With the third pick in the draft, the Thunder have a few different ways to go. Since they are still trying to piece together the core of this team through the draft, this is a big decision for them.
Continue reading after the jump to see what I think they will do.
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2009 Free Agents
- Damien Wilkins (Early Termination Option - Unrestricted)
- Desmond Mason (Unrestricted)
- Malik Rose (Unrestricted)
- Robert Swift (Unrestricted)
Depth Chart (Pre-Draft)
PG: Russell Westbrook - Earl Watson - Chucky Atkins
SG: Thabo Sefalosha - Kyle Weaver
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Jeff Green - DJ White
C: Nenad Krstic - Nick Collison
Draft Picks (Mock Picks)
- 3rd overall - James Harden, SG, Arizona State - With Westbrook at the point and two capable veteran backups behind him, I don't see the Thunder drafting Ricky Rubio now. Harden can come in and start from day one, most likely moving Sefalosha to the three.
- 25th overall - Gani Lawal, PF/C, Georgia Tech - Lawal will provide another big body on the front line, something that the Thunder seem to always be lacking.
Depth Chart (Post-Draft)
PG: Russell Westbrook - Earl Watson - Chucky Atkins
SG: James Harden - Kyle Weaver
SF: Kevin Durant - Thabo Sefalosha
PF: Jeff Green - DJ White - Gani Lawal
C: Nenad Krstic - Nick Collison - Gani Lawal
Players on Trade Block
- Earl Watson
- Chucky Atkins
- Nick Collison
I can only assume that the Thunder will continue to try to make moves to get younger and acquire more draft picks. That seems to be the M.O. of GM, Sam Presti.
Final Analysis
This team won't run short on offense, but their inexperience will sting them more than a few times during the season. However, with another lottery selection likely next season, this team could be dangerous for the next several years if they can keep their core together without breaking the bank.
Comments
I really like their GM. He came from the Spurs and is one of the youngest GMs in all of professional sports. He has the same system as Portland's GM in that they both stockpiled picks and are using those picks to their advantage.
How many teams would like to have the problem Portland has? Too much talent to get on the roster.
On Thabeet. I'm not sure what they will do. With Krstic and Collison make 23mil between them the next two seasons combined, I don't know that they would go for a big man with the third pick.
However, with the firepower they currently have, if you put Thabeet on the inside and let him play like Mutombo (rebounds and blocks), then this team could get good in a hurry.
Well, I know when they traded for Thabo they were extremely happy with the defense it brought them, plus it allowed them to play Durant as a true 3 instead of chasing around 2's since Thabo can guard the elite 2's. I think you know you are going to get points with Durant on the team but they need to be able to stop people to win consistently.
I wasn't aware of the contract situation for Collison and Krstic, I really wonder if that will play a part in how they draft. I'm not sure either of those guys is a starting frontcourt player on a playoff team but they could team up like Oden/Przybilla in Portland.
Very interesting stuff. I really like these posts.
This wouldn't be an awful spot for Thabeet to land. This is a very long, athletic team and if they put him at center it could create some depth down low in the West. I think in this strategy they'd try to pick up another guard later in the first round. This is a very interesting team to track on draft night.