Berry Tramel says Harden isn’t a sure thing to go to London: “If our projection is accurate, it will mark the first time that three sets of teammates — Westbrook and Durant, Paul and Griffin and Anthony and Chandler — have competed on the same summer Olympic team. We’ll find out the actual roster during a selection show Saturday at 6 p.m. on NBA TV. When the names are unveiled, don’t expect to hear Harden’s until 2016.”
A massive 2011 Perry Jones III feature from the New York Times: “There is a circularity to this, a kind of senselessness in which recruiting becomes a game within a game, divorced from the traditional goals associated with a team. Perry Jones III will most likely lead to some version of Perry Jones IV, Perry Jones V and so on — big-time prospects will be drawn to Baylor because it’s a basketball program that signs big-time prospects. Baylor made Jones a better player this season, but he is unlikely to ever become a mature college player, one who develops over time and grows alongside teammates. If he decides to leave Baylor after one season, some N.B.A. team will make him a high pick and an instant millionaire based solely on his potential. His first pro coaches, though, are likely to wish he had gained more experience in college. Tough enough for the Big 12 is not tough enough for professional basketball.”
That one painted Thunder car is for sale.
Berry Tramel on Ibaka/Harden: “I think it’s quite possible that Ibaka will give the Thunder a hometown discount. But I don’t see how it’s going to be enough of a discount for the Thunder to keep Ibaka and also avoid payroll cap hell. As for the idea that the Nick Collisons of the NBA will be bumped down to minimum pay, I think that’s quite likely. I think that’s where teams will try to save money. Pay its top talent whatever it takes, then just fill out the roster with whoever’s available at virtually-minimum wage, including key role players like Collison.”
Kevin Durant won Sportsman of the Year at the BET Awards.
Jeff Green is close to re-signing with the Celtics.
KD, hanging in DC, via the Bog: “Since Oklahoma City lost to LeBron and the Heat in the NBA Finals, plenty of D.C. folks have been playing the always-popular “Spot Kevin Durant” game. DC Fab had him at Cafe Asia last weekend. Reliable Source had him at Eden Lounge early Tuesday morning, drinking Champagne and cognac sans sparklers. Heck, people are even posting photos of Durant outside Smithsonian museums. Early Sunday morning, we had another Durant sighting, this time at Chi-Cha Lounge on U Street.”
Prediction: Durant vs Jones at QB in flag football game in September. Jones wins.
might be fun:
Durant vs Jones at PG in practice. Or Center.
Green shouldn't be allowed to re-sign with Boston after that ridiculous ruling forcing us to surrender another draft pick to them. It's like someone trying to get their check comped because there was something wrong with their meal after they ate the whole thing anyway.
@Fuzzy Logic Presti's already figuring out how to take Danny Ainge to the cleaners again and win back that 2nd round pick.
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/07/death-and-luxury-taxes-the-thunders-complicated-future/
No Scotty news...no Thabeet news... c'mon man, throw us a bone!
@Tronchaser I thought that Scotty and the Thunder had agreed in principle on 4 years at $4 mil per.
Why is Dwight such a child...
@S4TISF4CTION Jeez, i thought Carmelo handling of trade request was bad. This is 2x, since this has carried over 2 seasons. If he's not traded to Nets, expect the circus to continue 1 more year..
@S4TISF4CTION Because he was drafted straight out of high school. I really think they need to make the rule two years of college. I haven't attended college or any type of post-high school facilities, but apparently some people should have (Dwight, Lebron.)
@ElMexiThunder @S4TISF4CTION college wouldnt have changed anything its just his personality.v
we seem to like to be 3-deep for our 15-man squad. looking like this I guess:
Russ / Maynor / Reggie
Thabo / Harden / Ivey (?)
Perk / Cole / ? (Thabeet?)
Serge / Nick / PJ3
KD / DC (?) / Lazar
could flip Reggie and Ivey I guess
Will Thabeet be the 3rd Center?
will we play PJ3 as more of a 4 or 3?
I feel kinda bad for Latavious Williams. He's not got much of a shot.
