Thunder play-by-play man Matt Pinto will be on The Sports Animal this Friday morning at around 8:25. I really enjoy 
Pinto. He’s a quality basketball mind and he’s always got something interesting to say.
Derek Fisher was asked some questions about traveling (like actual traveling, not NBA traveling) and he had something nice to say about OKC: “What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’ve ever visited? A: Being in the NBA, you are on the road and in a different city every few days. We have traveled to Oklahoma City, and I was very surprised to find such a sense of community, kind people and was extremely touched by the Oklahoma City National Memorial honoring those who were lost in the bombing of the Federal Building.”
Sam Amick of the Sac Bee sits down and interviews Ricky Rubio (on video). One interesting quote, among many: “I come here to play and to play the minutes. I didn’t come here to play in the NBA, and (be) done. No, I want to be a really good point guard here in the best league in the world, and I want to have minutes. So I have to find the team who wants me, who really wants me.”
Rubio will also run drills today for the Kings: “Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, who would have to commit to a potentially complicated legal process and/or potential trade scenario if Geoff Petrie identifies (Ricky) Rubio as his NBA Draft Day target (at No.4), are flying in from Las Vegas early Wednesday to watch the 18-year-old run through some drills during an early afternoon workout. Details of the session are unclear, though apparently it won’t be too extensive. Rubio recently finished his EuroLeague season and has been taking a break physically. Nonetheless, I am sure Petrie and new Kings coach Paul Westphal are curious for a closer peek.”
The official Kings site also had an interview with Rubio:
Clearly it seems Rubio is interested in the Kings and it seems the Kings are equally as interested. That gives Chris Wallace and Sam Presti some leverage to take Rubio and dangle him in front of the Kings like a carrot. And also, it really seems like Rubio is a nice, well-spoken young man.
This interactive seating chart is pretty spiffy. You make an interactive thing where I click and it spins around and I can waste a solid 15 minutes, no sweat, on it.
SLAM’s mock draft finally gets to the 25th pick: “Tyler Hansbrough. If today’s December 25, why is the air conditioner cranking at a level where I can’t keep our player evaluation reports from flying off my desk? And why does my BlackBerry keep telling me it’s 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 25? If this isn’t Christmas, how did Sam Presti and I manage to score the top point guard in the draft (and I’m not talking about Brendan Jennings) as well as the ACC’s all-time scoring leader, who’s widely regarded as one of the hardest working college athletes of all time?”
A nice story by Mike Baldwin about James Harden and how he’d fit: “He’s one of those kids that’s a throwback from a different era,” one NBA general manager was quoted. “His background came back as clean as it gets. His coach and teammates rave about him. He’s all business on and off the court” … “(Redd) was the player I used to compare him to when he was in the 10th grade,” said Pera, who left after Harden’s junior year at Artesia High for an assistant job at Arizona State. “As he’s grown I now see him more as a poor man’s version of Paul Pierce or Brandon Roy.”
Scott Howard-Cooper looks at the biggest storylines of the offseason, one of them being the Phoenix Suns’ direction which directly affects the Thunder: ”O’Neal is not an automatic to be dealt, but he is the likely candidate, ahead of Amar’e Stoudemire and Steve Nash. Coming off a season in which he played 75 games, averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds and shot 60.9 percent from the field, and, again, with only 2009-10 left on the books, this is the time to move him. Not specifically to Cleveland. Somewhere, though. Except that Phoenix could make a major investment to re-sign Nash, 35, at a time when trading the 37-year-old O’Neal would be signaling a transition to the future. Any Shaq deal would likely be for prospects or picks or, as in the Cleveland option, the chance to save big money. Spending heavy to keep some older players in the final stages of their career — the Suns are already aiming for the return of Grant Hill, 36, on a one-year deal — while shipping out a credible center with similar AARP qualifications is a mixed message on the direction. Either push to win now or work to reload, not both.”
The official site looks at Stephen Curry: “Curry, a two-time Southern Conference Male Athlete of the Year winner, finished his career ranked 25th on the NCAA Division I career scoring chart (2,635 points) and fourth in three-pointers (414). His long-range shooting accuracy is his bona fide strength, and his ability to play both guard positions adds to his repertoire.” There’s really no new breakdown or anything, just a few nuts and bolts about each player.
