Per Chad Ford's ESPN NBA Draft blog, league sources have the Thunder (along with the Pistons and the Spurs) pinned as the team most aggressively trying to move up into the lottery for the upcoming draft. The report doesn't get into specifics regarding what prospect the Thunder would be targeting, but confirms that the "Thunder are also in the hunt for a big, and have targeted a few teams in the lottery to move up a few spots. The Thunder have multiple picks to offer". This draft isn't particularly deep with front court depth, and it appears Sam Presti is willing to package our 2 late-first rounders in order to move up and get a quality big. We can only speculate as to who the Thunder are targeting, but the "bigs" currently projected to go in the lottery are Demarcus Cousins, Derek Favors, Greg Monroe, Ekpe Udoh, Cole Aldrich, Ed Davis, and potentially Patrick Patterson, Hassan Whiteside, and Daniel Orton. Presti's track record suggests he wouldn't target someone with a red-flag for character (ruling out Cousins), and with Byron Mullens already on the roster, it's unlikely we'd take another "project" (ruling out Whiteside). With that being said, I'd say the most likely players to be targeted would be more refined products such as Favors, Monroe, Udoh, or Aldrich.

With the possibility of facing the defending champion Lakers becoming an undeniable reality (especially after Sunday night's squandering of a 20 point lead against lowly Golden State), the Thunder were given a brief moment of good news heading into their pivotal matchup with the Blazers tonight in Portland. According to cbssports.com, Blazers superstar Brandon Roy will be sidelined with a knee contusion tonight, leaving Portland with a serious void in the category of consistent perimeter scoring. While I would hesitate to say that Roy is the factor that Kevin Durant is for the Thunder, his impact on the Trailblazers is certainly comprable, as their offense often times finds itself stagnant when he isn't on the floor. Simply put: Imagine Oklahoma City playing a game of this magnitude with KD sidelined. I'm a believer in our supporting cast, but in a playoff atmosphere like this, I think we'd probably end up scoring in the high 70's or low 80's were that the case. If the Thunder crack down defensively tonight, with Thabo Seflosha likely guarding inconsistent wings like Martell Webster as opposed to Roy, they should be able to (knock on wood) put themselves in a good position to avoid a first round series hosted in the Staples Center.

If not, they probably deserve the Lakers in round 1.

I've always been a big fan of James Harden's game. Ideal size for a shooting guard. Better athlete than people give him credit for. Beautiful lefty stroke from behind the arc. That being said, when the Thunder were awarded the 3rd overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, I knew that Harden would be a great player for us. That being said though, somewhere along the line I got talked into the Ricky Rubio/Stephen Curry hype. "Harden is the safe pick" people would say "But Rubio and Curry could put the Thunder over the top" By the time the draft rolled around, they were all I wanted.

I think I was the only Thunder fan who attended the NBA Draft last year. The only one I saw at least. That put a bit of a burden on my shoulders: I would be New York City's first impression of how the Thunder fans liked their pick. I knew I was going to be ecstatic if we took Rubio or Curry. I knew I was gonna let out a few expletives if we took Thabeet. That was it. I didn't know how I'd feel if we took Harden, but when his name was eventually called, my subconscious took over, and I found myself inexplicably giving a standing ovation. After watching the way Harden has played this year, I think I can safely say that ovation was the first of many.

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Time: 8:30 CST

Place: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

Betting Line: Lakers -10

TV: FSN-Oklahoma; FSN-West

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1)

Backstory: When we welcomed the Lakers to town a couple of weeks ago, we gave them all that they could handle in an overtime loss. Now, LA gets to play in front of their home fans, and they add all-star center Pau Gasol back to the lineup. Doesn't look like it bodes well for us, does it? Well, the main thing I'm gonna be watching out for in this one is the Thunder's ability to sustain offensive continuity against the Lakers. We all know the Lakers can (and will) score. Their offense is too versatile and diverse. The thing we have to do (and always have done against the Lakers) is find a way to match their buckets on the other end of the floor. We have always played LA tighter than we're supposed to (thanks in large part to the defensive efforts of guys like Thabo Sefolosha on Kobe Bryant), and we all we can hope for is that to be the case again tonight. We want to have a chance at the end of the game, and then hope to all that is holy that Kobe doesn't take the big shot. That's really all you can do against a team like this.

