this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2023
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Of all the young cores, OKC is the only one I’m confident is on a championship trajectory. They check off all the boxes - franchise player, young two-way supporting cast, good coach, ample draft capital.
Pacers and Hawks have defensive issues, Orlando has spacing issues, pelicans have health issues. Spurs have their superstar but they’ll need a few years to grow.
Cavs, kings, wolves, grizzlies - not confident that they have a championship ceiling with their current cores. Dallas is trending upwards but has work to do. These teams are all exciting but the unfortunate reality is that most of them will top out as decent playoff teams.
I couldn’t imagine looking at OKC’s core, then the wolves core, and thinking the wolves core of Ant, Jaden, KAT and Naz isn’t capable of winning championships but OKC who hasn’t even made it past the play in are? Care to elaborate on that logic?
At least a portion of it comes from the idea that the Thunder's additional picks and longer timeline (because they're so much younger) will give them additional optionality... Whether they have to draft replacements for some of their guys that get too expensive, or push those picks in for a disgruntled star, they can do that. The wolves have fewer options in that regard, and Gobert has a bunch of miles on his legs and is on the wrong side of 30.
"Because they're so much younger" is a sentiment I can see why someone would believe, but Wolves only have two less players 25 and younger than the Thunder do, and their main star is 3 years younger than Thunder's main star.
OKC has players aged 20-31, with 14 players 25 or under. Wolves have players aged 20-36, with 12 players 25 or under. KAT is only 28. Wolves are younger than people think.
The front office is one of the biggest factors.
The front office of Tim Connelly who built the championship Denver nuggets? lol
The post says 2-3 years away. Arguably the Wolves should be at it now due to their all in trade for Gobert
The difference is the draft picks. The wolves team is more or less what it’ll be moving forward. (Maybe a little unfair, they have a couple trades they could make). The thunder may not even have their best player yet. They could trade a dragons hoard of picks for a superstar in the next couple years. So right now? Yeah I’d take they wolves in a 7 game series but the thunder have the potential to boat race the league in the next few years.
Doesn’t work like that. Only so much salary to go around. Wolves traded all those picks but unless the new owners are willing to shell out a ton in luxury tax they’ll have to go. The new CBA prevents what you’re saying.
OKC can do the same thing but let’s not pretend whoever they get with those picks and their current core can stay together. Chet and SGA will demand super maxes
It restricts things like signing mle for teams who are over the luxury tax, but it doesn't restrict drafting, which is where the thunders picks come in. Teams over the tax can also make trades as long as they take less salary in then what they send out. So the thunders could still do a sign and trade for example.
But the difference is also 2 more years of playoff experience/development and experienced vets to guide them.
Draft picks don't equate to championships. Yes it gives flexibility but to win you usually need playoff seasoned stars and years of chemistry built in the playoffs. Ant at 22 has been to the playoffs twice as the #1 option, by the time he is in his prime (26) he could have 6 years of playoff experience.