Ken Berger of CBSSports.com: “But with home-grown stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook already locked up with long-term deals, the Thunder’s decision to reward Ibaka as they attempt to get back to the NBA Finals and ultimately win a championship has ushered the elephant into the room. Alas, system changes that were so vital to the future of the NBA that they were almost worth losing an entire season have ramifications for the Oklahoma Cities of the world too.”
Zach Lowe of SI.com on players on notice: “Kendrick Perkins: The luxury tax concerns are real with James Harden now extension-eligible. Also real: Perkins’ value as a post defender, brutal screener and all-around setter of a nasty tone. But Perkins’ reputation as a Dwight Howard stopper is nearly two years out of date, and he’s not nearly good enough at his strengths to justify his pricey contract once you factor in his glaring limitations — poor hands, endless traveling violations, shaky speed and sky-high turnover rates. There aren’t many worse offensive players in the league, at least among regular rotation guys. Perkins needs to get healthy and show a bit more, on both ends, to quiet the amnesty chatter.”
And congrats to Zach on his move.
Mark Cuban on the Lakers: “It’s going to be interesting,” Cuban continued. “Look, they’re going to have a great team, but I remember when we made our run, we weren’t supposed to win any series. Remember the Lakers were the defending champs, and we swept them and they had everybody back. A lot of teams do a great job of winning the summer, but I never get so antsy about what happens over the summer. I just want to know what happens during the season. As long as we keep on getting better and we’re healthy going into the playoffs, then anything can happen.”
No big surprise but the Rockets and Mavs like Harden.
Clark Matthews of The Lost Ogle: “Maybe that’s what he wants, and even if it is…the sky still ISN’T falling. Here’s why: For Harden to leave, the Thunder have to let him. Supposing that Harden and his beard don’t sign a contract extension by Halloween (hopefully while wearing a pirate costume), he’s still under contract for the 2012/13 season. And in 2013 he is a RESTRICTED FREE AGENT. He can sign with another team, but if the contract is amenable to the Thunder, they can just give him identical parameters, and he has to stay in OKC. Mark my words…if he signs a contract with a different team, the Thunder. Will. Match. It.”
Trey Kerby of TBJ has James Harden as the league’s coolest player: “This is kind of an easy pick for me, as he’s at the peak of his power in every way, shape and form. He’s a great player who is fun to watch and didn’t even take that big of a beating for not showing up in the Finals, he looks awesome and he is a 23-year-old enjoying being 23 years old as much as possible. Does James Harden care if you see him wearing a leopard print cowboy hat and dookie chain while partying shirtless with a dozen women? No, because he’s wearing a leopard print cowboy hat and dookie chain while partying shirtless with a dozen women. And unlike a lot of the other swaggy bros in the league, he’s actually pretty well-dressed.”
http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2012/09/thunder-sign-deandre-liggins.html
@Crow And following on that: http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/09/thunder-sign-deandre-liggins-and-andy-rautins/
@Crow I assume the hope for both is they can be good from 3. Combined 1 for 8 between them in the NBA, both with one very good year from that range in college and not much else.
@Crow Change that to "one good year" for Liggins.
another sg for camp
very big wingspan (same old, same old presti obsession). inconsistent from 3.
@Crow Presti gearing up just incase Harden walks.
DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WILL VOTE?
ARE YOU GOING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT?
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION OF YOUR LIFE
VOTE NOW
(on the DT fantasy poll. See the far right)
--
ya boy, cleandoe
@cleandoe Not seeing it :/
@ou_sas Far right of League Office. Just under the advert
@cleandoe First poll yes. I may have missed one since then.
@ou_sas Hmm. You're missing 2 there.
Poll & League Messages.
http://games.espn.go.com/fba/leagueoffice?leagueId=8279&seasonId=2013
And you've not voted before?
@cleandoe All I've got are the ad, Fantasy columnists, and team standings. That's it.
@cleandoe I'm voting Presti
http://instagram.com/p/Pe_soMzSuk/
The KD & Perry workouts have begun with a side of Perk & Reggie
@supreme35 lol does Perry have "Maryland" tatted on his back too?
@OBoymuzik @supreme35 They need to be shooting in the gym...lol
Not at the waterpark.
@supreme35 Perk looks tired just standing up lol
Would Phil Jackson coach the Clips for the right paycheck? Seems like one of his best opportunities if Vinny falls short this year.
@Crow Probably not. Too many questions with depth and with Paul not having an extension. Don't see Phil coaching anywhere unless he's convinced it's the best roster in the league, top to bottom.
@Jooseppi he might just get too bored and an extra $20-30 mil will sometimes motivate.
