OKC finally missing great talent in a draft and a starting four of freak matchups

[Pointguard]

I remember freaking out during the 2013 draft that OKC was going to draft Giannis who I said would be the best player of the draft. http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305679 One because they rarely missed drafting great talent. Two they were just getting superstars left and right. At that time, I think they still had Harden. They could have formed one of the greatest teams ever if they didn't pass on Giannis and kept Harden.

Could you imagine if they could keep their talent and had picked Giannis. Harden, Westbrook, Durant and Giannis. That would be 100ppg between them this year with total freak matchups across the board. Obviously they would all have a dip in their ppg but that team could beat the Warriors of course without Durant. Yes, or no?

[BigKAT]

Giannis wouldn't be Giannis on OKC.

Same way Tim Duncan would've likely averaged 25/11 for his career instead of 19/10 if he wasn't drafted to David Robinson's team, with a Coach like Pop.
But then again he might've not won that much, but you catch my drift.

Who knows how many good players we missed out on due to circumstances.
(Every played drafted to Sacramento since Cousins?)

My point is that Giannis on OKC wouldn't necesserily be better then Adams for them.

[CuhGetsBucks]

There's a lot wrong here that I'm too lazy to highlight but I bet someone else will.

[KiiiiNG]

Nobody respects OP

One of the biggest morons in ISH history. Huge D-Rose supporter... and is wrong 99% of the time

[FreezingTsmoove]

I agree OP and with the way OKC develops young talent you have to be an aboslute moron to think he wouldnt "become the Giannis he is today :facepalm "

[TemporaMutantur]

Absolutely dominant team, but you're insane if you think they'd average 100PPG collectively

[miggyme1]

I remember freaking out during the 2013 draft that OKC was going to draft Giannis who I said would be the best player of the draft. http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305679 One because they rarely missed drafting great talent. Two they were just getting superstars left and right. At that time, I think they still had Harden. They could have formed one of the greatest teams ever if they didn't pass on Giannis and kept Harden.

Could you imagine if they could keep their talent and had picked Giannis. Harden, Westbrook, Durant and Giannis. That would be 100ppg between them this year with total freak matchups across the board. Obviously they would all have a dip in their ppg but that team could beat the Warriors of course without Durant. Yes, or no?


you do know its harder to develop the more talent you have on a team.....like the dilemma the sixers have now with noel,embiid,okafor,and possibly simmons. How can you properly develop if you fighting for minutes behind other great talents?......harden made jeff green expendable....lets not forget that....

[MrFonzworth]

I agree OP and with the way OKC develops young talent you have to be an aboslute moron to think he wouldnt "become the Giannis he is today :facepalm "

This.

[miggyme1]

I agree OP and with the way OKC develops young talent you have to be an aboslute moron to think he wouldnt "become the Giannis he is today :facepalm "


how could he is he is fighting for minutes??? Jermaine oneal didn't blossom until he went to Indiana...steve nash didn't until he went to dallas after leaving phoenix the first time. I mean imagine if they stayed were they were and just rode the bench played sparingly.

Giannis would still be an athletic freak but the way he is passing the ball now and his court vision has IMPROVED exponentially.....how can u do that without mins in an NBA game???? explain....better question....how could he do that coming off the bench with harden????

ILL WAIT

[Pointguard]

Absolutely dominant team, but you're insane if you think they'd average 100PPG collectively – you can't just assume that their averages would not decline significantly if they were to play together, considering that each of them is essentially the man on their team, and gets significantly more touches currently than if they were to play together.
I said in the OP "Obviously they would all have a dip in their ppg." I was just bringing out their potential with the 100ppg reference. But if you shut down one, three others are all capable of 25 points as all are nearly unstoppable scorers with a freak advantage.

[Smoke117]

Giannis wouldn't be Giannis on OKC.

