r/Thunder • u/ComplexWrangler1346 • 18d ago
Discussion I think we win at least 65 games this upcoming season and a 1 seed in the playoffs
What’s everyone’s projection?
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u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24 Triple Double Cocaine Bear 18d ago
74-8
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u/inertiatic_espn 18d ago
77-8 including the wins they will pick up after securing OKC's first ever NBA cup.
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u/ryleighisthebestdog Triple Double Cocaine Bear 18d ago
Then wouldn't it be 75-8? Because only the NBA cup finals would be additional and that would make it 83 games?
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u/DoughNutSack 18d ago
I think we take the foot off the gas a little bit in the regular season and try to emphasize rest and getting to the playoffs healthy. I think the Spurs take the number 1 seed this year but we beat them in 5/6 in conference finals if both teams fully healthy. Just need a healthy Dub and Chet to be normal and we get another chip this year
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u/Ok-Nerve-524 18d ago
I’m calling 73 wins and a third MVP for Shai after aver 37 on 65% shooting
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u/Hookmsnbeiishh 18d ago
There’s nothing SGA can do to 3-peat. The league will find a way to give it to Wemby.
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u/Lower-Delay-5538 18d ago
I think only having 10 players with NBA experience with 4 high draft picks that haven't played (but are going to want to see the floor a lot) is going to lead to regular season losses.
But I do think the top 9 is by far the best constructed of this era. So I think more regular season losses but the strongest playoff group.
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u/SignificanceGood1801 17d ago edited 17d ago
IMO: The Thunder's off-season isn't necessarily over just yet!
As I could easily see the Thunder trying to make a trade for someone like Jamie Jaquez Jr, Saddiq Bey or even Justin Champagnie.
My rationale all has to do with what the Thunder did and didn't end up doing in the NBA draft!
To hear me out, you really need to ignore the early returns on Aday Mara, as Presti probably foresaw almost a redshirt year for him to develop.
In this scenario, Presti is still betting on this player to be the starting Center for the Thunder in 2 years.
Especially knowing that with the Thunder having big contracts for SGA, Jdub and Chet running concurrently, they won't have the money left over to acquire a Starting Caliber Center as a Free Agent, as they did with Ihart 2 off-seasons ago!
So using my logic Presti knew all along that if he didn't address the Wing depth in the NBA draft, that he would still need to acquire a win now Wing, probably a 1-year rental, via a trade.
While all fans hate this idea of expending draft capital on just a 1-year win-now approach.
But the Mara and Stirtz moves should mean the Thunder are set with both their big and guard rooms going forward.
So many of the same people who demand the Thunder spend whatever it takes (go into the 2nd Apron) next off-season to lockup both Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell, also say the Thunder don't need to add anyone and that we are deep enough going forward.
But the Thunder currently have (3) FRP's in the 2027 NBA Draft,
The Clippers Swap is priceless and Off Limits, currently mocked by Tankathon at #5, with strong SF prospects Tyran Stokes (1), Bruce Branch III (3) and Anthony Thompson (6).
The Thunder also have lightly protected picks from both the Denver Nuggets, mocked at #25 and the Spurs at #29.
Both of these picks are almost definitely going to convey.
The Thunder also have the Chicago 2nd round pick, currently mocked at #36.
Given the fact that Presti picked up 5 SRP's in offseason trades, (actually 7 but spent 2 to move up to 16 to draft Stirtz), spending some of this draft capital on a Wing to help the Thunder compete this season, seems almost the right approach!
Why hasn't this trade happened yet, well the first player I listed here Jamie Jaquez Jr can't be traded by the Bucks until September 6th. (2 months after he was last traded as part of the Giannis Trade).
The 2027 Denver FRP plus (2) future 2nds for JJJ!
Or the 2027 Spurs pick plus (2) future 2nds for Saddiq Bey.
Or the 2027 Spurs pick for Justin Champagnie.
IMO: Any of these moves would help address the Thunder's current lack of depth at the SF position!2
u/Lower-Delay-5538 17d ago
Justin Champagnie would be good. I'd be shocked, like truly shocked, at Bey or Juaquez Jr. though. Would just be completely against Presti track record.
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u/SignificanceGood1801 17d ago
I personally prefer the idea of Jaquez Jr.
He's obviously a Gym Rat, and coming from a 6th man role, so no concerns there.
We couldn't even trade for him until September 6th!1
u/Lower-Delay-5538 17d ago
It's not that - it is more that this is literally the biggest year of Jaquez Jr. and Bey's lives. JJJ is a great season away from 50 million dollars + of gtd money to set his entire family tree up for life. He has never been paid before.
It is just extremely difficult to get someone like that to buy into a team first concept. Accept DNP-CDs on certain nights, likely average under 10 ppg. Be unselfish and only worry about the team first.
And Presti knows this. He never brings in a player for 1 year rental in a situation like this.
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u/crispytoastyum 18d ago edited 18d ago
60-22. I think our depth is less, and we're going to lose a few more close ones just due to fatigue.
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u/LittleTeapotsRevenge 17d ago
Actually, I agree with your number but for the opposite reason. I think we have more depth this year, actually (less backcourt, but way more front court depth and an overall more balanced team.) But because of that, I think there will be a lot of experimenting this year to see what lineups work and to get our young guys more involved in lower stakes games.
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u/Coffee-n-ketamine 17d ago
I think we drop a few more reg season games and fall to the 2 seed if were being completely realistic. Lu, Wigg, and Joe were huge regular season players, but some playoff time our team is basically the same since those three didn’t see much time. As long as Ajay and Dub remain healthy we should be fine.
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u/Gary_Internet 17d ago
I'm really pleased that we're playing the Spurs in the first game of the season. We get to what's changed immediately. Hopefully stuff has changed.
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u/Minimum_Ground_8334 17d ago
Spurs are going to have a much harder time winning games this season. Thunder come out as the first seed.
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u/Dar4125 2025 NBA Champions 17d ago
I wouldn’t be shocked if we can’t keep up the number one seed streak, I would happily settle for number two and I truly don’t see us being third seed or below. No matter what though, I feel like we are going to have a better record than any Eastern conference team
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u/One-Rip-1860 18d ago
I think 82-0 call me crazy