A tweet-by-tweet timeline of how OKC Thunder fans felt leading up to the eventual trade with the Chicago Bulls.
The NBA trade deadline is stressful, especially when you have a proactive general manager like Sam Presti, who you know it constantly working the phones in order to improve the team. Even when the OKC Thunder were a Western Conference powerhouse, Thunder fans still hoped that Presti would bring in that one extra piece at the deadline to push them over the top.
Now, with the team comfortably in a playoff spot, but still with many glaring weaknesses, things haven’t changed all that much. We as fans still wanted to see improvements that could get us out of the first round. The trade deadline was the last day any significant improvements could happen.
Here’s what went through the minds of most Thunder fans as we sat around and refreshed Twitter every 10 seconds on Thursday afternoon:
Related: OKC Thunder trade for Gibson and McDermott
Note: to view fans responses to individual tweets click links below
And the Twitter roller coaster of emotions begins…
LET’S GO! MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN SAM PRESTI!
The Thunder are aggressive as the deadline nears. Doesn't mean a deal is happening, but they're shopping.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/royceyoung/status/834789065362903040
Taj Gibson doesn’t seem like a Presti move. Over 30, expiring contract, already have Joffrey, Kanter, Adams, and Domas. Also, the Bulls want a first round pick for Taj. Not buying this one, Royce.
As @ESPNSteinLine reports, Taj Gibson is on the radar right now of OKC.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/royceyoung/status/834789306388586497
DOUGIE MCBUCKETS!
Piggybacking off @ESPNSteinLine and the Thunder's interest in Taj Gibson: Another Bull known to interest OKC is Doug McDermott, sources say.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/royceyoung/status/834796573540438018
Cool trade, Woj. Now tell us what’s going on in Oklahoma City. WHAT IS PRESTI UP TO?!?!?!
Philadelphia is sending Nerlens Noel to Dallas for Justin Anderson and a first-round draft pick, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/wojverticalnba/status/834806620102197248
Is there any traction to Paul George or Jimmy Butler to OKC? We all know Danny Ainge isn’t giving up those draft picks. WE CAN OFFER ENES KANTER AND ANDRE ROBERSON!
Sources: Less than two hours until the NBA Trade Deadline, but no significant traction for Boston on Jimmy Butler or Paul George deals. Yet.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/wojverticalnba/status/834827464601907200
Guess that’s it. No one is getting traded. What a disappointment.
Everyone is on the floor. Don't see Dipo but he ain't going anywhere.
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/Thunder_Digest/status/834829586617794561
Roberson Whirlwind:
ROBERSON IS GONE?!?!?! No one just randomly hugs people like that unless they are leaving. Roberson is definitely leaving. Andre Roberson for Taj? Roberson for Dougie? Roberson for anyone that can shoot? I don’t know how to feel about this.
Andre Roberson just walked out of the office and started hugging people...
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/Thunder_Digest/status/834832941532450816
Why would they make him available to the media if he was just told he’s traded? So he hasn’t been traded? What is going on here? SO MANY QUESTIONS SOMEONE ANSWER ME!
Andre Roberson is coming over for media availability. Interesting. #thunder
— Sam Gannon (@SamGannon87) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/SamGannon87/status/834838037242736640
Related: Quick React Trade Grade
Cam Payne and Roberson for Dougie and Taj? I don’t know how to feel about this. On one hand, Payne has been bad and Roberson isn’t good on offense. On the other hand, Dougie might not be good and Taj is old. I’m going to need some time to process this.
ESPN sources say OKC has interest in Doug McDermott as well as Taj Gibson. Sources say the Bulls, meanwhile, have interest in Cameron Payne.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/834841036358766592
SO WE DON’T HAVE TO GIVE UP ROBERSON?!?! WHY WAS HE HUGGING PEOPLE?!?! ARE WE TRADING HIM SOMEWHERE ELSE?!?!
For OKC to acquire both McDermott and Gibson, sources say it would likely take Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and draft compensation.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/834844442989207553
Ha ha, I love Andre Roberson. I really hope he’s not getting traded.
— Andre Roberson (@FlyDre21) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/FlyDre21/status/834847280469508096
MINI WOJ! IS ROBERSON PART OF THIS OR NOT?!?!
Sources: OKC and Chicago are nearing agreement on a trade to send package centered on Cameron Payne for Doug McDermott and Taj Gibson.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/834851015295954945
WE DIDN’T EVEN GIVE UP PAYNE?!?!!? PRESTI JUST ROBBED CHICAGO!!!!!
OKC sending Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow, w/ CHI sending '18 second-round pick with McDermott and Gibson, sources tell @TheVertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/834851401238986755
PAYNE FOR ISAIAH THOMAS?!?!
https://twitter.com/campayne/status/834851817322340355
https://twitter.com/campayne/status/834851817322340355
Is Morrow involved? WHO ARE WE GIVING UP IN THIS DEAL?!?!?!?!
Bulls sending Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and 2018 2nd rounder to OKC for Joffrey Lauvergne and Cameron Payne, sources said.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/834852822902505472
This feels like a really good trade. This is a really good trade, right? I’m convinced this is a really good trade.
OKC has traded Payne, Morrow + Lauvergne for Gibson, McDermott and an 2018 2nd rounder. To make money work they used part of trade exception
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/royceyoung/status/834856473326940160
Roberson hugged everyone cause he was so happy that he didn’t have to go to Chicago.
Also: Bulls wanted Roberson, but the Thunder are committed to re-signing him in restricted free agency this summer.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/royceyoung/status/834857411869556739
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
For how fans and players reacted after the trade went down, head on over to Heather Koontz piece on fan reaction.