Breaking Down The Etan Thomas Trade
It’s official.
The Thunder has acquired Etan Thomas and two 2010 second-round picks from Minnesota in exchange for Damien Wilkins and Chucky Atkins.
On one hand, the deal could be viewed simply as three aging reserves and two second-round picks swapping places. But this trade holds much more significance for the Thunder in both the short and long term.
Just last week I touched on how the Thunder’s post play remains the weakest link. Young guns D.J. White, Serge Ibaka and Byron Mullens aren’t ready to contribute consistent minutes next season and the addition of Thomas now means they don’t have to.
Oklahoma City is now looking at a steady power forward/center rotation of Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic as the starters and Nick Collison and Etan Thomas as their backups. Roles should be clearly defined in 2009-10 as opposed to the uncertain responsibilities surrounding Thunder bigs Collison, Green, Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith, Robert Swift and Johan Petro at the start of last season.
But more than that, the Thunder has brought in the type of player it lacked — a tough-minded, physical presence who rebounds, defends and blocks shots like his career depends on it. Collison is as close as it gets on the Thunder, but he lacks Thomas’ athletic gifts, shot-blocking skills and physical prowess in the post. Not only does Thomas fill that void, but he can now serve as a mentor to players like Mullens, Ibaka and White. If the Thunder stood pat and you looked around the locker room come October there wouldn’t have been any name plates above cubicles that you honestly could have said would make the young bigs better. They needed someone to challenge them every day by punishing them on the practice court and demonstrating healthy habits on game days.
The Thunder also landed two more second-round picks from Minnesota in next year’s draft. One is Minnesota’s and the other will be the lesser of the eventual second-round slotting between Houston, Portland and Chicago. It bumps Oklahoma City’s total number of draft picks to five in 2010. The Thunder has its own first-rounder as well as Phoenix’s unprotected first-round selection. And OKC likely will retain its own second-round pick rather than having to send the conditional pick to Dallas as agreed to in the draft-night deal for Mullens.
Meanwhile, Thomas’ expiring $7.35 million contract is only slightly more than the combined $6.78 million Atkins and Wilkins were owed next season. Atkins was only guaranteed $760,000. But because the Thunder is so far underneath the salary cap and Thomas’ deal is coming off the books anyway, the deal isn’t a financial risk.
Thomas, however, is injury-prone. He’s appeared in more than 65 games only twice in his seven-year career. He missed the entire 2007-08 season following open heart surgery to repair a leaking aortic valve before returning for 2008-09 and playing only 26 games before tearing his MCL in mid-January. The only questions are whether Thomas can stay healthy long enough to contribute in the areas in which the Thunder sorely need his services and whether he’s outlasted the setbacks and even has enough left in the tank to contribute.
But The Thunder has undoubtedly added another player who fits the team’s commitment to high-character players. Thomas’ work as a poet, author and community activist has been well documented and lauded for years, establishing him as not only one of the classiest NBA players but also one of the most conscious ones. I remember trying to set up interviews for a profile I did on Gilbert Arenas in January 2007 and a Wizards PR man eagerly wanting to get me Thomas on the phone. I didn’t know it then but it was a testament to Thomas’ character. (Trust me, PR people are never that willing to just hand a player the phone for an interview.)
Oklahoma City also has just 12 players under contract following the trade, allowing the Thunder to explore more signings or trades this summer or during the season. It could pave the way for Desmond Mason’s return or the addition of a third point guard to play behind Russell Westbrook and Shaun Livingston.
And just like Earl Watson, Wilkins had the potential of becoming a bit of a problem had he stayed on the roster next season. Wilkins, known as a classy guy, often voiced his displeasure with his situation last season and could have gone from miserable to malcontent next year. Wilkins likely would have played fewer minutes next season than the 15.5 he averaged last year now that Thabo Sefolosha is here for a full season and No. 3 overall pick James Harden figures to be solidly in the rotation. Atkins, meanwhile, will be 35 in 2 1/2 weeks, and his career-low shooting percentages of 29.1 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3 in 18 games for the Thunder last season proved the sun is setting on his career.
-DM-
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Thomas, Weaver is a second-year player who is still learning how to manage a game at the NBA level. He can run the point position but is not the guy you count on to be a calming force behind Westbrook or in emergency situations like rampant injuries, for example. Weaver likely will also see a good amount of time in Tulsa to get steady minutes to help continue his development. I expect we could see something done before the start of training camp. -DM-
dm who do you think would be good players to add to finalize the roster? What do you think of glen davis, joey graham, linas kleiza, raef lafrentz, cartier martin, pops mensah-bonsu,leon powe,nate robinson, ramon sessions, hakim warrick, von wafer,desmond mason? or is there someone else they might get in a trade…. what do you think there greatest need is beyond center?
Dale, I actually think they’re OK at center now after today’s trade. Krstic will continue to develop and get back to where he was before his knee injury. Thomas is a solid veteran to have off the bench. And Mullens is a young center with a lot of potential. I think they’ve got to get a little more experience at point guard, not necessarily someone who comes in and plays 20 minutes but someone who can at least be in Russell Westbrook’s ear on the practice court, the bench, the team plane and team bus. Someone has to be able to mentor and show a second-year point guard the way besides the head coach. I love Ramon Sessions’ game, but I know the Thunder won’t overpay for him. I’d like to see Desmond return, but playing time is starting to really become a premium on this team as it focuses on developing its young core. That’s why even though I think Leon Powe could be had for cheap you have to ask yourself, where is he going to play? All that to say I know I’m not really answering your question, but I think the roster is coming together quite nicely. -DM-
I feel pretty comfortable with the roster now, Hopefully they decide to bring Mason back, sign and emergency point guard for the veterans minimum or decide between Vaden and Hardin with the last spot, would you think this is likely?
