Exclusive Official Around the NBA: November 2022

Plus they have a huge chest of picks to either get more elite youth or eventually trade for all-star(s).

They are a great model of how to do a proper rebuild. It's easy to forget CP3 was there only a few years ago in 2020 when they went to the bubble playoffs. 2 years of missed playoffs and they already have an exciting core.

 

ALMOST makes up for Ben Simmons...

 

Huh? I don't see how Simmons relates to Giddey.

 

Copying your list without the second rounders

2023 first round draft pick from L.A. Clippers (swap, Oklahoma City outgoing)
Oklahoma City has the right to swap its 2023 1st round pick for the L.A. Clippers' 2023 1st round pick [L.A. Clippers-Oklahoma City, 7/10/2019]

2024 first round draft pick from Houston
Houston's 2024 1st round pick to Oklahoma City protected for selections 1-4; if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Houston will instead convey its 2024 2nd round pick and 2025 2nd round pick to Oklahoma City [Houston-Oklahoma City, 7/16/2019]

2024 first round draft pick from L.A. Clippers
L.A. Clippers' 2024 1st round pick to Oklahoma City [L.A. Clippers-Oklahoma City, 7/10/2019]

2024 first round draft pick from Utah
Utah's 1st round pick to Oklahoma City protected for selections 1-10 in 2024, 1-10 in 2025 and 1-8 in 2026 (if Utah has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Oklahoma City by 2026, then Utah's obligation to Oklahoma City will be extinguished) [Oklahoma City-Utah, 7/30/2021; Oklahoma City-Utah, 1/4/2022]

2025 first round draft pick from Houston or L.A. Clippers (swap, Oklahoma City outgoing to Houston, L.A. Clippers or Brooklyn)
Oklahoma City has the right to swap its 2025 1st round pick for Houston's 2025 1st round pick protected for selections 1-10 or the L.A. Clippers' 2025 1st round pick; Houston then has the right to swap its pick or the Oklahoma City pick for Brooklyn's 2025 1st round pick; if the Houston pick falls within its protected range, then Houston's obligation to Oklahoma City will be extinguished and Houston will instead receive the more favorable of its pick and the Brooklyn pick and Brooklyn will receive the less favorable of the two [L.A. Clippers-Oklahoma City, 7/10/2019; Houston-Oklahoma City, 7/16/2019; Brooklyn-Cleveland-Houston-Indiana, 1/16/2021]

2025 first round draft pick from Miami
Miami's 1st round pick to Oklahoma City protected for selections 1-14 in 2025 and unprotected in 2026 (via L.A. Clippers) [L.A. Clippers-Miami, 7/6/2019; L.A. Clippers-Oklahoma City, 7/10/2019; Miami-Oklahoma City, 2/9/2022]

2025 first round draft pick from Philadelphia
Philadelphia's 1st round pick to Oklahoma City protected for selections 1-6 in 2025, 1-4 in 2026 and 1-4 in 2027; if Philadelphia has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Oklahoma City by 2027, then Philadelphia will instead convey its 2027 2nd round pick to Oklahoma City [Philadelphia-Oklahoma City, 12/8/2020]

2026 first round draft pick from Houston
Houston's 2026 1st round pick to Oklahoma City protected for selections 1-4; if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Houston will instead convey its 2026 2nd round pick to Oklahoma City [Houston-Oklahoma City, 7/16/2019]

2026 first round draft pick from L.A. Clippers
L.A. Clippers' 2026 1st round pick to Oklahoma City [L.A. Clippers-Oklahoma City, 7/10/2019]

2027 first round draft pick from Denver
At least two years after Denver conveys a 1st round pick to Orlando, Denver's 1st round pick to Oklahoma City protected for selections 1-5 in 2027, 1-5 in 2028 and 1-5 in 2029; if Denver has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Oklahoma City by 2029, then Denver will instead convey its 2029 2nd round pick to Oklahoma City [Denver-Oklahoma City, 6/23/2022]

 

Ok trying to figure out what this is, I believe (please correct if someone has better list) Thunder have first round picks with these protections;

2023 Swap LAC unprotected
2024 HOU (top4)
2024 LAC unprotected
2024 UTH (top10)
2025 MIA (top14)
2025 PHI (top6)
2025 Swap LAC unprotected (or HOU top10 protected)
2026 HOU (top4)
2026 LAC unprotected
2027 DEN (top5)

So thats 8 picks, plus their own 7, plus two unprotected swaps. They could legit use all their picks and trade for likely ~three? stars plus keep their rookie core plus SGA.

 

Australians.

 

for a traditional PF, 55% FG shooting is OK. For somebody, as Zion does, who takes 94% of his shots within 10' of the basket and 58% at the rim, 55% isn't that good. Of course, his career FG% is 60% so 11-20 wasn't his average

but Zion has a career 50% FT rate; 46% this season. That's damn good. Now, from what I saw in the Pels game the officials are really giving him the benefit of the doubt way too much. They are letting him play like Shaq inside, using his mass to clear defender, but calling fouls like he's Curry or Derozan

 

You can't just look at those percentages without looking at other metrics such as usage rate. A center who shoots only a few shots a game might need to shoot much higher than 60% at the rim to be effective, because he's likely getting a bunch of easy opportunities. That center isn't able to add more attempts at the same efficiency.

Zion is taking a bunch of difficult contested shots, or creating opportunities when nothing else is available in the offense. As you say he is also getting to the line a lot.

Zion has measured as an outstanding to elite offensive player in many statistics as well as the eye test. He does have some big areas for improvement though; I'd say mostly defensively. Probably more critical than either of those is if there is anything he can do to stay healthy.

 

Yeah, Grant looked like Allen Iverson against Zion with that one crossover.

 

Yeah. The way I’m understanding the conversation is CJ should be using Zion better and should probably get him more shots and better shots if at all possible instead of taking the lions share of the shots that team is getting.

 

So he carried the ball?

 

Embiids statline was insane. Close to a quadruple double with 61 points.

 

They are both from that Prison Island!

 

I’d take him as our starting PF.

 

LOL...did you interpret my post as me saying I wouldn't?

 

Bro I didn’t read your post. Too many numbers and too much math. I grew up playing with NBA players at the park…The next time I look at stats will be the first time. I use the eye test if a player is good or not FAMS. Respect you guys who dig deep into the analytics, that ain’t @THE HCP ’s game.

 

so you didn't read a post of about 50 words because it was too long and contained numbers, but just thought you'd drop in to say you'd take Zion as Portland's PF. Why would you do that?

by the way, I'd take Jayson Tatum as Portland's starting SF

 

Funny thing is Zion came into the league shooting 3s, and not badly either. He could easily add that back to his game just to infuriate opponents if nothing else.

 

I'd take Wilt in his prime as our starting C.

 

Hint: @DUB stands for Down Under Blazer.