Thursday, May 26th 2011, 1:22 pm
Originally Published: May 3, 2010 11:6 PM CDT
The offseason has begun for Sam Presti and the Thunder and everyone wants to know what’s next.  Do they sign a big-name free agent such as Chris Bosh?  Do they draft OSU’s James Anderson and former McGuinness big man Daniel Orton with their two first-round picks?  Do they package the picks and trade up?  Only Sam Presti knows and he ain’t tellin’.</P>Here are three things that I, in my uneducated non-General Manager mind, believe must happen:</P>1.        Sign Kevin Durant and Jeff Green to long-term deals.  Durant deserves and will get the maximum.  Green is much trickier.  His value extends beyond the court.  Green and Durant came in as Sonics rookies together and are the best of friends.  I say offer $7-8 million a year, but don’t be afraid to give him more if you have to.</P>2.       Get a consistent shooter other than Durant.  I think that James Harden will improve his three-point shooting, but there are no guarantees.  There is no substitute for a great shooter.  Craig Hodges, Steve Kerr and John Paxson all hung around longer than anyone expected because they could fill it up.  The problem is that good shooters, such as Kyle Korver and Mike Miller come at a high price.  </P>3.       Add some bulk inside.  The Thunder has an athletic big man in Serge Ibaka, a big man who can shoot in Nenad Krstic and an undersized banger in Nick Collison.  Unfortunately, we cannot meld the three of them into Pau Gasol.  </P> </P>They are just my opinions.  If none of these come to pass, don’t blame m<BR/>May 26th, 2011
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