Round Table Discussion: OKC Thunder at a Crossroads
By David Ramil
With two bad losses since the All-Star break, should Sam Presti have done more at the Trade Deadline than just acquiring Randy Foye?
Woods: I don’t think there was more to be done. Oklahoma City saved significant money at the trade deadline — something that’s VERY important to the owners — and acquired a player that might be able to help the team at some point this season. If Foye isn’t a productive player, the Thunder can let him walk at the end of the season with no consequence.
Hixon: I would say no. The trade market was pretty bare. The asking price for anyone that could have made an impact was too high, especially considering the Thunder are low on assets they would be willing to part with. Presti saved the organization some money and got another guy who is essentially an insurance policy, that is all you could have asked for.
Barbee: It’s easy to say that Presti should have done more, but the Thunder had nothing to trade. In order to bring back anything of real value, he probably would have had to ship off Ibaka, something that would probably not go over well with the Thunder faithful or the players. I would have liked to see him move Mitch McGary if he’s not going to play, but maybe he tried and couldn’t find anything of value. I’m happier with a small money-saving move, rather than Presti making a move for the sake of making a move.
Hallett: No, Presti could not have done more, without having cap room and quality players who were expendable to the organisation. If he moved one of the big three that would have been a highly risky move with questionable payoff in such an important year for the Thunder. He made a move to get a quality player/presence for one that had fallen out of the rotation and save money for next year’s bigger issue. You don’t win this league by overreacting or by making moves for moves sakes.
Ramil: No. With KD’s status up in the air, Presti has made all the moves he can to build a winning team. The capability is there, but not the execution. Presti’s true test will be over the summer, when he’ll have to shake up the roster one way or another – to make up for KD’s departure or to re-tool with a chance to win a title.