Matchups and Prediction After The Jump!

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Time: 7:00 PM CST

Place: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Betting Line: Thunder -4

TV: FSN-Oklahoma; Comcast Sportsnet DC

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1)

Backstory: Like our Oklahoma City Thunder, the Washington Wizards are trying to avenge their disappointing lottery campaign from a year ago. While their 3-7 record isn't particularly impressive, they are only a couple of nights removed from a dismantling of LeBron James and the Cavs at the Verizon Center in DC. To make matters worse, Antawn Jamison is just making his return to the lineup, making this one of the most versatile offenses in the league, despite their lackluster record. Jamison scored 31 points and grabbed 10 boards in his return to action Wednesday night, but it's point guard Gilbert Arenas (another Wizard coming back from a string of injuries) who is the engine that makes this offense move. His (admittedly unorthodox) knack for getting in the lane and making things happen should be our primary defensive concern, and Russell Westbrook will have his work cut out for him trying to keep "Agent Zero" in check. Mike Miller and Caron Butler are also players with all-star caliber seasons in the not too distant past, and need to be watched out for on the perimeter.

As far as the Thunder are concerned, this game marks Etan Thomas' first game against his former team, after 7 tumultuous seasons in Washington. The last few years he spent there were tainted by his very public spat with Center Brendan Haywood over the starting Center position. The two exchanged shots in the media (and allegedly in practice), and it should be interesting to say the least to watch these two go head to head when they're in the game together. Haywood is averaging a double-double this year, but my gut tells me that Thomas' adrenaline will have him up for this game, and he could have his best outing of the year off the bench. We could use all the help we can get after being dismantled by Orlando in our last outing, where everybody on this side of James Harden looked like they couldn't throw the ball in the Atlantic Ocean. Should be a fun one!

Matchups and Prediction After The Jump!

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As free agency rumbles on, I get an even stronger vibration (in spite of any published evidence) that the Thunder will be shopping for either Anderson Varejao or Zaza Pachulia this summer.. Why? One needn't look farther than the organization that Sam Presti was brought up in. The San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs remained as top notch candidates (if not favorites) to win the NBA title year in and year out, even after the retiring of the great David Robinson. And they didn't do it by signing another STAR center. They did it with rotating, interchangeable centers, who would bust their ass on the floor every night. Kristic, Zaza, and Varejao all fit the bill. Don't believe me? Take a look.

The Spurs won the 2005 NBA Championship. Their starting center was the immortal Nazr Mohammed, and he was backed up by the great Rasho Nesterovic

The Spurs won the 2007 NBA Championship with Fabricio Oberto, and Francisco Elson manning the middle of the paint. 2 guys who DIDNT EVEN PLAY the last time they won the finals.

The system Presti learned (and proved as capable of winning championships), didn't revolve around the center as anything more than a big body that wouldn't kill you on the floor. Like the 2 Spurs teams mentioned above, We have a forward with a unique offensive skill set, who is a proven go to player in the clutch (Durant/Duncan). We have a potential lock-down defender at the other forward position, who does all the little things necessary to win (Green/Bowen). We have a lightning quick, scoring point guard, who can get to the rim, and draw fouls consistently (Westbrook/Parker), and we just drafted ourselves a slashing, old school shooting guard who can stretch a team out behind the arc (Harden/Ginobilli). The only thing we're really missing is a big man to platoon as our man in the middle behind (or in front of) Kristic. Mullens isn't that guy yet. After a workout where he got beat down physically by Utah's Luke Nevill this offseason, he was spotted in the locker room crying. Give him a few years to toughen up and he'll be fine, but a crybaby isn't ready to step in and fill this role. I think that Presti is looking to the past in order to dictate his future, and thus, I think that (as much as I'd love to see Millsap or Lee wearing Thunder blue next year), Zaza or Varejao will be our guy this offseason.

