2013-2014 Finish: 24-58

Season Highlight

This team suffered from poor ownership in the past, so the highlight was bringing in Nenjabin for the 2013 season after ridding themselves of Boyd, the team destroyer. Don’t believe me, just go look at the Nets after Boyd came back for a short stint. Nenjabin has been a shrewd GM, making wise trades and taking the best available in the draft.

Season Lowlight

The season itself. This team is in full rebuild mode. Nenjabin really didn’t have ANYTHING to work with in his 1^st season, but with the trades made this past year, they should become a much more well rounded and dangerous team in the near future. 

Best Trade

The Oklahoma City Thunder send Andrea Bargnani and Erick Green to the Washington Wizards. The Washington Wizards send JaVale McGee to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There were a few trades that we really loved by the Thunder, but this one is easily the best. They rid themselves of the albatross that is Bargnani to get McGee, a young, rim protecting big.  McGee has been improving in the NBA also, and at least he stayed somewhat healthy.

Worst Trade

The Oklahoma City Thunder send Chuck Hayes and C.J. McCollum to the Utah Jazz. The Utah Jazz send Dennis Schroeder, Alex Abrines, Isaiah Canaan and Nate Wolters to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

CJ McCollum became an NLL stud. Wolters was solid, but as the season went on, he became less reliable.  Schroeder hasn’t been effective in limited time and the other 2, abrines and canaan haven’t been able to be on the active roster yet. Still, even with this trade, OKC got some great potential, so this could turn out to be a good trade for them in the long run. For now, it’s got to be deemed as the worst of the bunch.

Other Notable Trades

The Boston Celtics send Will Bynum to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder send Joel Anthony to the Boston Celtics.

This trade had the Thunder send a defensive minded big man for a player that was included in a major trade move for OKC at a later date….

The Chicago Bulls send John Salmons, Andrea Bargnani, Alec Burks and Jimmy Butler to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder send Dirk Nowitzki and Willie Green to the Chicago Bulls.

Bargs gets moved in a previously mentioned trade (see Best Trade) and OKC adds Butler and Burks to help their lack of wing scoring.  Yes, they moved Dirk, but also rid themselves of that humongous cap hit that was Dirk, allowing them flexibility and the ability to be creative in trades.

The Dallas Mavericks send John Lucas, Al Horford, Tyler Hansbrough and Henry Sims to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder send Will Bynum, DeAndre Jordan, Jeremy Evans and Sergey Karasev to the Dallas Mavericks.

After getting McGee, Jordan was expendable. Of the 2, I would prefer Jordan, but Horford is a major upgrade over either. They also added Psycho T, helping their rebounding and hustle.  Bynum is strictly a slasher and none of the other players really were making an impact at this time.

The Oklahoma City Thunder send John Lucas to the Phoenix Suns. The Phoenix Suns send Luc Mbah a Moute to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Phoenix Suns send a 2nd-Rounder (Sac) to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Phoenix was cutting salary, so OKC took advantage to get themselves a 2^nd round pick. Shrewd move by Nenjabin!

The LA Lakers send Nik Stauskas to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder send Noah Vonleh to the LA Lakers.

Having bigs like McGee and Horford allowed OKC to move Vonleh. Long term, this writer believes that Vonleh will be the better player, but Stauskas is a lights out shooter, that we expect to shine in the NLL.

Best FA Signing

Toney Douglas – Speedy combo guard that has deep range. 

Worst FA Signing

Jarvis Varnado -  He lasted 1 week. 

Star

Nate Wolters – On a team with no go to guy, Nate became Sir Chucks-A-Lot.  Yes, his percentages were pitiful, but he ended up in the running for ROY too!

Surprise

Nenjabin – The GM really impressed in his inaugural season, with his activity and shrewd deal making!  Definitely a great addition for the NLL.

Goat

John Salmons – For the money he was getting paid, and his abilities, he was worthless on the court. There’s big reason why the deal making GM ended up having him still on the roster at the end of the season, AND why his team option was declined!

Draft Report Card

A boon of 7 young players will be looking to don a Thunder jersey this fall.  Stauskas and Wilcox are the headliners, with the rest who knows? 

Draft grade: B+

Looking to the Future

Nenjabin has assembled a team  A group of guys that collectively fit the concept this GM has.  He’s got youth for days and some solid talent. The oldest player on the roster is 28!!!  Expect to see OKC fighting for a playoff berth in the next few seasons, but they are still 1-2 pieces from contending next year.

Upcoming Free Agents

Dewayne Dedmon – Young player that could be brought back, depending on if there is room for him.  With 7 rookies and 12 players already on the roster, it looks like Dedmon is the last person standing when the music stops.

Channing Frye – Frye can be a great change of pace player as a backup stretch big off the bench, but he’s inconsistent and porous on D.

John Salmons – After seeing Salmons lack of hustle, it’s highly likely that he will not be in OKC next season.