Have you seen Russell Westbrook’s last two Vines (click here and here).They’re of him singing Taylor Swift and playing one of his crutches like a guitar. Yup, it’s pretty much the best. I’m posting this mix as an excuse to link to the Vines (it’s a new one and it’s pretty good, actually) and I’m not embedding them because the autoplaying thing can get annoying, especially on the front page. Also, note to all Russell Westbrook mix-makers: Your song choice must be T-Swift from now on.
I guess Jay-Z has that “Allure.”
OK, that was terrible. I’ll show myself out.
According to Sports Business Journal, Kevin Durant is leaving Landmark Sports Agency and is expected to join Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports.
Landmark is Rob Pelinka’s agency, who reps Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Derek Fisher and Carlos Boozer, among others.
Durant joined Landmark last season after parting ways with Goodwin Sports. Keep Reading…
Suns GM Ryan McDonough on Shabazz Muhammad: “He’s checked out very well … A lot of perception of Shabazz is unfair from the information I’ve gathered and we’ve gathered. I think he’s one of the hardest workers in the draft. The kid loves to play.”
Ben McLemore after working out with the Spurs: “Bring the ball up, control it, up-tempo, take control of the game. I could’ve done those things at Kansas, but that’s just how the Kansas system is. I was just playing Kansas basketball. Now, I have an opportunity to play free and play my own game. I know deep down inside I can take over games. I know I have that dog in me to take over games.” Keep Reading…
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Kendrick Perkins is a big fan of the Fast and the Furious franchise. Knowing that, we asked him to review the most recent installment of the series, Fast & Furious 6. These are his words.*
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Yo. Don’t even know where to start. What a film. This was exactly what I wanted. EXACTLY. Vanity loved it, too. We went to Macaroni Grill and then walked over to Harkins. Don’t know if any of you have ever been to Macaroni Grill. It’s this nice little Italian joint. I highly recommend it. Their fettuccine was the truth. Really, just a great night.
I suppose it should be said that this is a review of the movie, not a recap. There will be no spoilers here. If you haven’t seen it, no worries. I got you. Also, if you haven’t seen it, going to need to ask you what is wrong with you? What are you doing with yourself and your life that you have been depriving it of the greatest pleasure on earth? This movie is a slice of heaven, coated in NOS, powered by steroids. This is every dream coming true, pretty much. Yea. That’s what I’m saying. I’m going with that. Dream.
I don’t care who you are, director Justin Lin just made your dream, if you are in possession of a heart and a soul to call your own, come true. Keep Reading…
Berry Tramel: “The Thunder won’t always hit a home run on draft night or even looking through a rummage sale. Cole Aldrich didn’t develop. Ronnie Brewer never got off the bench. Tibor Pleiss, the German draftee, still hasn’t crossed the pond and might never. The Spurs whiff some, too. James Anderson was a draft bust. T.J. Ford was a risk who didn’t pan out. The Spurs waived Steve Novak, who became a valued Knickerbocker. But the Spurs keep believing in their system and their organization. They know what they’re looking for. They focus on what a little-valued player can do, instead of what he can’t.”
Tom Ziller of SB Nation on Finals myths: “In no way will Game 1 decide the series. The result of Game 1 won’t even suggest what type of series this will be. As proof, I submit Game 1 of the 2012 Finals, which the Oklahoma City Thunder won by 11. The Heat won the next four games for the gentlemen’s sweep. Of course, that Thunder win came at home; a Spurs win in Miami would be different in that it would shift the balance of home court advantage. But the Heat have shown they can win on the road against very good teams, and the Spurs dropped a game in San Antonio to the Warriors earlier this postseason. Game 1 simply gets one of the teams closer to their goal of four wins and could potentially shift home court advantage. That’s it. A loss by either team does not remotely foretell doom.” Keep Reading…
Kobe Bryant on players he appreciates: “There’s a few of them. I really like KD (Kevin Durant) quite a lot and what he does and how he plays and how he works. There are several other young players I really enjoy, (Russell) Westbrook being another one and they just both happen to be on the same team.”
Colin McGowan for Sports On Earth: “This is true enough. After all, the Thunder are one of the very best teams in the league, but what’s implicit in Ziller’s insight is that having a position-confounding player like Westbrook necessitates having a gaggle of positionally strange players, or, optimally, one Marion-like fixer who can do a bunch of things well. With Durant playing a recognizable position — “pure” small forward, small-ball power forward –the role of fixer used to fall to James Harden, who was so comfortable playing part-time playmaker that he allowed Westbrook to self-actualize. Russ was able to invent his own position, call it “hell-raiser” for all anyone cared. Without Harden, Westbrook is no longer the black metal terror he was born to be, and sometimes he’s just an anchor. Russ is a problem, in other words, because he’s so idiosyncratic that he requires another equally idiosyncratic running mate. He might be a less talented version of LeBron, in that he demands to be built around, if he and his team are ever to reach their full potential. Until then, Westbrook is stuck trying to play an ill-fitting quasi-point guard position, which is like the evil spirit from Christine inhabiting a wheelbarrow.” Keep Reading…
There’s some buzz growing that the Thunder are targeting seven foot New Zealander Steven Adams with the No. 12 overall pick. He toured the Thunder’s practice facility — it’s mean, he says — and worked out for the team this week. (Adams is the first and only player to work out for the Thunder so far.)
Chad Ford of ESPN.com has OKC taking Adams in his newest mock and says this:
The Thunder have the luxury of patience, and if there’s a guy worth being patient with in this draft it’s Adams. He already has the NBA body, a killer motor and a terrific work ethic. If and when he starts figuring things out offensively (and it’s going to be a process), he could be Oklahoma City’s long-term answer in the middle.
Above is Draft Express’s tremendous scouting video that lists Adams strengths as defensive potential, offensive rebounding ability and an impressive combination of size and athleticism. His weaknesses are obvious: Can’t score in the post, has a really limited offensive game, isn’t a great finisher and is going to be a player you devote patience to.
Adams is one of a number of likely available options for the Thunder with their lottery pick. It would seem OKC is leaning big, though there’s always the chance of trading up for a guard or simply taking the best available player if someone unexpected falls into its lap.
Headlines
- Fisher’s lawyer claims conflict of interest for Hunter
- Russell Westbrook is off crutches, says ‘I’m back’
- Gervin on KD: ‘I think he’ll be much better than me’
- Report: Mo Cheeks hired as Pistons head coach
- Nike donating all profits of KD V Elites through 6/15
- Report: KD dropping agent, expected to change to Jay-Z
- Mo Cheeks the ‘frontrunner’ for the Pistons job
What do the Thunder need?
Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
At draft time, it’s always “best available” versus “team needs.” Obviously, ideally you’d like to combine the two things, drafting the best available player that also happens to fill a team need. That’s why having the No. 1 pick is always ideal.
With the Thunder drafting No. 12, there will be some good players on the board, but they’ll also have to have an idea of what they’re after as well. To me, it’s pretty clear the Thunder should be in the “team needs” camp because they’re an unusual lottery team. While the other 13 are mostly average to bad rebuilding teams, the Thunder are a 60-win title contending monster. They aren’t looking to hit that home run on a player that can turn the franchise around. They’re just looking for another piece to the puzzle.
So, what are the Thunder’s needs? Keep Reading…