Here's the list of ESPN analyst Chad Ford's top 16 free agents, and I how I see them fitting into the Tunder's plans (Gortat was number 16, so I threw him in):

1. Ben Gordon (Expected Salary: $10-12 mil per year)

The Thunder organization has been linked as a Ben Gordon suitor for a long time--going all the way back to their days in Seattle. While Gordon's ability to score from the perimeter seems appealing for a team that struggled to score from behind the arc last season, signing Gordon would make very little sense after investing the 3rd overall pick on Harden (especially since Harden has the potential to be a lethal NBA marksman as well). Throw in the 10-12 mil we'd have to pay him a year, and this move doesn't seem all that likely for the Thunder. Almost No Chance.

2. Hedo Turkoglu (Expected Salary: $8-10 mil per year)

I've been a big fan of Hedo's game dating all the way back to the end of his stint in Sacramento. His stock has obviously risen dramatically since then after a couple of all-star caliber seasons in Orlando, but he is clearly not in the Thunder's plans. OKC already has two budding stars on the wing in Durant and Green, and Hedo would just create a logjam for both of their minutes. No Chance.

3. David Lee (Expected Salary: $8-10 mil per year)

I live in New York, and although it has definitely been a strain on my eyes, I've been to my fair share of Knicks games over the past few years. This kid can play. He's got a big frame for a 6'9 forward, at 240 pounds, and he couples that size with energy and toughness on the glass that the Thunder are in desperate need of. I don't know if Presti will dish out 8-10 million dollars for him (as Ford predicts he will be looking for), but I do think Presti will at least make a run at him. Decent Chance.

4. Paul Millsap (Expected Salary: $8-10 mil per year)

I've liked Millsap a lot for a long, LONG time. I watched him lead the NCAA in rebounding for two straight seasons at Louisiana Tech, and while I didn't think he'd be as successful as he has been in the NBA, I've always had a lot of respect for the way he plays the game. The guy is a pitbull, who tracks down rebounds with tenacity rivaled by very few in the NBA. He plays a lot like former Sonic stalwarts Reggie Evans and Danny Fortson (the latter of which remains one of the most underrated NBA players in the last 10 years). Millsap also has a modest and improving back to the basket game that I think Presti admires, and I think he'll be more willing to dish out the necessary cash for the 24 year old Millsap (who already has 2 seasons of playoff experience) than the 26 year old Lee (who's never played in a meaningful game past the all-star break). Good Chance.

5. Anderson Varejao (Expected Salary: $8-9 mil per year)

He's another young big that I've always liked, and was excited to hear rumor of Presti having interest in. Like Millsap, he's got plenty of deep playoff experience, and he flat out knows how to defend in the post. His toughness and tenacity down low could provide a good influence for Nenad Kristic, who could learn a lot from the way Varejao plays the game. I don't know if he's worth 8-9 mil per year, but he's definitely worth close to that, as he would have an effect on all of the Thunder's bigs. Decent Chance.

6. Trevor Ariza (Expected Salary: $6-9 mil per year)

Another talented wing, who made himself a lot of money during the Finals (Hedo was the first), Ariza just flat out doesn't fit in the Thunder's current plans. His game is eerily similar to Jeff Green's (Green is a stronger post player on both sides of the ball), and I don't see Presti even giving him a look for that kind of money. No Chance.

7. Lamar Odom (Expected Salary: $6-9 mil per year)

One of my favorite players to watch in the league, Odom would solve the Thunder's rebounding problems, but he doesn't have a spot on our roster. I think he could pass off as a situational center (he's 6'11 after all), but I don't think he'd be willing to play there. I also don't think Presti wants to dish out this kind of money to play an already inconsistent player out of position. Almost No Chance.

8. Shawn Marion (Expected Salary: $6-7 mil per year)

Constantly one of the games most overrated players in Phoenix, it seems the rest of the league has figured out that he was more or less a product of D'Antoni's system. He disappointed in Miami and Toronto, and probably won't get as many contract offers as he would like. His defense would be a nice influence for Durant, but there's no way Presti even considers paying 6 mil for a defensive tutor. That's what we hire coaches for. No Chance.