Carey, it’s almost a certainty that DeVon Hardin will go back overseas this season. Robert Vaden is a wild card. They like him but he might also be a candidate for a year overseas, a strong one if OKC re-signs Mason. So I’d say it’s unlikely that either Vaden or Hardin end up on this year’s roster. If one of them does, it’ll likely be Vaden. And if Mason gets a deal from the Thunder it might not be finalized until mid-to-late August or early September even. -DM-
Darnell – Korean Thunder fan here.
You said thunder have 12 player under contract now. But when i check roster, I see 13 player.
Westbrook, Livingston, Weaver, Sefolosha, Harden, Durant, Green, Collison, White, Ibaka, Krstic, Thomas, Mullens.
Who doesn’t have contract from above list?
HSKONG, Livingston’s contract situation is a little unclear. The Thunder has an out clause of some sort on him. But he would make 13 if he is indeed on the team in the regular season. I’ll try to get this straightened out and get to the bottom of it. -DM-
[...] Darnell Mayberry: “On one hand, the deal could be viewed simply as three aging reserves and two second-round picks swapping places. But this trade holds much more significance for the Thunder in both the short and long term. Just last week I touched on how the Thunder’s post play remains the weakest link. Young guns D.J. White, Serge Ibaka and Byron Mullens aren’t ready to contribute consistent minutes next season and the addition of Thomas now means they don’t have to. Oklahoma City is now looking at a steady power forward/center rotation of Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic as the starters and Nick Collison and Etan Thomas as their backups. Roles should be clearly defined in 2009-10 as opposed to the uncertain responsibilities surrounding Thunder bigs Collison, Green, Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith, Robert Swift and Johan Petro at the start of last season.” [...]
Anthony Carter,Jacque Vaughn or jason williams three possible point guards the thunder could sign. I love williams or carter. However i also really like livingston would love to see them resign him and williams… What do you think DM… what should the thunder do???
Darnell, you said the most pressing need (I assume) is a veteran point guard (not Kyle Weaver), “not necessarily someone who comes in and plays 20 minutes but someone who can at least be in Russell Westbrook’s ear on the practice court, the bench, the team plane and team bus. Someone has to be able to mentor and show a second-year point guard the way besides the head coach.” If that is true, why didn’t the Thunder trade Chucky Atkins in the first place? Last season, when we traded with Denver to get Atkins, the Thunder staff wanted him to do all of the things you commented above. And now the Thunder traded him, and you want to get a different veteran PG? I don’t understand.
Thomas, I also said the Thunder needs a “guy you count on to be a calming force behind Westbrook or in emergency situations like rampant injuries, for example.” Did you see Chucky play last season? He did anything but keep the ship steady when called upon. But he was a great as a mentor on the bench (when he wasn’t eating popcorn). But the Thunder needs a steady hand. Atkins never proved to be that. -DM-
As a Wizards fan, I strongly advise you guys not to get your hopes up too high. Etan’s a good guy, but he’s always injured (and never the same injury twice), and, well, he’s not very good. He gives the impression of playing hard by shaking the ball after rebounds like dog about to kill its prey, but that’s about it. He’s undersized and he plays like it. I’m really impressed with the Thunder and I don’t think this was a bad move at all, but don’t expect too much. Hopefully, he’ll stay healthy, but I think the window of opportunity for actually reaching his potential closed a long time ago.
Anthony Carter,Jacque Vaughn or jason williams three possible point guards the thunder could sign who do you think we should sign if any of them? If not what free agents should we add or should we just go with who we have.
HAHAHAHA. As a wizards fan, i can tell you that everything in this article is completely wrong. Thomas has no post skills, has no defensive ability. He has bad character and has always fought with Brendon Haywood and his coaches. Also he had major heart surgery last year. You dont want him as a mentor, he’s not tough minded. Good luck, he’s your problem now.
HAHA, guess what? I”m a Wizards fan as well. And you’re wrong. Bad character? You would be the first to label Thomas a bad-character guy. Yes he fought with Haywood. But he was defending himself. He might not have an offensive post game to speak of but he definitely is a tough rebounder, solid shot-blocker and capable interior defender. His problem throughout his career has been injuries. And even if he continues to struggle to stay healthy as a member of the Thunder, he’s only under contract for one more season not the six-year, $36-million deal he inked in Washington. The Wizards hoped he could be their starting center or split time as the starter. The Thunder is looking for 20 minutes a night, at best, behind Nenad Krstic. I wouldn’t call that much of a problem for Oklahoma City. -DM-
Darnell, I watched Atkins when he was playing, and you are right. But a veteran point who mentors Westbrook and also calms the storm is expensive, no ifs, ands, or buts. And the vet thinks he doesn’t deserve to be a 3rd-string PG if the 1st-string can’t cut it.
Adding a third point guard–that’s what Kyle Weaver is for.