"around the same wins" with another year of player development IS the problem. Sengun, Jabari, Amen, Tari should all be better than last year. If we're treading water then that's wasted growth. I'm not saying that we should be "immune to injuries". I am saying that Stone made specific decisions that made us more vulnerable. OKC loses games to injuries but their GM built a 12 deep roster with tradeable contracts and shooting. When someone goes down, they plug in quality players. We plug in...who? That's the difference between roster construction that withstands adversity vs hoping everyone stays healthy. Stone's depth chart has holes because he chose to spend resources poorly. "Withstanding injuries" doesn't mean winning at the same rate. It means not having your season derailed because you lack basic positional depth. We're 3rd in spite of Stone's roster decisions, not because of them. The talent is carrying flawed construction.
You need to look at the dictionary. Subpar = below Par Par means average aka at Par. Its not "not bad" Why do we need to care about process? Ultimately Stone is responsible for everything according to you right? Lets look at results. Rox have 3rd best record with an All star center and a bunch of exciting young talent outside Pistons, OKC, SAS. They have this record despite dealing with major injuries and a coach with a lot to learn on offensive side. They got all these in 4 yrs starting from nothing.. So in short Stone is not subpar except from haters like you.
Look, to be clear: I'm not saying Stone should be fired. He's gotten us competitive ahead of schedule and deserves to see this through. My criticism is about holding him accountable for clear mistakes while still believing he can course-correct. The offseason is crucial and we need him to finally hire an offensive coordinator, address guard depth and shooting, stop extending non-contributors and start consolidating roster spots and use our remaining assets strategically instead of returning premium picks Stone has shown he can identify talent and accelerate a rebuild. Now he needs to show he can optimize a contender. Those are different skill sets. I trust he'll learn from this season's flaws and make the right moves this offseason. But calling his recent decisions "subpar" isn't calling for his job, it's expecting better execution from someone with this much to work with.The bar is high because the opportunity is high. That's the point.
Brother you realize injuries mean you are supposed to take a step back right? OKC doesnt have anybody with season ending injuries and they already have worse record than last year. 2025 OKC: 68 - 14 2026 OKC: 48 - 15 So why Stone is subpar when his team has around the same wins as last season with 2 season ending injury but OKC is great GM with worse record than last year? They arent even treading water they are behind last year with 1 more loss already with 25% of season left.
another player to add to the list, jose alvarado was traded for 2nd round picks and cash considerations But no we have no choice at all but to play g league holiday and jd davison
Fine, let's use YOUR definition. Par = league average. There are 30 teams so average is 15th. Stone has the 3rd most draft capital accumulated in recent NBA history, an All-NBA caliber center, and cap flexibility. With those resources, being 3rd in the West IS below par for what's possible. You keep saying "starting from nothing", that's false. Stone inherited the Harden trade haul (multiple future firsts from Brooklyn), a blank slate to tank and accumulate more assets, full organizational control to execute a rebuild. He did his job building the foundation. No argument there. But NOW, with a playoff team and championship-level resources, his decisions are limiting the ceiling. Process matters because it determines sustainability. We can be 3rd seed AND poorly constructed for a deep run, both things are true.You're defending him like I want him fired. I don't. I want him to be better because I believe he CAN be. Blind loyalty doesn't help the team, accountability does. Being "not bad" when you have elite resources is the definition of subpar. That's not hate, that's standards.
Yes because like I said Rox are 1M below apron. Alverado makes more than 1M and he will be a free agent next year.
yea there was just no way we could scrap together enough salary to match his monstrous 4.5 million dollar contract
OKC is 48-15 and the #1 seed. They've dealt with major injuries all season. Chet missed 2+ months with a fractured hip, Hartenstein missed the start with a hand fracture then had calf issues. And they're STILL dominating. That's elite roster construction. Presti built a 12-deep rotation so when Chet/Hartenstein went down, they plugged in Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams, and others without missing a beat. They have shooting and versatility at every position. Stone? Lose FVV and we have no guard depth. DFS at $12M can't even play. Dead extensions instead of rotation depth. OKC's #1 seed despite massive injuries proves elite GMs build rosters that withstand adversity. We're 3rd because talent is carrying flawed construction, not because Stone built championship-level depth. Injuries happen. Elite GMs plan for it. Stone didn't.
So somehow Stones at fault for getting capital and drafting Alpi? Because he got those capital and Alpi now he is subpar? Why is getting those mean being 3rd is below par? Spurs got even more draft capital along with all star Swipa and OKC has the most assets in history. So you expect Stone to be better than OKC and Spurs just for him not to be subpar? Are you high? he didnt inherit the Harden trade haul he was the one who made the Harden trade haul lol. I guess that trade made him subpar amirite
So Presti getting less wins due to injury is him planning for it but Stone getting the same wins with injuries is him not planning for it? Do you read what you post? OKC is def elite construction but why do you need to be at OKc level just not to be subpar?
Yes and those decisions have us at 3rd seed despite injuries and contention without injuries. This isnt rocket science.
OKC is the #1 seed. We're #3. That's not "less wins", they're literally winning MORE despite injuries. They've won 48 games. We've won what, 34? How is that "getting less wins"? Presti built a roster so deep that losing Chet for 2+ months and Hartenstein for stretches didn't drop them from #1. That's what elite depth looks like. We lose FVV and our guard situation forces Amen Thompson to play point which isn't his natural position. Reed plays well when he starts, but Stone's decision to not have veteran guard depth left us thin at a critical position. Do YOU read what you post? OKC has MORE wins than us, not less. They're #1. We're #3. Stop making up facts.
I meant OKC winning less than they did last year. Rox on pace to win the same as last year. OKC is the best team building ever so my point is why do you need to be on par with them just not to be subpar? Like why do you expect Stone to match Presti and beat him just for him to be an elite GM and also not be subpar? Presti is the goat GM nobody can compare to him. Why is not beating him mean you are subpar?
You just admitted Stone's decisions left us with no flexibility. 3rd seed with zero roster flexibility = ceiling capped. Can't improve at the deadline, can't adjust when weaknesses get exposed, can't acquire the piece that gets us over the top. That's subpar asset management. Stone boxed himself in with bad contracts (DFS, Holiday/Tate/Unc, FVV extension) instead of maintaining optionality. Being 3rd while handcuffed isn't success—it's wasted potential.
We traded for a max contract and our own players are getting paid what do you expect? Your post reek of hindsight. Of course now they are bad but at the time can you find a post saying signing DFS or FVV are bad asset mgt? I can link you posts saying the FVV and DFS signings are great deals at the time.
Elite GMs make the RIGHT call, not the popular one. "Everyone liked it" doesn't excuse paying aging vets that killed our flexibility.
So what? Stone is human he doesnt have super powers. You can only make the call with the limited information you have. Thats why everyone liked it it was the right call unless you can see into the future. What do you even mean paying aging vets killed our flexibility? We only have 14M in free space even if we didnt sign both FVV and DFS. You realize we just absorbed 55M and started paying Sengun 38M right? You know what that does to capspace and flexibility? You dont think FVV and DFS combined is worth 14M? Esp since we just traded for KD and we want to contend? You just have no clue.
