For some reason, I really, really enjoy player mixes. Especially when they’re well done and mix in a decent song with actual game sound. I love when you hear a burst of “Russell WESTBROOK!!!!” in between beats. So grab a bowl of cereal and enjoy some most excellent highlights from Russell’s rookie season. I think you could contend that he’s got one of the most entertaining mixes in the league.
Since it’s unlikely I will be posting anything on Sunday because it will be entirely spent showering my wonderful mother 
with love, I’d like wish my mom and also my very awesome (yes, she is actually awesome) mother-in-law a happy Mother’s Day. You’re welcome for having me.
The Thunder will hold a pre-draft workout today at their practice facility: “Oklahoma State’s Terrell Harris, Texas’ A.J. Abrams, Marquette’s Jerel McNeal and USC’s Daniel Hackett headline this first group, which is filled with guards and has only one player listed taller than 6-foot-6. Other players include: Jack McClinton (Miami), Paul Delaney (UAB), Jermaine Taylor (UCF), Garrett Temple (LSU), Courtney Fells (N.C. State), Josh Carter (Texas A&M), Joe Ingles (Melbourne Dragons) and Aaron Jackson (Duquesne).” OSU’s Terrll Harris? Was that a courtesy invite? But out of that group I do like Jack McClinton and Jerel McNeal. Especially McClinton. That dude can shoooot.
Sam Amico has a mock draft up: And finally, someone with a brain. It looks like he assessed the needs of the team and has OKC taking James Harden and passing on Jordan Hill. Unlike Draft Express and NBADraft.net.
Ridiculous Upside on the 66ers hiring: “There’s not much that I don’t like about Nate. He helped coach the Timberwolves Summer League team the past two seasons as well. I assumed he might get on with the Wolves this season as an assistant, but head coach of the 66ers is a pretty good gig. He can coach, he has a good attitude, he’s personable. Definitely the top young coach in the D-League.”
Seattle’s legislature will not call a special session so Clay Bennett’s money is safe, no doubt: “Gov. Chris Gregoire will not call a special legislative session for lawmakers to finish their last few bits of work on the state budget, officials said Thursday. The decision comes after House and Senate leaders failed to agree on a limited agenda for a possible special session, which the governor wanted to last just one day.” Keep Reading…
The Oklahoma City Thunder named Nate Tibbetts Head Coach of the their NBA Development League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, it was announced today by Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.
“We are pleased to add Nate to the Thunder organization,” said Presti. “We feel that in adding Nate, we are bringing someone on board that possesses a commitment to the development of our players in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City.”
Tibbetts joins the 66ers after spending the past four seasons with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. After two seasons as an assistant with the Skyforce, Tibbetts was promoted to Head Coach prior the 2007-08 season. In two seasons at the helm of the Skyforce, Tibbetts guided Sioux Falls to a 53-47 (.530) mark including a playoff berth during the 2007-08 season.
Before joining the Skyforce in 2005, Tibbetts was an assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Sioux Falls for four years (2001-05). In his four seasons at USF, the Cougars posted a record of 92-44 (.676), including two trips to the NAIA Division II National Tournament. The 2003-04 team posted a school record 26 wins before falling to Bellevue University (Neb.) 72-60 in the Final Four of the NAIA Division II Tournament.
Tibbetts enjoyed a successful collegiate career at the University of South Dakota. He ranks second all-time in the USD record books in career assists (678) and steals (215). He was named to the All-North Central Conference (NCC) team in 2000-01 and Honorable Mention All-NCC in 1999-00.
Also, we have a winner in the 7-word essay contest. Congrats to Randy Roper of Edmond for proclaiming he will wear his Thunderwear in Times Square.
