![]() ![]() It’s almost impossible for Oklahoma City to short-circuit two timelines that are trying to accomplish different things. Instead of auctioning off vets for whatever value they could squeeze, as the Thunder did last year with Mike Muscala, there’s no harm in doing the opposite: attaching salary to draft capital for a more established player or two. In the meantime, this year’s team may warrant win-now tweaks to propel it even higher. While not imminent, a consolidation trade of some kind is inevitable thanks to a CBA that will strong-arm even the smartest franchises into becoming victims of their own success. But Presti’s maneuvering this offseason evinces a disconnect between the front office’s long-term approach and what this talented roster may already be capable of. Its collection of draft picks and swaps over the next seven years reads like an ambitious diner menu. There’s no need for Oklahoma City to rush. This explains the Thunder’s confidently cautious summer, which stands in contrast to how the Rockets used cap space to accelerate their own restoration. The process of barreling through barriers that aren’t quite ready to give can be messy. ![]() ![]() How competitive would the Thunder have to be for their general manager, Sam Presti, to abandon his carefully laid plans and embrace impatience? I’m getting a little ahead of myself with this question, but it speaks to why the intrigue surrounding this team is as much about what’s happening right now as it is about what it can theoretically be in two or three years. If it’s high enough-say, contending for home-court advantage in a first-round playoff series-some tension may ripple through the organization. Young legs will serve OKC well in an era defined by load management, roster turnover, and, of late, parity.)Ī bounce is coming. (The West has only two or three squads that are indifferent about making the postseason, but every team has flaws and none is likely to separate from the herd during the regular season. Or, more terrifyingly, the pre-drama Grizzlies from 2021-22. The Thunder can become last year’s Kings. Chest out, physical, annoying, vibrant, electric, relentless, emboldened by the kind of confidence so often inhabited by kids who aren’t intimidated by what they don’t know. But the best-case scenario is that of an overachieving 50-win bully. OKC won and lost a play-in game in 2023, and its most probable outcome in 2024 will be something similar. (These results merited a second-place Coach of the Year finish for Mark Daigneault, who recently signed a contract extension.) Their defensive rating was 13th, in the middle of the Lakers and Warriors. Their offensive rating was 16th, sandwiched between the Bucks and Clippers. The second-youngest roster in the league finished 40-42, earning a pinch of adoration with a hectic, admirably mediocre yield on both sides of the ball. In 2022-23, Oklahoma City rapped its knuckles on the door that divides the NBA’s upper tier from everyone else. All rights reserved.Will Portland finally give in and trade Dame Lillard? We’re keeping a close watch on all of the biggest free agents, trade targets, retirement bluffers, and more in our new offseason tracker. War Machines: Tanks Battle Game is an action-packed mobile game that puts you in control of a powerful war machine. With QuickChek Rewards, you can earn points on every purchase. Introducing QuickChek Rewards, the ultimate loyalty program designed to reward our valued customers. Welcome to the Pocket Zone, your one-stop destination for all things pocket-sized! Whether you’re looking for the latest pocket gadgets, compact accessories, or. Offline gun shooting games 3D are a perfect choice for those who enjoy intense action and realistic gameplay. In this action-packed game, you will race through. Bike Up! is an exhilarating mobile game that is sure to get your heart racing. ![]()
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