01-28-2025, 10:36 AM
(01-23-2025, 11:22 AM)Nowitzki Way Wrote: OKC a dangerous team. A dangerous franchise. We've seen it coming for years. They are this good without Chet and most of the season without Hartenstein.
And they have all the draft ammo in the world to get better. And they have Sam Presti.
The West is changing with stars like Durant, Lebron, Steph, and Kawhi aging out. I truly believe the battle for the West in last half of this decade will be OKC vs. Mavs. vs. San Antonio. The Lakers will always find a way to compete, even after Lebron. I think the Suns, Clippers, and Warriors are screwed. Jokic is "only" 29 but how long will that body hold up. I think Denver has another few years of being upper echelon.
OKC is a juggernaut of a franchise/roster. Unlimited resources to get better. Mavs have Luka/Lively and then its San Antonio with Wemby. This guy is special and wait til they start building around him. Its happening in the next few years.
I'm curious about what OKC is going to do with all that draft capital. They have one of the strongest and youngest rosters in the league already, so where do they absorb their picks? Salary cap issues don't seem a problem over the next few years. Caruso expires this summer and Holmgren, J. Williams and Dieng are on TOs, I guess they can create space this summer if needed.
They have:
In 2025
4(!) first round picks (really convoluted swap with HOU or LAC, MIA (prot. 1-14), PHI (prot. 1-6), UTA (Prot. 1-10))
MIA currently at 15, PHI currently at 8, UTA currently at 2, so maybe only the swap conveys this summer? Especially given the Butler (MIA) and Embiid (PHL) headcase issues. I haven't researched how the non-conveying picks fall next season.
OKC also has ATL's 2nd round pick (prot. 31-40).
One 1st round pick in 2026.
2 second round picks. Their own plus an unprotected choice of DAL or PHL. Plus whatever conveys from 2025.
Then, basically 2x #1s and multiple #2s each year for the next several.