Bill Simmons sees a correlation between DeAndre Jordan and Kendrick Perkins: “Here’s the reality: Perkins signed a four-year extension with Oklahoma City for $32.55 million (and got paid an extra $2 million last year as something of a signing bonus). That means Jordan’s next contract should pay him about $32 million over four years in a world that makes sense. But because of the Saab corollary, because too many teams have money to spend, because restricted free-agent offers skew high (so they don’t get matched) and because it’s the NBA and teams just can’t help themselves, get ready for a team to make Jordan a restricted offer around the “four years, $42 million” range. First of all … yikes. Second … Kendrick Perkins just threw his iPad through a window at 95 miles an hour.”
Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe on the Rondo-Westbrook stuff: “There’s a rumor that Ainge tried to trade Rondo for Westbrook after last year’s playoffs and that the Thunder didn’t have much interest. Fair enough that OKC wouldn’t want to part with their rising star. But why are the Celtics trying to part with theirs?”
KD is considered by everyone to be a “pure scorer.” But what the crap is a pure scorer anyway?
Byron Mullens is selling this dog.
The Cavs hired Tulsa 66ers coach Nate Tibbetts as an assistant. Tibbetts is listed as a “low-level assistant” but it’s a big step up for him. He was considered one of the top D-League coaches in the league and was quietly one of the prizes of the Thunder organization in terms of development. Dale Osbourne, who was an assistant under Tibbetts in Tulsa, will replace him.
Thunder players are trickling in to the practice facility: “Thunder rookie Reggie Jackson, who technically can’t become a member of the team until Friday, joined Durant Monday on the new practice courts. Thunder big men Nick Collison and Cole Aldrich have also now been in the new facility after spending much of the summer working out at their old college home, the University of Kansas.”
OKC will play Phoenix New Year’s Eve at home and at Memphis Dec. 28. Full schedule is released tonight.
