low.
5. Shabazz Napier (PG UConn): Depending on what Presti plans to do about Reggie Jackson's pending free agency (after next season I think..?), Napier could make some sense. He's a true PG (something Westbrook isn't) and can truly quarterback an offense with controlling tempo and setting up good looks for teammates. He's good driving and can score in his own right. In fact, he's a lot like Reggie Jackson so would make sense if OKC just uses him to replace Reggie.
