David Thorpe of ESPN.com on OKC’s pick: “Miller is an intriguing choice, as the Thunder do not have a legitimate small forward behind Kevin Durant. What I like about Miller is, if he ends up being the player his upside foreshadows, then the Thunder will have a lottery talent at that spot behind Durant, giving them the option of slowly working Durant more as a power forward in spots. That’s exactly what Miami did, to great success, with LeBron in the postseason. As Durant continues to strengthen, as he has each year, he’ll be even more effective as a big forward and give his team a lot more variability as to how they can play.”
Jonathan Abrams of Grantland with a great Royce White profile: “White traces his first encounter with anxiety to long before his diagnosis. At the age of 10, his best friend, LaDream Yarbrough, collapsed after wind sprints during basketball practice. Drool trickled down his face as White looked on. Yarbrough, who was suffering from a previously undetected heart abnormality, was rushed to the hospital and survived. But White was never the same. After that moment, he lived in constant fear, a fear that he, too, would one day collapse on the court. His anxiety was constantly creeping.”
Mike Prada of SB Nation on 2013: “We’ve gotten this far without talking about the Thunder, who already owe nearly $48 million to five players in 2013-14 before keeping James Harden and Serge Ibaka. As Steve Perrin wrote earlier in the playoffs, they may not be able to afford both players without incurring major luxury-tax penalties. Nevertheless, considering they were so close to winning a title, I don’t see the Thunder giving away a core piece for future considerations this summer.”
Nick Collison selects Tomas Santoransky: “I like his length, and he has tremendous upside,” says Thunder forward Collison about the 6-foot-7 Satoransky. “It will also give us the ability to keep him overseas.”
What the Thunder need is an OU booster.
Jonathan Givony of Draft Express has OKC taking Jeff Taylor: “The Thunder could trade out of this slot, as it will be difficult to find a player who can crack their deep rotation at this late stage. If not, Taylor is a player that could suit their style of play and culture off the court. He’s big enough to guard multiple positions, can space the floor as a 40-plus percent outside shooter and he has the athleticism to make plays and get out in the open floor.”
KD is on the cover of NBA 2K13.
Sam Presti is the best drafting GM in the league.
From the Washington Post, KD was spotted in DC: “Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant (polo shirt, glasses) at Eden Lounge early Tuesday morning. Fresh off the NBA finals loss, the D.C. native and his entourage of six kept it low-key — Durant asked his waitress to serve bottles of champagne and cognac without the standard sparklers. A few hours later, he was spotted with a female friend having lunch (crabcakes and fried fish) at Legal Sea Foods in Chinatown.”
David Thorpe picks Evan Fournier for OKC in this mock: “The Thunder don’t need a wing player next year, unless they move James Harden for contract reasons. Fournier is good insurance either way. They can leave him in Europe for another year while they figure things out, if necessary.”
David Aldridge of NBA.com has OKC taking Andrew Nicholson: “Nicholson is a very talented power forward with stretch four abilities. He also rebounds better than advertised. The Thunder could use another body who can put the ball in the basket, and Nicholson would be a good complement off the bench with Nick Collison.”
I love Royce White, but if people think he will be that stretch 4 that can shoot, he's not. I would rather have nick collison taking jumpers than Royce, but his post moves are cat-like. However, he is not Boris Diow
@ninja_armadillo I don't think he's a great fit for OKC for 2 reasons... 1. Like you said he can't really shoot. 2. He thrived this year by having the ball in his hands (a product of how Iowa State played offense). I'm not sure OKC really wants to put the ball in the hands of a rookie just so he can be more productive... when they could get someone who can play similarly without the ball in his hands and keep their current system. NOT saying he's not a decent talent... just saying he's not the greatest skill fit with the role OKC currently has.
@Prye05 @ninja_armadillo why not, we let reggie have the ball a lot, if it doesnt work, put the ball in hardens hands. done deal
@Legendary_dork @ninja_armadillo If it doesn't work with him having the ball in his hands you just wasted a pick when you could have gotten someone who would have been a better fit from the beginning.