Ben Gordon with a committment from the Pistons?: “Bulls.com’s Sam Smith dropped a little nugget in his draft workout report yesterday, suggesting that he’s heard rumor that Raymond Brothers the agent for Ben Gordon is telling people he has an $11 million per year commitment from the Detroit Pistons for Gordon.
It is important to again state that the NBA has very clear rules that teams can not open discussions with free agents until July 1st, and that if talks with Gordon have taken place the NBA would come down hard on the Pistons.”
P.J. Carlesimo is up for the USC job: “Carlesimo, 60, was fired as coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder in November, early in his second season with the team. He also has coached the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors. Carlesimo last coached on the college level in 1994, the last of his six seasons at Seton Hall. The Pirates reached the NCAA championship game in 1989.”
DX with some new info on DeJuan Blair: “We’re hearing that DeJuan Blair is in pretty good shape at the moment, and he continues to have very strong workouts that are easing the concerns teams have about his knee. Blair’s draft range looks pretty steady between 12 and 16, although he will work out for teams above and below those picks. Don’t be surprised to see a team like Oklahoma City or Portland try to make a move for him on draft night, as both organizations are reportedly very high on him.”
Also, new episode of Blake Griffin: The Rookie -
@Duncan
Ha! That's classic.
DeJaun Blair now?
I've read that line of text so much as it regards to so many players it's become a defaul answer to all questions asked at home:
"Hey babe, have you seen the dog?"
"The Oklahoma City Thunder are reportedly very high on him".
"Could you do the dishes after dinner?"
"The Oklahoma City Thunder are reportedly very high on them".
Hopefully the draft can get here before the divorce proceedings start.
@Cpt. C-Note
Thanx man, no problem just one of thousands of soldiers to go overseas to fight. And thanx for the info on summer league to all who posted.
@Joe
sweet idea!
As far as summer league goes, Daily Thunder wasn't up, but Royce and I were blogging separately. I pay for NBA League Pass, and about half of the games were on there at most. The coverage is not that great. It will be on NBA TV if it's on at all. Some may be live on the computer.
But if memory serves me, many of the games were on in the middle of the workday, like noonish and whatnot; so it's hard for working guys like me to see them. If they are broadcast, I DVR them, but if they are webcasted, you have to be in front of the computer.
We need somebody with press credentials and a week of vacation to cover the Vegas summer league for Daily Thunder.
typos suck, sorry...
@GAP
I just wen to The team site to look at the bow scores. I didn't know that NBA.com will cast them. Sweet!
btw
thanks for your service, brother!
@Kyle
So...Me saying If he's best available he's best available still makes perfect sense...
Presti and Co. have been incredibly quiet about everything. There's no media allowed at any workout and no info comes out about them. While teams like the Kings and Bobcats post video of every workout they have.
I think a lot of it is because the Thunder run things differently. From what a few players have said, OKC is incredibly thorough in its workout.
Nix :@Anonymous If he’s best available he’s best available…
No way he is best available. There are guys with tons of talent that will still be there. Might not have the college stats but will have twice the upside.
@Anonymous
If he's best available he's best available...
BTW does anyone else find it funny that PJ Carlisimo is a candidate for the USC job? Could he be any more wrong for that job?
Let's see, he didn't get along with his young players or superstars very well... hmm... USC, oh yes, that's the team with a bunch of young californian primadonas usually. I'm sure they will get along just fine and I'm sure his recruiting will be splendid.
@GAP
We had extremely poor coverage of the summer league games last year. I watched them online, but other then that everyone was still new to how the league works. I wonder if DailyThunder was even around during the summer league last year.
And the web cam was just ghetto...It was like a highschool water girl on top of the press box filming a football scrimmage and fails to pain the camera every now and then.
(seriously)
Of course we were only in Orlando summer league last year. (I think, but it was def the Orlando one I watched) The Vegas league is the better one with more teams.
@daniel
Not really....please elaborate.
Damn typo...
From DM's blod earlier today...
