The NBA summer has been lit and the latest blockbuster move sends Carmelo Anthony to OKC but doesn’t put them ahead of the Warriors.
So much for hating super teams. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the latest organization to add their name to that list thanks to General Manager Sam Presti and the magic he’s made this summer.
Presti turned Kanter, Oladipo, Sabonis, Cam Payne, Joffrey, and Morrow into
Paul George and Carmelo Anthony
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht)
Presti has managed to turn OKC into the newest team with a big three by acquiring in a trade with the New York Knicks for , and a 2018 draft pick.
New York has agreed to a deal to send Carmelo Anthony to OKC for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a draft pick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
The news was first reported by ESPN’s that Anthony would join and on the Thunder, and although this move certainly makes OKC more of a contender, does it make them better than the Golden State Warriors.
The answer is unequivocally a big fat no. First of all the Warriors have a big four but their biggest strength is their depth. Golden State has bench players that know their role and play it well, and they have a chemistry that is unmatched. Until dethroned the Warriors are still the best team in the NBA.
What this trade does do, however, (at face value of course) is make the Thunder the second-best team in the West. That may seem like a stretch without this new Thunder group playing any games but none of the other new Western conference powerhouses have played together either.
The addition of Anthony on OKC puts them ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets.
Yes Anthony’s overall impact on the game has dropped in the last few years, but he hasn’t lost a step when it comes to his scoring ability.
And if you know Hoodie Melo, then you know Anthony is hungrier than ever and ready to make a statement in the league that he’s still here.
The fact that Westbrook and George have been balling with Anthony over the summer probably has a lot to do with the three of them joining forces officially, and it means there’s some chemistry and camaraderie already established with the Thunder’s new core.
Russ, Harden, CP3 and Melo all balling out.
?:— OurSports (@OurSportshow)
Time will tell how good this makes OKC because again, Golden State is the bar. But an already loaded West just got stronger.
This season is going to be a bloodbath for these Western Conference teams, and the last one standing will have to be gladiators.
Get your League Pass ready. The NBA season is about to be lit.
