Is it Time For the OKC Thunder to Panic?

Q: Is there a roster move to be made that could solidify the Thunder’s playoff hopes?

Ramil: This is a major point of contention for OKC fans and I would argue that, no, there isn’t. Why? Because you can’t have it both ways, meaning that you can’t claim the Thunder’s depth is one of their biggest strengths and, in the same breath, say they’re a move away from being a title contender. The Harden comparison gets tossed around a lot but, like you just pointed out, this current version is more talented. They have shooters, scorers, defenders, glue guys, veterans, youth, talent…you name it. The reality is that the team hasn’t played to the level it should and a roster move could help or it could make things worse.

Fielder: I agree with you for the most part. The only caveat I would make is that Reggie Jackson probably needs to be moved. I’m not sure what the exact deal would be but I think his consternation with the team is more of an impact than people realize. First, he doesn’t fit organically with the team. It seems like the team wants Dion Waiters to be the primary guard off the bench but when he and Jackson share the floor, that feeling gets muddled. All too often we see Jackson hold the ball for far too long while Waiters stands uselessly in the corner. Waiters is only shooting 19% on catch and shoot 3’s. He has to be your primary facilitator, not the off the ball scorer, a role which Anthony Morrow should honestly be utilized in more. Furthermore, there’s just the general chemistry issue with Jackson. Both the team and Scott Brooks seem to have lost faith in him and the body language when he’s in the game reflects that. If the Thunder could flip Jackson into a solid backup PG who can knock down the occasional deep ball, the team would be far better off and some of the issues, that likely stem from the a chemistry problem, would hopefully go away.

Next: The Verdict