@Trish_WeTalkinBoutPRACTICE_Bayless @Jooseppi Liked for the new name :)
@Trish_WeTalkinBoutPRACTICE_Bayless @Jooseppi i didnt know phil did that.
once went to his montana ranch. not stalking but wanted to see it. very very pushy with the no trespass signs. fire burned up his entry road but the "private" wilderness lake still had its good points.
@Crow @Jooseppi and they must must must have a Yoga gym.
@Jooseppi hiring Phil might be a rationale for the owner to pay top dollar for the coach to help keep Paul and then Griffin later.
Virtual certainty Thunder lose 2nd round pick in 2013 because of the trade for Hayward.
the team probably needs more true minimum players in the future one way or another to help with cap management or stop at 14 players.
Big loss for SI and gain for Grantland to land Zach Lowe. He's one of the better basketball analysts.
@divisadero I still have not found much reason to make Grantland a regular stop.
@Crow @divisadero I go there for Simmons basketball articles, and anything by Sebastian Pruiti.
@divisadero @Jax Raging Bile Duct @Crow wonder if they have any chance to break even financially. seems like all they do is spend and spend.
@Crow @Jax Raging Bile Duct @divisadero i liked Jeff talking about working with players that have bad reputations. Most of the Dwight stuff got a little old, but most of the podcast was interesting to me.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct @Crow Barnwell's recent football articles are good. I also like anything by Charles Pierce, sports-related or not. As for Simmons, I loved him in the early 2000's, hated him in the mid-2000's (when the successes of all his teams made him unreadable), and have come back full circle to liking his stuff again. Anyhow, Grantland is still relatively new, but I like where they're going with it.
@OBoymuzik @Jax Raging Bile Duct @divisadero i skipped around the stan van gundy & jeff van gundy podcast but didnt feel it was worth more time. any highlights to you?
@Crow @Jax Raging Bile Duct @divisadero Grantland just has resources that others don't. like the stan van gundy & jeff van gundy podcast they had this week.
I personally prefer Lowe over Pruiti. I'm not the smartest when it comes down to breaking down basketball. I understand Lowe more often than Pruiti.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct @divisadero i prefer the podcast for the full effect with his voice and delivery. a few times a year.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct @divisadero i'll occasionally go there for Simmons but I don't regret it if I don't. he has become pretty predictable.
Would anyone be interested in outtakes from the John Clayton "This is Sportscenter" Commercial?
http://frontrow.espn.go.com/2012/09/mom-whens-dinner-john-clayton-this-is-sportscenter-ad-outtakes/
Trey Kirby, his cool list and virtually all of TBJ is simply a skip over for me.
@Crow the basketball jones is awesome. most of it is things that happen it basketball that aren't breaking down the game though. Like amare punching the fire extinguisher.
@OBoymuzik it is good that it works for some. me.. not at all. too hipster / fashion focused.
@ThunderChick2010 @OBoymuzik i think i'll leave it for others to figure out. i am not used to being directly un-pc too often.
@Crow @OBoymuzik
What do you mean?
@ThunderChick2010 @OBoymuzik i think some of the writers need to be more honest about why they are interested in this stuff.
@ThunderChick2010 @OBoymuzik but the fact that being a hipster twitter pimp pays off for some does grate, some.
@ThunderChick2010 @OBoymuzik i could be if i wanted to be mostly "negative" and fight but I'll save that for the game when necessary.
the hipster twitter pimps grate but i guess it is best not to dwell on what grates.
@Crow @OBoymuzik
I'm rather shocked that you're not more into the hipster/fashion side of the NBA. :)
Harden will either sign for something similar to Ibaka's deal, or he will be traded for younger/cheaper/rookie deal talent (Beal?) before the deadline. I can't see any other way for this to play out.
Am I the only one who appreciates Tricia-from-NewYork's feistiness?
@Tronchaser <-- Thanks for the love. <3
@Tronchaser probably not but appeals to stop a line of discussion usually do not get heeded
@Tronchaser at least right away or happily
@Crow @ThunderChick2010 @Jax Raging Bile Duct LOL...guys...I love all of you. Even Justin Mia who hates my guts.
@Crow you taking me saying for you to stop saying something way too serious. STOP IT is actually an urban a response when people say something hilarious.
I do think you guys are a bit negative all ...but thats because you love your team. By all means...keep saying it. I'll keep saying Stop It...I might even say "Take a Nap" lol. Its not malicious.
@ThunderChick2010 @Jax Raging Bile Duct i do not make appeals in such a case. i state differing perspective.
@Crow @Jax Raging Bile Duct
I'm just checking in for today, so I don't know what y'all are talking about, but I want to tell you to stop saying this. Your view is different and, therefore, probably wrong. You can keep your appeals.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct disagree with anything but to say stop saying something of another view is different. sometimes i fight it, if i feel like it. not really this time.
@Crow I always take her appeals as tongue in cheek. Maybe that's just me.