Spitballing: Thunderstuck
Question: Is it time to stop adding youth?
Answer: There's no rush but they should at least make an attempt at adding some talented veterans.
Solution: With roughly seventeen million in cap space along with a couple of mid-sized expiring deal, the Thunder should be major players this offseason. Is Jeff Green, #3 pick and expiring contracts enough to get Chris Bosh? Because Bosh is from relatively nearby Dallas, Texas, he might be more likely to decide to re-sign with the Thunder than some other free agents. The Raptors might like the deal because they'd land Green, a forward who would complement Andrea Bargnani (who actually showed some signs of being a solid player this last season). Grabbing Hasheem Thabeet alongside Green would help bolster their defense as well.
If not Bosh, the Thunder could try for Andrew Bynum, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer or any of the other big names on the market. The easiest deal, however, might be the one they already made - Tyson Chandler. They could get Chandler for nothing and still have the expiring deals and #3 pick in order to make a move for a shooting guard. It's not out of the realm of possibility that the Thunder could add Vince Carter and Chandler without touching their core of Westbrook, Durant, and Green.
If they can't move the pick for a veteran before draft day, I'd either draft Rubio or (if Ricky's gone) trade down. I think a deal for Minnesota's #6 and #18 makes the most sense. The Thunder could add a SG and C, maybe grabbing two one-and-done prospects, Demar DeRozan and BJ Mullens. Mullens was a major disappointment at Ohio State but I think he has a higher ceiling than Thabeet and I'd rather roll the dice on him at #18 than grab Thabeet at #3.
I know some people might just want to go with the last deal and add youth and keep clearing cap space but I think the Thunder should try to make a move to start winning games. This draft just isn't that strong and even someone like Rubio is going to take a couple years to really fit in. If they can add veteran talent, even aging talent like Chander and Carter, I think the Thunder have to go for it.
