Bill Simmons has started his campaign for the Timberwolves GM position and he’s got a plan – the Thunder model: 
“Guys I would build around: Jefferson, Love, Brewer, Foye, 2009 No. 1 pick. My game plan: Emulating how Presti rebuilt the [Thunder].” Seriously though, consider me as part of Simmons’ street team. I think it’s a great idea. This is one of those things that people can’t really decide if he’s completely serious or not, but I think he his. And I think he’d do a pretty good job. The guy knows basketball. He just does. Heck, he’s got a 700 page book about it coming out in a few months. Of course it could just be 700 pages of Teen Wolf and Shawshank analogies, but still. So much of being a GM is making well-executed moves that are crafted with purpose and vision (see: Presti, Sam). And I think Simmons could follow that route. As penance, you can make me assistant to the traveling secretary. I’ve always been jealous of George Costanza’s job.
Ah, bad news for Team Simmons: “The Minnesota Timberwolves have offered a contract to former Pacer’s executive David Kahn, and according to conflicting reports he could be named the new Vice President of Basketball Operations or he could carry some other title, with Fred Hoiberg being named VP of Operations. Neither the Wolves nor Kahn have been able to be reached for comment. However it seems Kahn will be joining the Wolves in a senior leadership capacity.”
The Thunder will play a preseason game against the Spurs in Austin: “The Oklahoma City Thunder will play the San Antonio Spurs in a preseason game next season in Austin, Texas. The Oct. 20 game will be played at the Erwin Center. It will serve as a homecoming for Thunder star Kevin Durant, who played one season for Texas before entering the NBA. The Oklahoma City franchise selected Durant with the second overall pick in the 2007 draft. The Longhorns retired Durant’s No. 35 jersey in February during a halftime ceremony of a game against Texas A&M.”
Blake Griffin is Twittering. A few *stellar* entries (no false alarms here – this one is for sure real): “out in L.A. for the weekend just had a late birthday celebration for my brother at my agents house. happy bday taylor… Whats up everybody. Had a yogo session this morning, a four hour photo shoot now we’re headed to the jimmy kimmel show. Just another day…” He’s following three people – some athletes thing, whatever “excelsm” is and Kim Kardashian. I know, weird.
Classy newspaper blog that Seattle PI is. Classy: “Sadly, the contest was only open to Oklahoma residents. Just another slap in the face to Sonics fans who surely could have come up with better seven-word salutes. I just spent all of 30 seconds coming up with my own entries: Boo hoo, we still can’t win games… Only Stern loves Clay more than me… I’ll do anything to leave Oklahoma City. I’m guessing you can do even better. Feel free to submit your own entries in our comments section, but keep it clean.”
A column from John “Buzzkill” Rohde: “What many fans fail to acknowledge, somewhat inexplicably, is that leaves an 88.1-percent chance the Thunder will not get the No. 1 pick. Barring a deal, there is an 88.1-percent chance Blake Griffin will not be on the Thunder’s roster next season. How’s that for being Thunderstruck? The quicker Thunder fans accept these odds, the better off they’ll be come draft day on June 25. Only twice in NBA history has a team with the No. 1 pick traded that selection. No one comes close to Griffin in terms of potential this year, which means the cost of getting the No. 1 pick figures to border on ridiculous – especially for the franchise located 23.19 miles away from where “The Terminator” played college ball.”
Anybody see Derek Fisher last night? Holy Ronnie Lott. My favorite part was how he tried to pull the “older brother” move where when you’d hurt your little brother and he started balling, you tried to act hurt. Obviously didn’t work as Fisher got ejected. Fisher tried to argue a little, but seriously, what was he thinking? He made Luis Scola look like a dinky receiver getting lit up on a crossing pattern and then he tries to say he didn’t do anything wrong? I bet it was one of those things that .005 seconds after Scola hit the floor he thought, “Crraaap… why did I do that?”
I guess Steve Aschburner was happy with Fisher’s play. For some reason, he wants to see some blood in the playoffs: “The competition of the NBA postseason is legit. The skill level, breathtaking. The drama played out on the scoreboard and the game clocks, compelling. But the great thing about a genuine dislike in a long series or, better yet, through the renewal of irritations, slights, bruises and rivalries that develop and fester over years, is that they add zest to all of the above, for the participants and the viewers alike. If it wasn’t for bad blood, a bluesman would say, the NBA playoffs might not have no blood at all.”
Also, did anyone notice how stinking high Shannon Brown jumped when he tried to block Kyle Lowry’s fast break layup? I rewound it three times, paused and actually went and grabbed my wife and made her come look. Of course she didn’t care, but I had to show someone. Good to know KD noticed as well: ”Shannon Brown jus almost hit his head on the rim..pause…he got bungy cords for legs”
Draft Express has updated their mock and has moved Hasheem Thabeet up to three and now OKC takes Jordan Hill with James Harden going five. Why? Whyyyy? WHYYYYYY!!?!?! (/Nancy Kerrigan) But they do have the Thunder taking Sam Young with the Spurs pick, who I absolutely LOVE. So that’s good.