Bill Simmons has started his campaign for the Timberwolves GM position and he’s got a plan – the Thunder model: 
“Guys I would build around: Jefferson, Love, Brewer, Foye, 2009 No. 1 pick. My game plan: Emulating how Presti rebuilt the [Thunder].” Seriously though, consider me as part of Simmons’ street team. I think it’s a great idea. This is one of those things that people can’t really decide if he’s completely serious or not, but I think he his. And I think he’d do a pretty good job. The guy knows basketball. He just does. Heck, he’s got a 700 page book about it coming out in a few months. Of course it could just be 700 pages of Teen Wolf and Shawshank analogies, but still. So much of being a GM is making well-executed moves that are crafted with purpose and vision (see: Presti, Sam). And I think Simmons could follow that route. As penance, you can make me assistant to the traveling secretary. I’ve always been jealous of George Costanza’s job.
Ah, bad news for Team Simmons: “The Minnesota Timberwolves have offered a contract to former Pacer’s executive David Kahn, and according to conflicting reports he could be named the new Vice President of Basketball Operations or he could carry some other title, with Fred Hoiberg being named VP of Operations. Neither the Wolves nor Kahn have been able to be reached for comment. However it seems Kahn will be joining the Wolves in a senior leadership capacity.”
The Thunder will play a preseason game against the Spurs in Austin: “The Oklahoma City Thunder will play the San Antonio Spurs in a preseason game next season in Austin, Texas. The Oct. 20 game will be played at the Erwin Center. It will serve as a homecoming for Thunder star Kevin Durant, who played one season for Texas before entering the NBA. The Oklahoma City franchise selected Durant with the second overall pick in the 2007 draft. The Longhorns retired Durant’s No. 35 jersey in February during a halftime ceremony of a game against Texas A&M.” Keep Reading…
I noticed something semi-unique about the Thunder a couple months ago – nobody really had tattoos. I was actually willing to guess that Oklahoma City was the most tattoo-less team in the league. Sure you had some guys that were pretty marked up, but the faces of the franchise – Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook - were as clean as Jim Bob Duggar. Maybe it has something to do with their youth. Carmelo Anthony was relatively unmarked when he came into the league. Same with LeBron. Maybe it has something to do with their personalities. They’re just clean-cut, nice young men. Or maybe it has to do with something else.
Look up and down the roster. It’s true. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
(Waiting.)
Whose got the most ink? Robert Swift, Chucky Atkins and Earl Watson. Whose got the least? Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. Hmm…
All too shocking, eh? I’m not going to go through every team in the league, but I would doubt that this occurs anywhere else. There’s just five guys on the current roster that have any tattoos at all. Is that something Sam Presti scouts when he drafts? Because he’s never drafted a guy with tattoos. Kind of amazing really. You know who else doesn’t have any tattoos? Blake Griffin. Ricky Rubio. James Harden.
Of course, Jeff Green could be sitting down in a chair right as I write this about to get the Eiffel Tower tattooed on his eyelids. In five years, they all may be covered. I don’t know why this phenomenon is happening here, but frankly I like it. I’m not a tattoo guy myself (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and I kind of think it fits our state and city. Plus, evidently the more you have, the more sucky you are at basketball. At least in Oklahoma City.
How long until the draft again?
Remember when the NHL almost came to Oklahoma City? Good thing it didn’t writes Berry Tramel: “Ron Norick 
received an offer from National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman in 1995. Come up to New York, and the NHL would talk about coming down to Oklahoma City. The Quebec Nordiques were moving. Why not to OKC? Sometimes we should thank God for unanswered prayers.”
Have you been looking for a replay of the USA-Spain gold medal game so you could watch Ricky Rubio light it up? Well, I’ve got one. Just click here and take in the sweet moves of Ricky Rubio.
