The Thunder have signed free agent guard Royal Ivey to a contract, Sam Presti announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.
“We are pleased to welcome Royal to the Thunder organization,” Presti said in the release. “His defensive mentality, competitiveness and well documented professionalism adds depth to our backcourt and strengthens the identity of our basketball team.”
Who said OKC wouldn’t do anything in free agency? Talk about a SPLASH. Last season Ivey played for the Bucks and 76ers and appeared in a total of 44 games. He’s 28 years old and has played in the league for six years. He’s never averaged more than 5.6 points a game and is primarily known for his defense.
He’s likely just a training camp/practice squad player and I’m sure his contract isn’t guaranteed. Nonetheless, I bet KD is happy to have another Texas alum on the roster.
Maynor is coming to OKC for an MRI on his hand. He's still having trouble with it.
I like this pick up. Defensive minded and it puts fire underneath the 3,4,5 stringers. Nothing wrong with adding competition
I've got Ivey as a replacement-level player or worse.
Ivey and KD have a website (longhorn related)with Augustin I believe. I think this one is for the boss.
@steve H
they have 9 days to cut weaver
@steve H
Westbrook is more durable it appears at this point. But when healthy CP3 is the best PG in the game. There is at least some risk that would go into that trade, but most would view it as worthwile.
Plus LeBrons posse represent Paul now if i'm not mistaken... I personally don't like the idea of dealing with those guys.
Sounds like a sweet deal on the court though!
Barring some big trade that lands either CP3 or a big name center, Weaver AND Mo Pete are both toast. Adding Ivey gives us 8 guards on the roster, which is 2 too many. Can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't much like the idea of trading for Paul. Between his health issues, bigger salary, and what a trade would do to team chemistry/continuity, I would rather have Westbrook.
Crow :Still available free agent PGs
Barea, House, Bynum, AC Law, Anthony Johnson. R Mason, Pargo, Quinn, Telfair, Tinsley. Watson, Jason Williams.
Eliminate 75% of these because they are eventually going elsewhere or you just don’t want them or they want too much money and there are probably still some other choices. But whatever.
Most of those guys will either cost more or will be more than 3rd PG's (Watson, Bynum, in particular).
Some interesting test cases on evaluation, if they play.
On D Cook's shooting, I've noted he was weak mid-range last season. Looking over his whole career he went down each year from about 5-10 feet and from 16-23 feet, going from league his first season to far below. The pattern isn't as straight-line down from 10-15 feet but he has never been at league average either. He has been below league average at the rim and from 3 pt land 2 out of 3 seasons on each.
Still available free agent PGs
Barea, House, Bynum, AC Law, Anthony Johnson. R Mason, Pargo, Quinn, Telfair, Tinsley. Watson, Jason Williams.
Eliminate 75% of these because they are eventually going elsewhere or you just don't want them or they want too much money and there are probably still some other choices. But whatever.
Jax Raging Bile Duct :Anyone suspect that maybe a couple of players are being shopped? Maybe Ivey is insurance for a trade that is in the works?
At least, what do you think the chances are that we just cut another player vs trading?
Hhhmmmm??? You might be on to something. . . .
@Keith
Hm. Paul, Harden, Durant, Ibaka, Okafor is extremely fast, long and athletic. Also, the image of CP3 lobbing balls up for Ibaka and Durant is delicious. We'd still have a talented top of the bench with Maynor, Aldrich and Thabo. I might need to pull the trigger on that one.
If this signing isn't just for camp, it doesn't make sense. I realize Presti might want a veteran for the third string, but this is all kinds of pointless. Ivey's defense isn't that spectacular, he can't score to save his life, and his ability to run an offense isn't very good either. At least you could say Ollie was steady in his role.
We don't need players just to fill spots, we've already got that covered.
As for Chris Paul, two things need to be considered. First, he has no leverage. He's under contract for two more years, and if he sits, all that happens is that the team can fine him for his salary. Second, even if NOLA is open to trade, the demand would be a king's ransom. What are the Knicks going to offer, or the Lakers, or the Magic? Short of Amare, Gasol, and Howard, NOLA doesn't want anyone else from those teams. Someone is going to be forced to put together a big offer and take back a lot of salary for any Paul trade to be considered.
So on a side note, Green, Westbrook, Krstic and Collison are a viable trade for Paul and Okafor. Westbrook and Green are highly talented young players, and NOLA wipes Okafor off the books.
ThunderHorn :
Weaver is probably gone.
Without question.
Weaver is probably gone.
Cook stays, Mo-Pete's either bought out or traded.
http://www.82games.com/0708/07MIL2C.HTM
With the 07-08 season when he played the most in his career being the worst, giving up 57% eFG% and a PER 22 to opponents.
In 6 seasons Ivey's 1 on 1 estimated PG defensive data at 82 games would rate in my rough cut as 1 good, 2 average, 3 poor.
More likely they simply refuse to trade him. If they do, the Knicks or Magic seem more likely than the Lakers and everyone is still in play to some degree. Paul could threaten not to re-sign with others but Stern would likely go over his statements and actions pretty carefully and a suspension could happen to teach players there are limits.
