Value of Experience

As training camp starts, this week teams will look to get settled in as the NBA season comes to fruition in just three short weeks. December 22nd will be a glorious time for NBA fans across the globe. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Los Posadas, or the Chinese New Year, we can all agree that the NBA starting in time for the holidays will be a much-needed release from the chaos that has been the year 2020.

As Sam Presti meets with the media this week, I can only wonder if our General Manager will leave us with more questions than answers about our current roster. Still, the one constant that I have grown to understand with the Thunder is that nobody ever knows what information the OKC Front Office will divulge in these settings because Sam keeps his cards close to his vest.

The thought of starting training camp with George Hill, Trevor Ariza, and Al Horford all on the Oklahoma City roster is very intriguing for me. I have always thought that these guys would be more assets than anything, but now that I have thought about it for a few weeks, maybe these are the perfect mentors for this group.

Hill, Horford, and Ariza are all roughly the same age at 34–35 years of age and have had respected careers with notable stops at perennial contenders along the way.

George Hill’s name will forever live in infamy due to the 2011 NBA Draft where the San Antonio Spurs traded for Kawhi Leonard. The Spurs won a championship three years later, and the rest is history. Hill is an ultimate professional; he has played with many stars; Paul George, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are certainly the most notable superstars he has teamed up with in years past. He has also experienced some lows with some franchises, which is why he seems to be a fairly level-headed individual. During interviews, you usually don’t see Hill getting too high or too low, and that is a trait that this young Thunder nucleus could sure emulate.

Trevor Ariza is another consummate professional and has a similar demeanor to George Hill. Presti seems to have criteria when dealing with veteran leadership he takes in, and it is pretty easy to see the similarities. Like Hill, Ariza is a journeyman. Nicknamed ‘Switchblade’ due to his repertoire, Ariza made a name for himself on the defensive end at an early stage of his career.

Ariza’s experience with superstars is, yet again, something we must not undervalue. Having played with players like Kobe Bryant will only translate to a winning attitude on and off the floor. If there is a swap for Ariza after the trade restriction period is up, it wouldn’t be surprising, but at the same time, some players are looking for different roles as they get into the latter years of their playing career.

Al Horford is one of the most talked-about trade pieces as of late because he is another one of these guys that brings his professionalism to all areas of a franchise. In the clubhouse, community, and on the floor, Horford remains steady. He is the highest-paid Latin American basketball player and has averaged more than 10 PPG since entering the league in 2007. Averaging around 35 percent from the three-point line in past years will also bode well for a Thunder team with no type of perimeter shooting from its Center position since the franchise came to OKC in 2008.

The idea of trading Horford is compelling, but on the other hand, he has been linked to the Oklahoma City roster ever since former Head Coach Billy Donovan took over in 2015. Horford and Donovan won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2006–07. Since Billy has moved on to another windy city, it is questionable why Horford is now wearing OKC colors. The organization’s general makeup makes it an easy decision for players looking for stability, especially if this is Horford’s last destination before retirement.

It will be hard to fit Horford’s contract on a contender right now since he is being paid 27 million at the age of 34, with his deal set to expire in 2023. Horford will be 37 years old, and it’s safe to assume wherever his next destination will be, whether it is Oklahoma City or elsewhere, this will more than likely be his final stop in the NBA.

Coach Mark Daigneault could be a peer mentor to Horford at this stage in his career if Al is interested in Coaching or joining the Front Office with Nazr Mohammad and Nick Collison. There are many avenues to implore with Horford because of the consistency he brings to a ball club. If Horford is wearing Thunder Blue on December 22nd, we can expect to see a stat line of 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. He is that type of player and could be one of the best players on the OKC roster.

When I sat down to write this article, I planned on reviewing the many trade possibilities for Al Horford, but as my mind started to wander, I began to make sense of the trade and what it would mean for Horford and the Thunder. I could realistically see a transaction where George Hill and Ariza go to playoff contenders, but with Horford, it almost makes too much sense for him to play the rest of his career out with this team. He will be able to be a number two option behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Horford will be more of a focal point in Daigneault’s scheme, like his time in Atlanta and Boston, where he was more of an offensive staple.

These three wily Veterans will bring much-needed grit and defensive prowess if they remain on the Oklahoma City roster come December 22nd. If a lineup where George Hill, Shai, Dort, Ariza or Bazely, and Horford were getting some consistent minutes, I think that could be a competitive group. I would believe whole-heartedly Daigneault would try this rotation to possibly close out the fourth quarter because it is a beautiful blend of youth and experience. Sam Presti has a great knack for putting players in positions to be successful. The great thing about that is if a trade can’t accommodate them, then we will have a fantastic level-headed group of Veterans that will help our young core become more talented as they grow over the years.

Sam put together a great group of experienced players when management constructed the first ‘Big 3’ of OKC. Nick Collison, Royal Ivey, Nazr Mohammed, and Kendrick Perkins were all instrumental in Durant, Westbrook, and Harden’s development. Now it’s time to see what the future holds for this next generation of core talent.

Written by Brandon Dale, a contributor to OKC UK, you can find me on Twitter @MrOKCtober. Feel free to leave any comments and thoughts on this article, and I hope you enjoyed reading my work.

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