Thunder Season 45 presser

[AngryBanana]

Good morning everyone, unfortunately due to technical difficulties (a real life broken hand), my presser is going to be a little shorter that usual today.

First, I would like to take a moment and thank Pete, Nathaniel Anderson and JJ for everything they have done to help turn around this franchise. We have gone from a bottom dweller every year, to a respected franchise. It was especially hard to move Pete considering we started from day 1 together on this journey...

Ok, so now to reflect on last year quickly. We played about as well as expected in the regular season and I constantly struggled with who to start between Hord and Minter. Neither fit well with Anderson at center and it showed. Injuries again were a problem during the regular season. We lost to the bulls in the first round unexpectedly, but just glad we put up a fight.

In the offseason, the name of the game was to get under the tax apron. We moved JJ and Nate to NY for a top 10 pick and Hans. We also moved Pete to LA for Acuna and a 2037. I think we did well all things considered in value for those players. In UFA we got a few vet mins that I did not expect and then trades for Colin Smallwood. So we are at over capacity when it comes to forwards. I fully plan on moving at least one to two people this year for more pts or future value pieces.

We tried to move WJ all offseason, but no one bit. So we will be moving into an attempt to compete since he is in his prime and see what happens. All in all, I think we had a good offseason and I think this will be a good starting point for my next build.


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[false9]

WJ looks like the leader of this group- who else do you expect do step up to fill the shoes of Nate, JJ and Pete this season?

[AngryBanana]

WJ looks like the leader of this group- who else do you expect do step up to fill the shoes of Nate, JJ and Pete this season?

Hord player surprisingly well this pre-season, Acuna will be a great player even if he got hit in TC and the recently acquired Smallwood will be a great scoring punch, wherever he plays.


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[Keepit100]

You passed on a few older international prospects in Mokoka and Diakite to select another, PG Arturs Zagars from UCLA via Lithuania. What did you see in Zagars' skillset to draft him at #9?

I saw the photos already but seriously is the bike ok? How long will it be on IR?

[greepleairport]

How long will a Thunder rebuild take? Which pieces do you currently see participating in the rebuilt Thunder?

[AngryBanana]

You passed on a few older international prospects in Mokoka and Diakite to select another, PG Arturs Zagars from UCLA via Lithuania. What did you see in Zagars' skillset to draft him at #9?

I saw the photos already but seriously is the bike ok? How long will it be on IR?

A few parts to this. One I knew Pete was gone and Acuna was not the long term answer at PG. Two, you mention older prospects. I saw that Zagars has some good traits to work with and was still 19. So I figured, I train him for a few seasons and get him to a place where he can contribute. Then lets say its season three where he starts to play, he will be 21 and still younger than prospects who will be drafted in that draft lottery for the season.

So, IR... I thought its the injury list... I will be having surgery hopefully on Thursday to where I will be "out" a month before doing full time pressers again.

[AngryBanana]

How long will a Thunder rebuild take? Which pieces do you currently see participating in the rebuilt Thunder?

That is a good question. I do not even know if we are in a full rebuild...I have a few quality pieces in WJ, Hord and Smallwood to where I could potentially compete, but I clearly also do not have a roster that sticks out as championship material, which I might never get with this group. So it kinda depends on how I move forward with who I have and what is presented to me.