I don't like the piece of crap.. He's almost everything that wrong with basketball except for one thing, Grit. The more i think about getting a guy like Ron.. The more i think our small ball would be a hell of a'lot more effective. Professionals have to learn to play together. Did you guys forget Artest and Kobe use to get into a wrestling match like almost every game? Stephen Jackson and Manu Genobili don't really like each other way before they won their ring together yet, they still played together and won. Point is, If Harden and Artest really want to win they'll put their personal reasons aside and go for the bigger picture. So why not sign him?
@ElMexiThunder sometimes culture is more important. The thing that helps OKC win is how well the players work with each other. They Missed the opp to win the title but a massive disruption like Ron Artest could mess up something that is growing.
Jordan and Pippen did play with Dennis Rodman, but not after some time had passed where you just needed mission/contract help on top of a solid foundation. Presti said they are going for sustained long term success. So leave things as is and let them grow some more. The addition of Ron Artest seems -- not right...not now to me.
@Tricia_status MJ was a A-hole off the court, and Pippen was known for being a massive cocky trash talker. That Bulls team had quite the divas so i think your using the wrong comparisons. Look at the Spurs, they brought in and out pieces that make you think they don't match in well but instead end up mesjing well because what the orginization and team lacked in agressiveness thoae players brought. Are you telling me the Spurs haven't sustained a long term success? Remember Stephen Jackson was one in that "Malice in the Palace", Bruce Bowen was the type that would get under your skin, Antonio wasn't really a nice guy on court. Devin Brown use to give a hard foul a game just to give a message.
@ElMexiThunder you're right -- maybe the Bulls weren't a good example. Stephen yea...but I personally think that the Spurs are posers. To me they all play dirty -- but yes their success is long term. They have Pop tho.
Do we need a Dexter Pittman goon to come lay someone out... nah. Do they need to channel their inner thug -- yes...and I'm confident they'll do so.
@ElMexiThunder I just don't like the guy. I grew up a Celtics fan and he always pissed me off when ever they played the Pacers
@dancassidy35 I don't like the dude either, he's one of the few players that i actually hate. However he brings exactly what we need, a SF who can come off the bench, hit a few 3's, big enough and fast enough to guard quick forwards, or strong forwards.
@ElMexiThunder "However he brings exactly what we need, a SF who can come off the bench, hit a few 3's, big enough and fast enough to guard quick forwards, or strong forwards."
This! If we had been able to put him on LeBrick in the finals, we'd have won that series going away. I agree with you 100%
@dancassidy35 It is, but nothing assures that a rookie, or another vet would be consistent either. Him, and Grant Hill are the type of players we need.
@ElMexiThunder My other beef is that his quality of play is erratic at this point in his career.
@dancassidy35 @ElMexiThunder
His contract is awful, we can't have him at this point. I read on ESPN that next year was a team option but on another site, it showed it as a player option. Does anyone know which one it is?
@FF_pickups @dancassidy35 I don't know what type of contract it is, i just know he has it for this year at 7 million, don't know if next year is guarenteed
Aside from his terrible contract.
So yea, I'd take Beasley for a year if he wants to prove himself for a big contract.
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@MisterJohnsonOKC How clever
@MisterJohnsonOKC @dancassidy35 That's a little too far.
@dancassidy35 FLAG SPAM OFFENSIVE DISAGREE OFF TOPIC
Where is the FLAG for PANIC AND TERROR INDUCED HEART ATTACK option?
@dancassidy35 he was babysitting one of DC's kids during the playoffs
@OBoymuzik @dancassidy35
He'd be taking over the Derek Fisher/Daequan Cook role and considering he's statistically FAR superior to either one of those players plus he'll be able to guard the other team's power forward, it's a slam dunk. Both of those players make in the 3 m/yr range. Beasley @ 3m/yr is a GREAT deal for us.