ESPN asked 10 NBA “decision makers” about the draft and Blake Griffin is the absolute consensus No. 1: “Oklahoma sophomore forward Blake Griffin will be the unquestioned No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, Connecticut junior center Hasheem Thabeet, Arizona State sophomore guard James Harden, Arizona junior forward Jordan Hill and USC freshman guard DeMar DeRozan will all go in the top 10. Those opinions stem from a poll of various decision-makers from 10 NBA teams that will make picks throughout the first round. They were asked to give their thoughts on this year’s NBA draft, as well as whom they see as the draft’s top 10 players. The consensus was that this draft begins with Griffin and, for some, ends there. He’s the only player who has the can’t-miss label. Every other player seems flawed to the point where a number of the decision-makers surveyed said they are concerned that the expectations of the lottery picks will be skewed. A number of the NBA personnel contacted said they fully expect the lottery picks of this draft to be just role players, maybe not even starters.”
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
No, I didn't see it. But I love the "daily disappointment" ...awesome.
Hey Jax, email me if you see this will ya? I want to ask you something.
Joenewell66@gmail.com
Thanks
@Joe
Speaking of spreading the floor and sharing the ball, did you happen to see Big Z with the behind the head pass to LeBron last night for the dunk? The Cavs looked like the Globetrotters out there.
Also, Rhode has two gigs in town; one for the paper, and one for our local sports radio station. He's not a bad radio guy, but I rarely read the Oklahoman. Around here, we call it the Daily Disappointment.
Yeah, Ima gonna guess this is a contract year for Flip...and whadya know?! He's making shots right now for a reason and it has nothing to do with winning.
@ATR
It was a happy day when Flip got traded!
Henderson will probably have a nice pro career. Not a star I don't think. He reminds me of another Dukie....Dahntay Jones, now playing for Denver. Just enough shooting to keep him in the league, good defense, atheletic, but definitely not a star.
I love the way some of these upper echelon teams are playing ball. They spread the floor with dangerous shooters and drivers at every position nearly (Cleveland, Lakers etc.). It becomes a "pick your poison" problem on defense. And with good ball spacing the defense can't cheat. That will be so much better for the Thunder when we fill the SG position with a shooter. Everybody will be busy worrying about KD and his jumper and the forgotten guy like Harden will bury them. Or the guy like Curry gives the opponent even more to worry about so a guy like Green or Westbrook get wide open looks.
If he wants him of course
Jax Raging Bile Duct :Henderson looks like he’ll be a late lottery pick. We will most likely be drafting too high to pick him early, and too late for him to fall to us.
Yeah for the conventional GM, but not Sam Presti (Westbrook)I mean look at the last draft so if Sam thinks Henderson can come in at the 4th pick or whenever he'll draft him there.
as to Joe's question about defense - I truly think it's over 50% effort. Almost anyone can play great defense. Do you need strength, quickness and speed? Sure. Anyone can play even (good) defense despite their limitations. It's all about effort. Some players care more about it than others. You always see guys that are playing very good defense in the league that can't shoot - why? Because they know they wouldn't have a hob if they didn't hustle. Too bad offensive scorers don't always have the same mentality . . .
Which is where Rhode works to clarify. Haha!
The Daily Oklahoman is a joke. The Gaylords subject us to all the drivel they can because the only other option we have is the weekly free OK Gazette which is mostly arts oriented. The absence of competition feeds a bloated beast but I guess we can take solace in the fact that papers are turning into fossils right before our eyes and I doubt the Daily Oklahoman is nimble enough to stay alive in the digital world. Yay progress!
Oh, I also want to comment on Thabeet. One thing that I do give him credit for was stayin in school an extra year. He could have come out and been picked high last year. I think that he has grown in the last year. I don't know if it is enough. We have been burned by the bigs that we have picked for a while now and that definately tempers any hype about him for me! I also have to trust in Presti's judgement on whether he can help this team. Whether that help on defense and rebounding is enough? Tough for me to get real excited about this draft, esp until the lotto. Griffen is awesome, he will fit on this team no question. Green and Griffen can def. coexist!
Also nice to read everyone's posts! Great job everyone! Nice to see so many thoughtful fans!
Anybody who watched this team as the supersonics will laugh their heads off at teh thought of Flip Murray as a good pick up! I am sorry, but I have to disagree, currently watching him get dominated by Wally! That is not someone I would pursue! Just one opinion, though. And you always have to take into account my enjoyment of a couple captain and cokes before I post! :)
Just curious, is John Rhode supposed to be a journalist?
