Not sure where else to out this. Thought this was interesting. https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-...-how-the-game-has-changed-and-the-evolut/?amp
It's funny when people talk about Dame asking for an extention he can't even talk about now, but it's really funny when people are like "trade Dame, Portland is never going to win a title" (the same was said about the Bucks last year), or that they should just trade Dame and 'start over', as if that works. Since 2012, the NBA has had 7 Champions. And for the WC, there has been 4 teams going to the finals (Suns, Lakers, Warriors and Spurs), with 3 winning the title. That means in the 9 seasons since Damian has been a Blazer, 11 WC teams have failed to go to the finals. What's that mean? You're much more likely to not make to the finals. Then you trade away the only reason the team is even remotely relevant now? And I'm betting their chances will be even worse to be a competitive team than it is now.
Plus ending up like OKC or Detroit is a huge possibility. Those two teams are absolutely abysmal . And their futures are NOT bright. While they have some young talent, there isn't anything overwhelming. And even if those teams hit pay dirt in the draft, will those said players be loyal and stay in those markets? Most unlikely. Dame is a rare athlete.
Okc has a really bright future. They have like 20 first round picks the next 5 years. And SGA is a star in the making.
And he will likely leave, and all those picks don't guarantee shit. He should trade them for real talent.
19 first, 17 second. But that doesn't mean much if they don't keep them or pick the right player. Also keep in mind, it's not like each one is a lotto pick. This up coming draft, they have the Clippers (non lotto), Suns (non lotto) and Detroits (only if it's not top 16). Most of the extra picks they have are lotto protected or not necessarily top 10 (etc). https://ca.nba.com/news/oklahoma-ci...re-nba-draft-picks/1kawi5xe61qvl1lylxqz1aqwop Still, not a bad issue to have.
OKC has a good chance to become the Detroit Lions of basketball. Because of the one & done, college players aren't as refined as they use to be. Hitting a home run is rare. Even if you get the #1 pick, you better get it right. They should trade lots of those picks to pick up available talent ,NOW!, and surround Shai with complementary players.
imho, they're the dark horse for Simmons. They should collect a bunch of those picks and send them off with...well, there isn't much there other than SGA. And that defeats the purpose.
Of course it could mean nothing. But they got Giddey in this draft who looks like he could definitely become something too. My point is they have a bright future. Lots of opportunities to turn them into something whether through trade or picking the right people. To completely write off a team with that many assets is asinine.
I don't know if OKC has a bright future or not. Plenty of people thought the 76ers or Celtics had incredibly bright futures with all the youth and draft picks they had piled up. While they didn't go bust, they also didn't exactly start a golden era either. They've each had a couple of conference-contending seasons, but largely not been serious title contenders. What I will say is that OKC is in a much more interesting situation than Portland is. Neither is anywhere close to a title-contending situation, but you at least have something to dream on if you're a Thunder fan. If you're a Portland fan, what are you dreaming on--that Lillard returns to his play of the past couple of years and Portland makes the second round?
Not really. The team drafting him will have his rights for at least 7ish years because the player will be restricted in free agency giving the team that drafted him an option to match whatever contract they are offered. If you can't build a winner in 7 years and they leave, idk what to tell you. Trade him before that last year to get assets. Something we have been horrible at doing.
Exactly. That is my point. Assets can be turned into something. We barely even have assets. Will OKC succeed? Maybe. But I would take that set up right now over ours. They did something similar and had Russ, KD, Harden, Ibaka and made the finals. I would take that over another 1st round exit.
