
Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2013 Off-Season Moves
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff hopes, while down 3-1, are nearing their end. If they end up losing, their focus will then be on how to create a better roster for next season. Below are a few options the Thunder can do in order to improve their chances at winning a national championship next season:
Option 1
Waive |
Sign |
Kendrick Perkins (Amnesty) |
Al Jefferson |
Kevin Martin |
Monta Ellis |
This would have to be the best option of the Thunder. If they can sign a low-post scorer in Al Jefferson and a creator off the bench in Monta Ellis, the Thunder’s chances at greatness are supremely increased. Both Al and Monta come from small market losing franchises, so convincing them to come to Oklahoma City should not prove to be difficult. The only difficult aspect of this option is making the money match. With an 8 million dollar Perk contract and 12 million K Mart contract (with the bump of Serge’s wages by about 10), the Thunder will only have about 10 million dollars to work with. They may have to go over the salary cap to add these two great pieces.
Option 2
Waive |
Sign |
Kendrick Perkins (Amnesty) |
David West |
Kevin Martin |
Andre Iguodala |
Derrick Fisher |
Amnestying Kendrick Perkins absolutely must be done. When first acquired, he brought a degree of toughness to the franchise, however has since fallen off tremendously. David West brings experience, the same toughness, and low-post scoring to the Thunder. The Thunder will need his size and presence if they intend to challenge the Heat going forward. In addition, Andre Iguodala’s wing scoring will help out coming off the bench, which is what the Thunder absolutely need since losing All-star James Harden.
Option 3
Waive |
Sign |
Kevin Martin |
Jose Calderon |
Derrick Fisher |
Leandro Barbosa |
Jose Calderon is a natural creator off the dribble. Again, the Thunder will need a player that can create his own shot; Calderon is as good as they come. Leandro Barbosa is a good player to have in your back pocket in case the Thunder have another injury (like the one they had with Westbrook). Although he himself is coming off an injury, Barbosa wouldn’t be needed until later in the season anyway, plus his services would come relatively cheap because of his injury. His explosiveness will match that of Reggie Jackson’s and Russell’s, so would be a great addition.
It is clear that Kevin Martin is not the answer to this team’s success. His inability to create his own shot hinders the Thunder from having an effective bench like they once did when James Harden graced this squad. Perkins, too, must go. He was brought in to handle players like Zack Randolph and Marc Gasol, and his presence has been nothing more than embarrassing during the 2013 playoffs (I even remember last year when he made NeNe look like a hall of fame power forward). He can’t shoot, can’t score or rebound, and doesn’t seem to bring the same toughness and fortitude. (Luckily, we can get rid of him without a trade). If the Thunder make any of the above moves this off-season, they will undoubtedly be the favorite to win a title next year.
-Deshawn (@ShonJay714)
8 Comments
Erik
May 15, 2013I’m with you on letting Perk go. I’d be fine with letting Martin go. I can’t get with picking up Monta Ellis though. He’s too much of a Carmelo Anthony-type of player. He shoots 30 times to get 30 points, and he’ll never be on a championship team. I wouldn’t want Ellis anywhere near my team… On the other hand, I’m with you on David West. He’d be a good add. We need somebody that can score in the post on a regular basis, and take up space and rebound. So I mostly agree with you this week, D. But, I gotta admit that to say that they’ll “undoubtedly” be the favorites is kind of a stretch.
Deshawn
May 15, 2013The Heat won’t win it next near with Chicago getting D-Rose back. You gotta know that we will be favored by Vegas if we got a combination of David West/Al Jefferson and Calderon/Iguodala/Ellis. I know Monta Ellis shoots alot, but we need a wing scorer/creator off the bench, and theres not much out there that can be that. Ellis is much better than K Mart or other free agents like J.R. Smith, Lamar Odom, JJ Reddick, and Devin Harris. Ideally, I would want Calderon and West.
Erik
May 15, 2013So you’re saying the Heat (with 3 perennial all-stars, and one former all-star who is the best 3-point shooter ever) won’t be favored over the Bulls because Derrick Rose is back??? That’s flawed, bro.
Deshawn
May 15, 2013I’m saying that the Heat are downward trending. Ray Allen is a free agent so he may not re-sign. Dwayne wayde is banged up, just like AI was around this time in his career, so by next year he will no longer be as good. The Knicks, Pacers and Bulls would be stronger. And if we got Calderon and West, KD and Russ, we would be the team to beat
Erik
May 15, 2013Downward trending?? They’re better than they were last year… when they won it all!
Deshawn
May 16, 2013This year they were. But what I am saying is, next year they will be worse than they were last year.
okc
June 3, 2013dont sign kmart then play jeremy lamb. draft a center olynyk , zeller (if possible) or plumlee . sign calderon or splitter. splitter has great low post moves,can finish in pick&rolls……………… bench or trade perkins
OKC
June 3, 2013sign splitter