Round Table Discussion: Grading the OKC Thunder’s Offseason

May 3, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder mascot Rumble the Bison before the start of game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo J. Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA offseason has, for the most part, started to wind down after the draft, free agency and the conclusion of summer league. The OKC Thunder were as active as possible and have made some moves in order to keep themselves in title contention in a dangerous Western Conference. We take a look back at what’s happened so far and what’s been most encouraging for Oklahoma City.

What’s your grade on the Enes Kanter deal? Good choice, bad choice or somewhere in-between?

David Ramil (@dramil13): B+. I understand the concerns about Kanter’s defense but it’s not like he’s the first one-dimensional player in NBA history. Charles Barkley was a notoriously bad defender and he’s arguably one of the top power forwards of all-time. Kanter’s still young, has room for growth and is already a polished scorer. I hope he continues to mesh well with the full, healthy lineup this season.

Holly Hutto (@HollyHutto): B+. Locking in Enes the Menace was a great choice. OKC needs his presence on the court. While Kanter struggles on the defensive side of things, he’s 23- so the ceiling is high… It also helps that OKC has Steven Adams. Checks and balances.

Jeremy Lambert (@jeremylambert88): A-. I already wrote a piece on why signing Kanter was the right move, so I’ll try not to rehash things. Main point: he fills a big need for OKC and adds even more depth to their roster and scoring.

Evan Riggs (@EvanRiggs15): B+. Even though they had to overpay a bit, this was a deal that the Thunder had to do. They didn’t have enough money to bring in another impact free agent, so the choice was sign Kanter or somebody on a minimum contract. Offensively, Kanter adds a different dimension than the Thunder is used to having. If he is a problem on defense, they have plenty of options. Adams and Serge Ibaka are a formidable front court, not to mention Durant will see minutes at power forward.

Sam Livingston (@samkam0): C. I’m a little lower on this deal than most Thunder fans because of the repercussions it could have in the postseason this year and in the locker room. First off, we all know about Kanter’s horrid defense which I think is more of a short-term concern. Big men often are bad defenders early in their careers so it’s very likely Kanter gets to be an average defender but if he’s a matchup issue in a crucial postseason game it could end up severely crippling the Thunder. The bigger issue is that Kanter was known to be a locker room problem in Utah. If he doesn’t get the minutes he wants will he revert to that attitude?

JM VanSant (@RTFans_): A-. For years now, analysts like Charles Barkley have complained that OKC relies to heavily on their superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for scoring and that they needed to find a low-post presence to diversify the offense. Well, they finally found one in Turkish product Kanter. He has excellence patience and touch near the basket and is a fantastic rebounder. While his defense is lackluster, he’s still developing and with the return of Durant (a chronically underrated defender) and a fully healthy Ibaka, I think that his defense won’t be as horribly exposed as it was this season

Joshua Lea (@joshualeaa): A+ I think Kanter is going to prove to be a valuable piece for the Thunder this upcoming season. I think critics often underestimate the team’s defensive presence as a whole. Besides Kanter has so much offensive talent that it would have been crazy to let him sign with Portland (division rival). Coach Donovan will utilize Kanter efficiently in the post with the spread pick-and-roll offense.

Next: What About Kyle Singler?