What happens to Paul is magnified by the ownership sale talk. Without Paul I'd pay less, unless they really got a good deal.
If the Magic can swing Vince Carter/filler/picks for CP3, they'll instantly jump ahead of Miami in the East...imagine all those CP3 to Dwight alley oops each game.
@daniel
LA cannot get him.They must trade Bynum to get CP3,but do they want to do it?
We can send Russ + Green to Hoenets if Presti wants to have a trade.
Not sure if you guys have seen this or not, but apparently Chris Paul is demanding a trade from the Hornets and expects to be gone by time the season begins. I know Kobe said the same thing in 2008 and ended up staying, but Paul leaving could have some effects on the Thunder's playoff seeding for years to come. If he joins LA, game over, but if he leaves to the East, that's one less conference rival to worry about.
Here's the link: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68279/20100721/report_paul_has_demanded_trade_to_knicks_magic_lakers/
Solid signing.
I have no problem with this signing. On-court value is essentially nil, but that's not what we signed him for. I'm definitely ready to see Weaver go.
FWIW, Ivey hangs out a bunch with KD back in Austin, those two, TJ Ford, and DJ Augustin hung out a lot last summer. I'd be willing to bet that KD had some input on this one. Royal is a good guy, and can defend the 1 or the 2, that's his value. Weaver is gone.
Anyone suspect that maybe a couple of players are being shopped? Maybe Ivey is insurance for a trade that is in the works?
At least, what do you think the chances are that we just cut another player vs trading?
I'd like to see him in pre-season. Wonder if that is still going to happen.
Daniel :What about Mustafa Shakur? I was very impressed with him in the Summer League games. I thought he would make a great 3rd PG.
Sam Presti prefers a veteran 3rd stringer, IMO. I don't think it's clear what role, if any, Ivey will play.
What about Mustafa Shakur? I was very impressed with him in the Summer League games. I thought he would make a great 3rd PG.
Actually that's just the cap figure, if it's a one year guaranteed deal it would only cost the team ~700k after being reimbursed by the league.
If the rationale is for Ivey to be 3rd string PG, the counterpart matchup data for him at PG at 82 games has been bad or horrendous at every stop of every year of his time in the league. If the Adjusted +/- was good maybe you could rationalize it but it isn't.
Ivey at the veteran minimum would cost about the same as Weaver, a tiny bit more. 850k vs. 1m
I'd rather have Weaver.
I'd rather have Royal Ivey on the roster than Kyle Weaver, honestly. Especially if Ivey is getting the vet minimum.
Too bad about Weaver; I'd be shocked if he isn't cut. Realisticallly tho, his days were numbered the day Thabo was signed.
@Vega
I wouldn't bet on that Ivey's deal is guaranteed. He's not such a valuable player to get that kind of guarantee; maybe, but not for sure.
FWIW, according to Sham sports, Kyle's deal is unguaranteed if he is waived BEFORE August 1st, and same with next year in August for his last year of a 4 year contract; so yes, Kyle may be toast.
@Vega
@justin
Maybe I should have I more precisely said the best rationale for Weaver would now seem to be as defender of wings too big for the other SGs and too small for Green, i.e. guys who would be covered by Thabo if available. If they want that guy to be Cook or Peterson they of course can but this would be the slot left for Weaver, if any.
@justin
Yeah, I think Weaver is on the hot seat now. He can't be sent down to the D-league anymore and his defense was exposed in a few games last year. He's not great at staying in front of speedy ones and twos, but his team D is pretty good overall, and he's not much of a 3rd PG like I thought he might become. Mustafa is more valuable as a 3rd PG.
@justin
On the contrary, it is probably fully guaranteed. If Kevin Ollie can get a guaranteed deal, so can Royal Ivey.
DXL :I bet his contract’s guaranteed, just like Ollie’s was. Solid vets don’t take non-guaranteed contracts.
Royal Ivey is not as good as Kevin Ollie.
Beyond the fact that Weaver's days here are likely over, I don't think this means much. Probably is not guaranteed for much, it's a camp signing.
Royal Ivey is a very good defensive player. Weaver's toast.
@Crow
We've got too many reserve twos. One or two of Cook, Mo-Pete, or Weaver should go.
Vega :@Joe
Weaver or Mo-Pete will be gone by training camp.
I'm hoping there is some sort of package of Mo, Krstic and/or Cook
@Vega
As I said in the other thread whether it is a fully or partially guaranteed deal would be useful in determining exactly how to react to the deal.
But you are right, it is not a big deal.
The best rationale for Weaver would now seem to be as Thabo's backup.
@Crow
He's just for depth. He's someone who can play defense in backup minutes in case of an injury to Westbrook or Maynor. No big deal.
As I noted in another thread before I saw this one open up-
Ivey has a career PER under 9. Playoff PERs of 7 and 5. Poor Adjusted +/- too. They like the defense but Maynor has that.
There are others unsigned, proven better or less proven but probably capable of that or more. Either they didn't really want more and / or maybe they really are at a disadvantage in competing for free agents.