Michael Lee of the Washington Post on the risk of trading a top three pick: “If Washington ends up with four or five, Grunfeld should see if he can find another Jamison or make a move like Boston President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge did two years, using fifth pick Jeff Green to get Ray Allen. After looking back at the history of teams that have traded away top three picks without ever having the player wear their uniform, the success rate both long term and short term often has been horrendous. The moments when teams trade top three picks for veterans and succeed are rare. There are times when a team can land a Mitch Richmond (who was acquired for Billy Owens), but mostly teams wind up with a Roy Hinson (who was acquired for Brad Daugherty). In the lottery era, there have been 14 instances where teams dumped top three picks and more often than not, that team was seeking a do-over. We’re going to look back at all of them, the three hits, the eight misses, the two pushes and the one that is yet-to-be determined.” Keep Reading…
Voting is now open for the three finalists:
1. Thunder rocks Loud City; New York is next
2. I am Thunder loud and Oklahoma proud
3. Gonna wear my Thunderwear in Times Square
My vote went to No. 3 for really no good reason. I’m sure Berry Tramel agreed with me. But this little promotion has picked up a little national attention. Deadspin had something on it today under the headline, “The OKC Thunder fans are adorable, kinda dumb.” Gee thanks! I really thought we were getting past the “Pick on the new guy” phase, but I guess not. I guess I shouldn’t say anything about their poorly worded headline, should I?
Of course, the commenters then took over and tried their hand at seven clever words. And I must say, I wish I could have my vote back. A few favorites:
- “I am suicidal. Please let me win.”
- “Pick me! I’m a man! I’m 40!”
- [insert George Carlin's Seven Dirty Words]
- “Kidnapped in garage. Saw contest. Please help.”
But as you would expect there were some, let’s call them poo-poo heads, that made the typical “Oklahomas iz stoopid!!2!1!” or “You live in Oklahoma!” jokes, but also a few about April 19th. Not cool at all. That’s why a lot of people have issues with Deadspin. Because of crap like that. Oh well. Some people are just… well, poo-poo heads.
But anyway, vote away. I really thought my “Please Blake Griffin Blake Griffin Blake Griffin” had a chance. Guess not.
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
Mother’s Day the Thunder way
Still don’t have a Mother’s Day gift? Are you standing at Walgreens staring at cards and wanting to jump into a lake of thumbtacks? Do you know, no matter you do, your gift is going to suck?
Then let Ebay help! Because I was bored, I searched “Oklahoma City Thunder” on Ebay. And as I was looking through some of the exquisite merchandise, I thought to myself, “You know, I’m sure I could turn this into a gag column somehow. Hey! Mother’s Day is this weekend!” And here we are.
10. Two tickets to the Thunder-Raptors game that happened over a month ago. Just $20 with free shipping! How could you say no? So what that the game was March 27 and Toronto already won, 112-96. Pretend it’s like live DVR. Go to Air Canada Arena, walk inside and visualize Oklahoma City getting absolutely pounded for four quarters. You better hurry, because I’m staring down that Buy It Now button right now.
9. D.J. White’s rookie card. I’d buy the card for D.J.’s insanely awesome smile and pose alone. Seriously, take a gander at that. I also like that at the time the card was made, OKC didn’t have uniforms, so D.J. was in the generic Adidas warmups. That’ll make it rare in 50 years.
8. Framed Kevin Durant signed picture. For the low price of $149.99, you can have KD’s signature to look at all the time! How awesome! I’d buy this bad boy just to burn it. In Royce’s “Top 50 Things That Piss Me Off,” a grown man getting an autograph of an athlete ranks right around 42, but a grown man getting an autograph and then promptly turning around and selling it, is definitely in the top 10. I think it should be federal law that if you are over the age of 16, you aren’t allowed to get an autograph unless you have signed documentation proving it is for a person under 16. And also, if you are attempting to get an autograph from an athlete with the intention of selling it two days later, you will immediately be set on fire. I’m sure when KD signed it that person said, “Thanks Kevin. You’re the man. You’re the MAN! Thanks so much!” when they were really thinking, “Thanks KD for making me 150 bucks. Amazing that me standing here and having you scribble something on your picture is going to make me this much money. I bet that dumb kid behind me wishes he was me right now. Too bad he forgot to bring a pen. Idiot. Now I’m going to go kill a puppy.”
7. Wait a second, ANOTHER D.J. White rookie card. Yes!
6. Thunder floor mats for your automobile. I think this item really speaks for itself. You’ve got to love sports marketing. “Uh, what else can we slap our logo on and sell? Can we put it on Bible’s? Can we do that? How about garden tools? You think someone would buy that? Or better yet, people’s lawns. Let’s get a decal that covers someone’s entire yard.” Keep Reading…