9. Andre Miller (Expected Salary: $5.5-7 mil per year)

With Earl Watson and Chucky Atkins likely to be gone, another point guard should be somewhere on Presti's offseason agenda. I think he has faith that (when healthy) Livingston could be one of the best backup point guards in the league, but a capable veteran is gonna have to come in as Livingston's insurance policy. I'm pretty damn sure that isn't the role Miller is looking for. I'm also pretty damn sure we aren't paying 5 mil for a third string PG. I don't see the Thunder going after any big name point guards in this free agent class, and I don't see any big name point guards looking at OKC as a potential destination. No Chance.

10. Jason Kidd (Expected Salary: $5.5-7 mil per year)

See: Miller, Andre. No Chance.

11. Marvin Williams (Expected Salary: $7-8 mil per year)

Williams could be a significant role player on a championship caliber team in the future, but he certainly won't live up to the hype as the 2nd overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft (famously above Chris Paul). He also certainly isn't worth 7-8 mil per year, considering he's have no chance to crack our starting lineup. No thanks. No Chance.

12. Charlie Villanueva (Expected Salary: $5.5-7 mil per year)

Charlie can score with the best of the power forwards in the NBA, but he's a bit of a headcase, and he's had some injury problems during his stint in the league. The Thunder could use his scoring punch in the paint, but there really isn't any logistic room for him on this roster. Almost No Chance.

13. Raymond Felton (Expected Salary: $5-6 mil per year)

See: Kidd, Jason. No Chance.

14. Mike Bibby

See: Felton, Raymond. No Chance.

15. Rasheed Wallace (Expected Salary: $4-6 mil per year)

I personally think that under the right circumstances, 'Sheed would be a great fit in OKC. He would solve our post defense issues, as he has always been one of the NBA's top defensive big men. He would solve our scoring void at the Center position, as he is adept at scoring in a variety of ways. He could help tutor Mullens in the art of shooting as a big man (Mullens has stated a desire to be a Nowitzki-like perimeter big man, which Rasheed has perfected). That all being said, I don't know how much Wallace would want to come to a young team at this point of his career, especially after having one of his worst team seasons of all time last season. I also think Presti is hesitant about signing that big of a name at that age. he wants the core of this team to grow together, and establish continuity for a LONG time to come. I personally think 'Sheed gets us into the playoffs next year, but I don't know if that necessarily makes it a good move. Slim Chance.

16. Marcin Gortat (Expected Salary: $4-6 mil per year)

Gortat got lots of exposure during Orlando's Finals run this season, and he does a lot of the same things that Varejao does. He plays tough defense, and rebounds hard. He'd be a great role player for us, and at this price tag, he would be a better value at Center than Varejao would be. That all being said, it appears the Rockets have their heart set on him in the wake of Yao's foot injury, and would pump his price tag up accordingly. The closer Gortat's salary comes to Varejao's, the lower his value becomes, since Varejao is basically a more refined, experienced version of him. I would be thrilled to have him, but only at the right price. Decent Chance.

OTHER FREE AGENTS WE MAY MAKE A RUN AT:

1. C Zaza Pachulia

2. PF Chris Anderson

3. PF Brandon Bass

4. PG Luther Head

5. C Jason/Jarron Collins

P.S: Sorry for the Matthew Berry imitation on the 4 point guards listed. Citing them like that really does make it easier. I'm not as big of a nerd as Berry, so please don't get the wrong idea.

 Jonathon Givony, the esteemed scout for Draftexpress.com wrote a couple weeks ago that OKC is enamored with Ohio State Center B.J Mullens, and would be trying to swap #25 with the Pistons (who are trying to save cap room) at #15 to take him. A little bit of research shows us that Mullens couldn't even crack the starting lineup on a mediocre Ohio State last year, and that he was seen crying in the locker room after getting abused by Utah big man Luke Nevill in a recent workout. How does an underachieving, soft, crybaby project fit in with the identity Presti is trying to establish? Someone please tell me I'm not going crazy feeling this way, but Mullens has poor man's Robert Swift written all over him (and I didn't even think that was possible).