"Meanwhile, the player many think is a perfect fit for the Thunder, James Harden, is in Oklahoma City today going through an individual workout at the team’s practice facility. The Arizona State shooting guard is the second player to workout by himself in OKC. USC’s DeMar DeRozan also worked out alone. My guess is the Thunder walks away with one of those two some how or another. Something tells me it’ll be Harden."
http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/2009/06/17/rubio-visits-sacramento-harden-in-okc/
I'm not so sure it's a good thing for Russell "JetZero" Westbrook to put on display to the whole world his obvious gastronomical indecision. I mean, he's supposed to be a point guard, and pg's are all about decising making, know what I'm sayin? I'm just sayin...
russwest44: Wat should I have for lunch today??
baby back ribs and fried okra
He could, but I could've sworn that he was a PF that could possibly play the 5 if he got stronger.
@Kyle
"I believe I mispoke."
You lied to me???!!!
[wiping away indignant tears...]
Just kiddin. :)
Yeah, I'm glad Presti's running an airtight ship. That's the way it should be. I'd go even further and say that Sam himself probably doesn't know with 100% certainty who he's going to pick. I mean if you tackled the guy, duct-taped him to a chair, and dripped water on his forehead - you still probably wouldn't find out who are draft picks are for sure.
Because... he's so cagey and always looking around for updated info and possible better deals. He may be leaning strongly one way or another, but until midnight July 24th, I think he'll still be scanning the scene, thinking about alternate picks and strategies. And if Sammy boy doesn't know for sure, then nobody else does either.
Does anyone know if Ibaka can play center?
err well .... in the sense that we... have drafted him... not actually ON THE TEAM.. but... uhh... yeah
GAP i didn't see any... and ibaka = PF/C already on the team :P
Bein that I was doing my tour in Iraq at the time of the draft and didn't get back to the states until late September, I was wondering if anybody could tell me if I should expect alot of coverage over the summer from the team.
I saw some summer league games online, but what other coverage did we have if any?
Ok, for those that saw I would post the radio info for us to discuss, I believe I mispoke. It was a few days ago and I don't think it was Matt Pinto (although he is a regular on the sports animal) I think what I heard was from Gottlieb but very interesting nonetheless:
Gottlieb was basically saying the reporters and such for ESPN are having the most trouble aqcuiring any info on the draft from none other than the OKC Thunder. Said Presti has it pretty much on lockdown and the only person that was able to get someone inside to give him anything, said it wasn't worthwhile information at all and here's the best part...He gave it to the reporter through his wife's cellphone haha
They said Presti is running an airtight ship so all these rumors and such can basically be thrown out the window cause no one on the outside knows anything, so we just have to sit back and watch the draft and see what happens.
Dylan :@daniel
i’m pretty sure that the 3000th OKC follower on Twitter gets added to the summer league roster
Actually, I think he's getting an autographed photo of Chucky Atkins.
:(
Dylan :@daniel
i’m pretty sure that the 3000th OKC follower on Twitter gets added to the summer league roster
Awesome! The scouting reports on Matthew are pretty encouraging. Start drinking your Ovaltine, Matt!
J.G. :
Oh, and one last thing…ridiculousupside only posted the Vegas one, which goes from July 10th to the 19th, but the Orlando Summer League goes from July 6th to the 10th.
Hope this helps.
A little bit. Thanks. What would really help is if the NBA would stop being such parsimonious teases and just release some offical info on this. Damn [bleep]heads.
And I left off Weaver and Livinston, so put them in there as well.
daniel :@J.G.“Plus, I LOVE our summer league roster.”
What is our summer league roster? I’ve been trying to find info on this for awhile now.
Our team site did a write up on this and I will say I'm excited too. Westbrook is playing again, DJ White gets to join this year, Ibaka and Devin Hardin are both coming over to play (really want to see these two, no one talks about Hardin, but possible C option?)
And then we get our first round picks to play as well. So top 6 will be
PG: Westbrook
SG: I assume one pick will be a SG
SF: White/Pick?
PF: Ibaka/White/Pick?
C : Hardin/Ibaka
Will be fun to watch cause we want to see how all of these guys play instead of just 1 or 2 like normal years.
