Thunder May Add PG

by Tommy Dee on June 14th, 2009 at 7:05 pm

Via the Oklahoman:

“…Even if the Thunder were to bypass Ricky Rubio with the No. 3 pick, would Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti consider selecting a point guard with his No. 25 pick?

“They don’t really need a point guard, but this is an exceptionally deep draft at the point position,” said an Eastern Conference scout. “It’s the deepest I can remember at that position in a long time. There are 12 or 13 point guards that are getting first-round discussion.”

It’s no secret Presti would like to trade Earl Watson, a veteran who began the season as the Thunder’s starting point guard before becoming Russell Westbrook’s backup.

Watson has only one year left on his contract. Regardless of Watson’s situation, it might be prudent to select a point guard late in the first round to serve as Westbrook’s backup for years to come…”

Interesting. The Thunder are a team on the rise and could surely benefit in nabbing a facilitator. Has Curry’s stock risen so high that now he’s being considered at 3? The anticipation building for next Thursday is going to continue to mount.

  • Mucha

    Curry’s definitely the second or third best prospect in this draft, but this may be a smokescreen.

    I mean James Harden is a great prospect as well and he would fill a void at the shooting guard spot. He’s a good passer, he’d be a perfect fit considering the fact that Westbrook is an athletic, scoring point guard. Stephen Curry’s a great prospect but their backcourt would be totally undersized, I think they’ll pick either James Harden or Hasheem Thabeet.

  • cragganmor

    Agree, I don’t see Curry as a good fit for OKC. I could see them taking Harden, Derozan or Evans, maybe trading down even, as these 3 aren’t at the top of the mocks.

    Thabeet is a tantalizing prospect, but they gotta think about it, having whiffed at 3 previous attempts in drafting a starting C.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Thabeet to Mem.

    I think Curry is gone as his stock is soaring..someone is going to step up and grab him in the Washington slot… Likely Phoenix in a mass rebuilding attempt

    I agree that OKC goes for Harden as a natural 2 guard.

    Sacto has to go with jrue in the 4 slot .. he’s worked ou tthere twice and Rubio is only sceduled for an interview.

    How in the world does Boston think they’re getting up into the top 6 by waving Ray Allen around for heavens sake? NO WAY that flies.. he is an expiring deal not an all star contributor..

    jeez.. how much more of this can we take?

  • Chris Alvino

    If Boston dangles Allen in front of Washington, I would think that the Wizards would bite. While not at his old level, Allen will produce more next season than any prospect in this draft not named Griffin. If the Wizards are serious about contending next season, then why not Allen? Unless they can get Amare from Phoenix or Bosh from Toronto, I am not sure who the Wizards will target.

  • Bart

    So you think if Rubio is there they still pick Holiday?

  • slambam

    While definitely possible, I think Curry in Washington would be a bad fit. Curry is a very similar player to Nick Young, except smaller and a better stroke. Allen would be an immediate help to a very talented veteran team. They have a serious shot next year with or without Allen if Gilbert Arenas stays healthy, but would be a VERY good tea with Allen. I’m just hoping that that deal happens

  • Bart

    Does Boston want Stephen Curry to replace Ray Allen ?

  • slambam

    Boston wants Evans badly, so if they weer to move up it would be him

  • Jeff Cykiert

    If a team isn’t looking at Curry as a starting pointguard, than he can’t be in their top five, let alone top ten. As a spark of the bench, he is an undersized combo guard, and not very valuable, so i couldn’t see the thunder ever taking him. Teams looking to start him at the PG and build the offense around him, and develop him into the leader of the team; well that’s a different story – to those teams, he might be the best PG prospect in the draft and one of the most special over all prospects we have seen in a while.

    I think he’s falling to us. I don’t think anybody above us, besides the kings, is trying to let this kid take over, and therefore i don’t think they want to use their pick on him. The Kings will probably take Rubio, and if they take Curry i suspect Rubio will fall to us.

  • slambam

    I damn well hope your right, those are the two best guys for us in this entire draft (except blake griffin)

  • bob go knicks

    isn’t it funny ,about a month or so ago we were saying”the draft is weak,i hope we wont have to settle for a guy like STEPHEN CURRY ..TO…”CURRY looks pretty good should we take him,i dont think JRU HOLLIDAY is gonna be there at 8″to…” there is no way STEPHEN CURRY is gonna drop to us at 8,we’re gonna have to trade up to get him,we gotta have this guy” LOL..also its gonna take prolly 3 years before we find out how good hes gonna be

  • Knicks4lyfe8

    this would be knicks heaven after all the years of Isaih…

    we get stephen curry at 8 and acquire marcin gortat.
    Stephen Curry’s garden debut he drops 35 and 7 assists and marcin has 15 points, 4 blocks, and 8 boards.
    Danilo drops 40.
    lee gets a TRIPLE double
    Nate has 3 dunks
    harrington goes for a solid 25
    Jeffries and Curry are gone

    beat the opponent by 30

    anyone think this could actually happen.
    only in a perfect world

  • BiggieSmalls

    because Ray Allen has nothing left in the tank.

    He has one year left at max money and is breaking down

    Why would Washington give up the #5 overall pick for such a salary cap dump?

  • BiggieSmalls

    Jrue has worked out in Sacto twice. Rubio has not even been there yet and when he goes it will only be for an interview.

    Come to your own conclusions.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Ray Allen is 34 years old and past his prime and is a max salary player. Why in the world would Washington give up the #5 pick overall for him?

    i’d think Amare is a better bet. The Celts want to get younger for a reason. Allen is falling a part and will be on the fast decline next year.

    Good grief.. is washington that dumb to make that deal?

  • BiggieSmalls

    Chris — who else do you propose Washington give up to match Ray’s 19 million dollar salary for 2009/2010?

    I just think that is a terrible deal for the Wiz giving up a young player for one year of Ray Allen at 34 plus years old. Even worse if they have to throw back two or three expiring contracts in order to make it work.

  • CircleLimit4

    I think OKC is gonna grab Thabeet if Memphis trades the pick. The 5 is perhaps the reason why they weren’t close to a playoff hunt.

  • renenyg1

    I think things allways change in drafts and teams fall in love with certain players,at eight we get a really good player,if not a future star.We are still sitting pretty,I would feel better if I nice more about the workouts.Right now I would trade up to five giving up Harrington and 3 Million to get Curry.Or Duhon,Jeffries and I take back shorter contract.