Same way Tim Duncan would've likely averaged 25/11 for his career instead of 19/10 if he wasn't drafted to David Robinson's team, with a Coach like Pop.
But then again he might've not won that much, but you catch my drift.


Tim Duncan was never going to average 25/11 for his career and Robinson nor Pop had anything to do with it. He was never that kind of explosive scorer, period.

[Milbuck]

It's way too tough to predict how Giannis would've developed on OKC. Giannis didn't become the player he is today until Kidd told all our other guards to f*ck off last all star break, and let Giannis run everything the rest of the season. Doubt he gets that opportunity with Westbrook. He could maybe be a playmaking 4 like a Draymond type, but he wouldn't be a full time point forward like he is now.

Who knows though. I do think a death lineup with WB-Harden-KD-Giannis and maybe a 3&D wing would be stupid dominant.

[Pointguard]

you do know its harder to develop the more talent you have on a team.....like the dilemma the sixers have now with noel,embiid,okafor,and possibly simmons. How can you properly develop if you fighting for minutes behind other great talents?......harden made jeff green expendable....lets not forget that....
Its definitely a bit different than in Philly. Oakafor, Embiid and one other guy are all pure centers. Among the purest in the league. Simmons is a point forward. Westbrook at shooting guard, Durant and Gianis at forwards. Harden at PG. They don't have to be behind each other. It would maximize Phil's triangle.

[Pointguard]

LA Lakers didn't look like much last year but there are a good 8 guys really contributing. Its not impossible but I understand the concern. If all the guys are versatile and smart it can be done.

[Smoke117]

It's way too tough to predict how Giannis would've developed on OKC. Giannis didn't become the player he is today until Kidd told all our other guards to f*ck off last all star break, and let Giannis run everything the rest of the season. Doubt he gets that opportunity with Westbrook. He could maybe be a playmaking 4 like a Draymond type, but he wouldn't be a full time point forward like he is now.

Who knows though. I do think a death lineup with WB-Harden-KD-Giannis and maybe a 3&D wing would be stupid dominant.

Really? You think a team with 3 of the best 7 or 8 players in the world and a top 20 player would be stupid dominant? Tell us more about how you came to this conclusion. :kobe:

[Lebronxrings]

didn't their 2013 pick come from the harden trade?

[Pointguard]

Giannis wouldn't be Giannis on OKC.

Same way Tim Duncan would've likely averaged 25/11 for his career instead of 19/10 if he wasn't drafted to David Robinson's team, with a Coach like Pop.
But then again he might've not won that much, but you catch my drift.

Who knows how many good players we missed out on due to circumstances.
(Every played drafted to Sacramento since Cousins?)

My point is that Giannis on OKC wouldn't necesserily be better then Adams for them.

As Millbuck stated I'm thinking along the lines as a Draymond type. The best defensive type that can pass and push the ball.

[TiagoSimoes]

didn't their 2013 pick come from the harden trade?

Yes it did, was about to point that out. Harden wouldnt be on that team. So you would have Ibaka,KD,Ibaka and Giannis instead of Adams.

As good OKC is at developing talent, Giannis wouldnt have his space and minutes to improve his playmaking with Westbrook and KD hogging all playmaking responsabilities. And he would have to battle with KD and Ibaka for minutes. unless he played SG which he can. He would still become an amazing player, but probably not at this level with the Bucks, atleast as fast( kid is only 21). Adams was the correct pick i think, he fits really well with OKC and we badly needed a center with the Perkins fiasco. Giannis was a project, OKC needed to win.

[Ben Simons]

I agree OP and with the way OKC develops young talent you have to be an aboslute moron to think he wouldnt "become the Giannis he is today :facepalm "
Does this mean that if he were drafted to the Thunder, he also would have left OKC with OKC having nothing or little to show for it?

[FreezingTsmoove]

Does this mean that if he were drafted to the Thunder, he also would have left OKC with OKC having nothing or little to show for it?

Well my point was he would develop in OKC then leave and break out to become to Giannis he is today