@Thunder Tim Could PJ take over Cooks role with the second unit immediately? I'd like to see that.
@diddoff assuming he is what we hope he is, that would work for me!
@diddoff @Thunder Tim i hope.
@diddoff @Thunder Tim I'd assume he's going to play mostly at the 4 his rookie season.
@Thunder Tim We're 4 deep in SG, and 2 in SF. PJ would play more SF then either Cook or Lazar would. He'll get maybe at most 8 minutes a game to start season.
If the Spurs could keep Ginobili, Parker and Duncan together all these years in a small market I think we can do the same with our stars... right?
Please tell me I'm right...
Guys you were supposed to just tell me I was right haha
@Marty_McFly321 the difference is you named 3 players, we already have 2maxs that take up 50%+ of the cap, and this was before the new tax laws.
@Marty_McFly321 Genobili, and Even Parker took less then what the were worth. Geno has been a top 4 SG top 3 for most of his career, but he's never really gotten paid the way he should. He's never gotten JJ money i can tell you that.
@ElMexiThunder Geno?
@ElMexiThunder Gino? not Geno
@Grolgar @ElMexiThunder Manu Genobili In spanish america thats his nickname.
@Marty_McFly321 as long as Harden (and Ibaka) take a little less money to make it work, yes.
Is Jrue Holiday a max player?
@diddoff Lol why not? Everyone seems to be getting max contracts nowadays.
@diddoff I wouldn't have pegged any of the Sixers as max players, but if he thinks the Market's good for it, go for it dude.
any news on thabeet? oh, and happy 4th thunder anniversary :)
@cleandoe The news is he is still very tall, which is good.
@WojYahooNBA: Anthony Davis suffered a severely sprained ankle in a Hornets workout and almost assuredly is unable to play for Team USA
So uh... who's playing Center for Team USA again?
@ou_sas Every player eliminated helps Harden's case... Although I don't think Davis was making it anyway. If Odom still makes the team I will be embarrased for the country. It would be our worst showing since the war of 1812.
@ou_sas Chandler and Love.
@Jooseppi @ou_sas Maybe Odom with garbage minutes?
@Eggs_Benedict @ou_sas Ugh no. Keep that off the team.
@ou_sas KD?
@f5alcon Him or Lebron. I just worry playing against the Gasols and Serge now.
@ou_sas Hasheem Thabeet?
@BrockSuede I'd rather send Perk.
@ou_sas Dream scenario. KD plays center. Gets a good post game. Doesn't get hurt. Doesn't get worn out. All the work translates to the NBA. He becomes the most dominant player since Jordan
@cemitten I'm guessing Lebron'd be more likely to get minutes playing center than KD. I'm actually concerned about playing Spain the more I hear about big guys getting hurt for us. "@chrislittmann: Keeping track of Team USA's injuries: Anthony Davis, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose."
@cemitten "@russbengtson: If anyone wants to play for the 2012 USA Men's National Basketball Team, send highlight tape to ohgodstopgettinghurt@usabasketball.com"
@ou_sas Wade Bosh Davis and Howard are all suspect injuries, and Rose's happened in the playoffs. No real worry.
@ou_sas damn those hornets. almost as cursed as the blazers and the clippers of old
@cleandoe It's probably a fake injury - they just don't want him going and getting himself injured playing overseas before they get a chance to get him going this year. "He uh... isn't going to be able to play for team USA... because of.. uh... a sprained ankle! Yeah, he's got a sprained ankle, he can't go. Sorry guys."
@ou_sas lol. reminds me of when i was watching iron man yesterday. whenever anything bad happened it was a "training exercise" hehe
Wow. Anyone read the PJ3 feature? I am unbelievably more excited about the pick, team fit and obvious directions of development after reading that!
@The_Beard_Knows agreed. good (and long!) article
@Thunder Tim @The_Beard_Knows
crazy long but good read
lack of bolts today. the offseason, indeed
@cleandoe We're all pretty much waiting on the Olympics and James Harden's extension.