I really think, and maybe Kev can give some insight here as a coach, that at least 30% or more of a players ability to defend is based on effort, and about another 30% or more is based on the system within which he is asked to defend.
I say this because there are so many examples of players thought to be inefficient or ineffective defenders, who go to a different team or get a different coach with a defensive mindset, and viola, instantly they are decent defenders. How does that happen? It happens because the focus changes and the system changes.
In all the years Ray Allen was with Seattle, where defense was not really the emphasis, his defensive rating was in the 112-116 area. That's bad. He was generally recognized as a poor defender. Now with Boston it's been between 103-106. It's the system and the focus.
How about Mo Williams for Cleveland. When he was with Milwaukee, his defensive rating was between 109-114, now it's 106.
So, with Rubio, if the foundation is laid properly, and the emphasis given, and the focus is there, he can be a good defender. Maybe not great, but definitely acceptable within the framework of a good defensive team system.
@AD
Rubio is considered an incredibly smart player, but there are some questions about his athleticism (very similar to Harden). Being a smart and hard-working player, I don't know why his defense is being questioned, but whatever I suppose. I'd take a savvy player who gives the effort over an incredible athlete who doesn't play smart.
i hate how people keep saying that this is the worst draft in history. when in reality nobody knows how good or bad it is going to be for at least 3 yrs.
Henderson looks like he'll be a late lottery pick. We will most likely be drafting too high to pick him early, and too late for him to fall to us.
And Henderson wasn't pampered like the other guys. You don't think that he has some small chip on his shoulder now that Duke is getting laughed out? He's athletic as all get out and a defensive minded guy with a better shot than Westbrook. Also, he's not afraid to take a big shot and isn't that what we are raving about? We want a guy who can knock down that shot when KD is getting massacred at the end of the game b/c no one else can take a decent shot at the end of the game.
Vega :If we don’t get the first pick, I see Harden in our future. Also, I doubt that Presti will draft Henderson. Dookies and Tar Heels are always risky picks.
Risky yeah, but Duke players usually prove to be good if not great defenders.
@Chas
I've been talking about Henderson for a while now and I think he will end up being a pretty good player if in a Thunder uniform.
I thought Rubio was considered an excellant defensive player?
@Royce
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2zyWVieESg&feature=related
That block is better. It's just revolting. Did you see in Game 1 against the Rockets where Brown took off from just inside the FT line for a dunk, ducked under a defender (while still on his way up), got hit in the head, and missed the dunk because he was too high?
@Royce
He has others. If you just keep clicking shannon brown videos.
You know it's the weakest draft in HISTORY if Thabeet goes #3 . . .
I think D. Fisher is in surgery today, trying to remove Luis Scola's tooth!
Nix :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPPf94TrDsQ
Nice find. Is that not unreal? Holy crap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPPf94TrDsQ
@Dylan
I was guessing maybe a 45-inch vertical on that jump. Maybe more. It was absolutely insane.
I just want to point out that I had the same reaction to Shannon Brown's hops. I made everyone in my apartment watch it at least 10 times, because I just couldn't believe he kept getting up.
I knew he could fly, but damn.
If we don't get the first pick, I see Harden in our future. Also, I doubt that Presti will draft Henderson. Dookies and Tar Heels are always risky picks.
i wouldn't be upset if he took thabeet ...
however, jordan hill's a different story. (and gerald henderson makes me nauseous) ...
if he grabs rubio, expect a lot of points to be scored on the thunder again. he's a sieve defensively at this point...
i don't think harden's lack of athleticism is a problem. look at the guys he had running with duncan in san antone!...
thunder has entirely too many guards, but i'd love to see flip murray as a FA pickup...
plain & simple, big men are most necessary. don't care where we get them or how!
If he takes thabeet. I have a feeling he will be hanging out a lot with the other young guys on the squad. From what i have read thabeet is always in a good mood and so is RW, KD, Green...
If thats the case maybe their competativeness ( man i can't spell today) will rub off on him.
@Chas
I think you're spot on about Presti. He doesn't give a crap. He's getting his guys. That's almost why if he takes Thabeet, then I'm assuming he saw something we didn't.
Do you think that Presti even cares what the other GMs think the talent is shaping up to be. Everyone had Westbrook at 11 right? And Presti didn't even bother trading down and that may be because he knew what the GMs weren't telling everybody. Is Gerald Henderson a top 10 talent? You just never know what Presti is going to do and Henderson seems like the kind of player that Presti would love. I'm really falling off of the Harden bandwagon because Presti needs thorough breed athletes if we wants to keep accumulating 'tweeners. I am almost assuredly wrong, but it is fun to think about.
That Austin game is going to be a tough ticket. I hope I get one or two.
@Bernard
Oh yes. That was naiisty.
There was blood shed in this playoff already.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY8Wk8mY8_k&feature=related
that was crazy