***Official 2016 NBA Draft Thread***

[Kawhitstorm]

Not at all. It screams that they see a future with Kanter/Adams and don't want to spend money on Ibaka as well esp after a down year.

Ibaka was a MAJOR reason they almost beat the Duds while Anus Cancer was warming the bench.

[look_at_g_shred]

The lineup of Payne, Butler, KD, Kanter, Adams isn't that scary with waiters off the bench.

I know I read somewhere about Durant talking about his FA...he said that the money didn't matter it was about the type of people he was going to be around everyday. Maybe he was talking about Westbrook..

[montgod]

The lineup of Payne, Butler, KD, Kanter, Adams isn't that scary with waiters off the bench.

I agree, but there is something to be said about playing within the construct of the offense and what you are trying to accomplish. Westbrook does do his own thing and usually at the wrong times. Butler is definitely not a better player than Westbrook, but he boasts some great numbers especially with his assists. In saying all that, I still can't belive Durant would not want to continue playing with Westbrook till it happens. OKC better be consulting with him constantly cause they already were burnt when they traded Harden away.

[BatManu20]

[Kawhitstorm]

I've seen a LOT of Juan Hernan in mock drafts since February.

[TheGoldStandard]

I agree, but there is something to be said about playing within the construct of the offense and what you are trying to accomplish. Westbrook does do his own thing and usually at the wrong times. Butler is definitely not a better player than Westbrook, but he boasts some great numbers especially with his assists. In saying all that, I still can't belive Durant would not want to continue playing with Westbrook till it happens. OKC better be consulting with him constantly cause they already were burnt when they traded Harden away.

I get what you're saying but my primary thought process is how San Antonio would match up with that lineup.. Kawhi and Green match up more favorably with Butler and KD.

[NASpurs]

[montgod]

I get what you're saying but my primary thought process is how San Antonio would match up with that lineup.. Kawhi and Green match up more favorably with Butler and KD.

Oh yeah... fully agree. I would love the trade for Spurs lol!

[TheGoldStandard]

I've seen a LOT of Juan Hernan in mock drafts since February.

Ugh... 2 years away from coming over.

[SAGirl]

And all that is well and good, but how does trading Ibaka affect their pitch to Durant?

I don't know truly. Definitely they need updates in their backcourt and wings I believe. The only guard they could trust is Waiters and he's . The talent, athleticism and ability to score is there but he makes bad decisions and they already have Westbrook for that. But Cameron Payne showed flashes in the regular season and he's very, very young too, so maybe they give him a second season b4 looking at guards. They also need wing help as Roberson was terrific for them defensively but only had about 1 or 2 good shooting games and they were against the Spurs bc no one was guarding him, he was left wide open (was it Tony on him?)

[houston spurs fan]

Why? I said this in another thread, but there are questions about Ibaka and Biyombo's age. Being born in the Sudan or the Congo isn't like being born into a country like America where there are stringent laws about reporting population. Maker relocated to Australia when he was 5, or supposedly 5, to escape civil war. That is the first do entation of his age. He probably lived a portion of his life thinking he is younger than he actually is. It's not like he was thinking he was going to play in the NBA when he escaped war torn Sudan.

Thanks a bunch for sharing the links to the Ibaka do entary from Grantland. Obviously don't like OKC, but how can you not respect a guy who at age 11 was sleeping in cars or on the streets of the Congo. His rise to the NBA is almost like a far fetched movie. I gained a lot of respect for him from that piece, unbelievable determination and grit.

[SAGirl]

Besides just money it's easy to move on from Ibaka. They have two bigs to play against big lineups. Durant will be playing at the 4 spot vs their biggest threat on defense. Roberson was pretty effective on pick n rolls as well as a 4 on offense.

And Adams is the big man they will want to retain. He's become their defensive anchor so Ibaka is not as needed. I think he's also going to be a FA. Going back to Durant. It affects their pitch bc they are already making a choice on whom they are going to keep in 16-17 offseason to make the pitch to Durant on how the team will look then and who they will aim to retain.

[Robz4000]

It'd be amazing if the Spurs got Denzel Valentine tbh.

[HarlemHeat37]

OKC is going to be interesting to follow, they're still an extremely flawed team, despite their nice playoff run that was heavily aided by good fortune..their defense is still very mediocre..

[BatManu20]

[TheGoldStandard]

Boo

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Please for the love of god trade ibaka OKC

[JR3]

I want Isaiah cousins.

[JR3]

Please for the love of god trade ibaka OKC

For real! Dude sucks all season and doesn't miss against the Spurs..

[jermaine]

I like tbat dude... watching his videos.... He seems better on the offensive side of the ball than Green

[TD 21]

With their affinity for international players and the bevy of them projected to be available at 29, going that route obviously can't be ruled out, but this is one of those rare years where I think finding immediate help, at a position of need, trumps that.

This team desperately needs help in the back court. It doesn't have to be a pure point; in fact a true combo guard (someone who can legitimately play both spots on both sides of the ball) would probably be best considering Parker isn't going anywhere. It's going to be extremely difficult to fill this void via free agency/trade, so the draft is the best bet.

[Hoops Czar]

It'd be amazing if the Spurs got Denzel Valentine tbh.

Kyle Anderson 2.0

[coachmac87]

And all that is well and good, but how does trading Ibaka affect their pitch to Durant?

OKC wants contracts past next year, they've got to set themselves up on a long term pitch plan. With the rosters and contracts as is they can't sell anything other than.."one more year".

Warriors: Green, Thompson and Curry(not going anywhere) are locked in for 3-4 years

Spurs: Kawhi, LMA are locked in for 3-4 years.

OKC one more year pitch doesn't hold water because both Warriors/Spurs can say same thing if they get Durant..

Durant wants a long term plan and I don't think he will or wants to sign the +1..neither does OKC. So they gotta move Ibaka and get players in return...question is though will those "players" be enough to sweeten their long term pitch??

I don't think it will.

[BatManu20]

[wildbill2u]

Only thing worse than Thon is Qi.

Hey now, 7' centers that play that many minutes per game and shoot 60% on 2s and 3s and 3.2 blks per game don't grow on many family trees. It's not likely we'll get anyone at 29 that will really be of help so why not a front line (in garbage time) of Boban and Qi? Sounds like a great vaudeville team and they'd be fan favorites, playing keep-away from the midgets on the court.