Oh, and one last thing...ridiculousupside only posted the Vegas one, which goes from July 10th to the 19th, but the Orlando Summer League goes from July 6th to the 10th.
Hope this helps.
@daniel
And Westbrook will only play in Orlando, per Presti. Since the Thunder will participate in both the Vegas and the Orlando leagues.
@daniel
If I remember the blurb that was posted at the end of the season, the Summer Roster consisted of Russell Westbrook, Shaun Livingston, DJ White, Kyle Weaver, Serge Ibaka, DeVon Hardin and then whoever we pick-up in the draft.
@daniel
i'm pretty sure that the 3000th OKC follower on Twitter gets added to the summer league roster
All I've found is a schedule posted by ridiculousupside:
http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2009/6/8/902197/2009-nba-summer-league-schedule
Based on that, we have:
July 12: Thunder vs Grizzlies
July 14: Lakers vs Thunder
July 16: Thunder vs Spurs
July 17: Thunder vs Knicks
July 18: Mavericks vs Thunder
But I don't know who we've got playing.
@J.G.
"Plus, I LOVE our summer league roster."
What is our summer league roster? I've been trying to find info on this for awhile now.
@Vega
That'd be a fantastic problem to have. DJ's always been one of my faves just in terms of dedication and overcoming challenges, what with his senior year at Indiana and then his surgery. Talk about iron will.
I don't think that it would be wise to get another PF until we have a better idea what DJ White can do. He's a huge enigma. His numbers look great in the games he played in, but he played a ton of garbage minutes, so his numbers are inflated. Personally, I think he's going to be Antonio MyDyess 2.0 and challenge Uncle Jeff for the starting PF spot, but that's just my gut feeling.
@Vince
I'm there with you, except one "potential bust" player had his coming out party that made everyone say, "Man, I guess Presti did know something we didn't."
Westbrook raised eyebrows in the summer league last year, which probably paved the way for his surprising rookie season.
Plus, I LOVE our summer league roster. I honestly expect us to beat teams by 20 on a regular basis...I mean...it'll be foreign to me, but I could definitely get used to it. :)
dork :@dj
oh man so am i. I just hope I have someway to watch some of the games.. Ibaka + 2 first rounders = must see summer tv!
NBA.com will have webcasts of the games (or at least they did last year -- in fact, last year's still seem to be up). I've never watched one, not sure of the quality.
But before you get too excited, remember that last year's Top Rookie was Jerryd Bayless. (And look at the other no names on the front page: www.nba.com/summerleague2008).
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Nick Collison is the king of the tweet. Nobody is more interesting to follow than him.
I've come to find that any video that Nick Collison tweets is basically solid gold and should be on the front page of msnbc for the whole world to see.
Catch the '87 Lakers at their best. Follow the link he has in this tweet...@TheChevyRydah
4this ... is it me or did Rambis kill em on his verse? Worthy sounds like bassvoice from Boyz2Men"
@Vince
Well, the writing on the wall would be that Presti and Co. won't expect to have all of the PF's currently on the roster for the next 3-5 years if they draft Hansbrough, i.e., you could expect somebody to be moved or bought out or not-extended.
But at 25, you take the best player still on the board and sort out the details later. If you think Hansbrough is an upgrade over DJ White or Collison, then you take him and let the three decide which one is expendable in two years (rookie contract length).
@Vince
"So why exactly are we drafting Hansbrough?"
It's June 25th already??? damn, I really did oversleep. who'd we pick at #3?
Great point Vince!
I'm pretty sure Tyler Hansbrough is a power forward, too, and come to think of it, he is EXACTLY Nick Collison. Isn't he? (Four-year starter and all that, hard worker, monster college game, made the finals their last season). So why exactly are we drafting Hansbrough?
that is, Kevin Love - aka "Senor Amor"
:)
trouble in Timberwolf-land:
via http://twitter.com/kevin_love
"Today is a sad day...Kevin McHale will NOT be back as head coach next season"
Or maybe not so sad... I dunno, you decide.
@daniel
well, with some good old-fashioned hard work, he might just be ok at this basketball thing.
haha
GAP :@dork
How many of our pf are better than Blake.
Difficult to say. How good an NBA player is Blake?