@Dubyaexwhizey
Yes, when he becomes a free agent, he may sign for less
@justin_mia I think he meant to say Beasley was high...
@FF_pickups Where are you getting 3m/yr? As of now he make 6.26mil/yr. Are you just talking about when he becomes a FA?
@FF_pickups @dancassidy35 Our team isn't buying into defense NOW, much less when adding a defensive nothing like Beasley into the fold.
@dancassidy35
Yeah, I honestly believe that we could get him to buy in on D. I'm not as confident that he wouldn't shoot too much. But at the end of the day, I think the argument is going to be moot. I bet he would take an extra 2 m/yr to go play for Toronto or something.
@FF_pickups @justin_mia I wouldn't worry about him on offense. As much as Perk kills me sometimes, I think he could get Beasley to work harder on the boards and on D
@dancassidy35 @justin_mia
But to Justin's argument, our coaches aren't good at getting the players to follow a regimented offense. They seem to encourage Perkins to shoot, for crying out loud. To me, if the best argument that you can't bring him in is because our coaches suck, then that's a crying shame.
@dancassidy35 @justin_mia
And it's part of why the small contract would be a prerequisite, to reduce risk.
@justin_mia @FF_pickups In all fairness, we do not know if Beasley "would not know his role." We can only speculate
@FF_pickups Cook is better on this team than Beasley. At least Cook knows his role and can be effective without shooting 20 times a game.
@justin_mia
He'd be taking over the Fisher/Cook role. Defending a chair would be an upgrade.
@justin_mia @FF_pickups @OBoymuzik Well that depends on the kind of chair. Is it as high quality as an armchair or is it as simple as a bar stool?
@justin_mia @OBoymuzik @dancassidy35
I just read the book on him and he's better against power forwards than 3's.
@dancassidy35 @FF_pickups @OBoymuzik Beasley can't defend a chair.
@justin_mia @FF_pickups @OBoymuzik He could probably defend a lot of backup power forwards haha
@FF_pickups @OBoymuzik @dancassidy35 Beasley defend power forwards? Are you high?
@dancassidy35 DISlike button!!!
@Jax Raging Bile Duct DISlike button on your DISlike button!!! :-P
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
So you honestly think shipping out Lazar Hayward for Beasley is costing this team 10 wins? And how do you come up with 10m/yr?
@FF_pickups Meaning he takes up a roster spot that could go to someone else who does enhance the team in a positive way on and off the court. You have the opportunity to get that player, and you give the spot to Beasley, not only do you have to pay Beasley, but you don't get the opportunity to pay the contributing player either. That's opportunity cost.
@OBoymuzik 26 points on 21 shots, that's about the height of efficiency that Beasley will ever see.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct opportunity cost?
@justin_mia he scored 26 in our last game against them this year
Every time we play Minnesota the last year it seems like Beasley is the guy that does something stupid that loses them the game. He's awful.
@FF_pickups I think when you factor in opportunity cost, signing Beasley is worth about 10 mill a year and negative 10 wins.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
I agree with you about his potential, I didn't say anything about potential. It's about value, not about potential. That's the point you are missing. It's unlikely that he'll ever be worth the number 2 pick in the draft but could he be worth 3 million a year?? Absolutely!
@FF_pickups I realize people like him, and I won't deny that he has talent. But I am 100% convinced that he will not reach his potential on any sort of consistent basis no matter how much PT he gets, who his team mates are, or who his coaching staff is. At some point you just have to consider his top end potential unreachable and treat him like he's met his best already. I've let that ship sail and expect nothing more out of him than what he's already shown.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
We bring him for next to nothing and if he's a cancer, you let him go. If KD, Westbrook, Harden bring him in and they live, breathe, eat, sleep basketball. They take him under their wing, Beasley's talent is off the charts. And he plays the exact position that we need. No risk because of the tiny contract, it's a no lose situation with huge upside.
touche