06-26-2014, 08:40 PM
I'm guessing OKC sees through its optimistic goggles more Kenneth Faried than Landry Fields. Speculation was that OKC, one of the youngest teams in the league, would not draft two in the first round and instead make a trade. If Huestis is with the Thunder, the organization generally does a decent job of supporting its draft picks.
Without great offensive options at center (unathletic Kendrick Perkins, older guy Nick Collison, and now second-year player Steven Adams) , OKC might see Huestis as helping provide a legit "small ball" option when their power forward Ibaka moves to the center spot. However, the Thunder have mostly preferred to have a true center paired with Ibaka.
The CBS Sports story mentions Roberson but he's basically a non-contributor, so Huestis is landing in a place that, yes, has a roster that's mostly set, but also a team I think will be hoping for him to contribute in his rookie year if he can show good hands (Westbrook's passes have some heat) and *just enough* ability to get a shot off against NBA defenders.
Without great offensive options at center (unathletic Kendrick Perkins, older guy Nick Collison, and now second-year player Steven Adams) , OKC might see Huestis as helping provide a legit "small ball" option when their power forward Ibaka moves to the center spot. However, the Thunder have mostly preferred to have a true center paired with Ibaka.
The CBS Sports story mentions Roberson but he's basically a non-contributor, so Huestis is landing in a place that, yes, has a roster that's mostly set, but also a team I think will be hoping for him to contribute in his rookie year if he can show good hands (Westbrook's passes have some heat) and *just enough* ability to get a shot off against NBA defenders.