Thursday Bolts – 6.26.14
Jason Patt of SB Nation on draft needs: “Kyle Anderson is an interesting name to watch as well. Anderson is one of the more intriguing players in the draft, and his versatility could fit in really well with Oklahoma City. The youngster can play point guard as well as on the wing, and he did knock down a high percentage from three, albeit on limited attempts. Also, adding Anderson’s length to an already super long Thunder team would be quite scary for the opposition.”
Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider on the Mavs’ deal: “That’s the optimistic view. Here’s the downside. Remember, Dallas let Chandler go in large part to avoid this final season of his contract, when he’ll make $14.6 million at age 32 while his athleticism is in decline. Chandler long has struggled with injuries, missing a combined 43 games over the last two seasons, and the Mavericks will have to hope one of the league’s best athletic training staffs can keep him on the court as they did in 2010-11 (Chandler’s 74 games that season were his highest total since 2007-08, though he did play all 66 after the lockout.)”
Chad Ford’s final mock: “The Thunder are, according to sources, trying to trade both 21 and 29. So they may not be picking in either spot. If they stay, Anderson would be a strong possibility. His ability to facilitate from the 4 is special and could be a nice fit in a Thunder offense that could use a real distributor. Warren is another possibility here.”
Arron Afflalo dealt to the Nuggets for Evan Fournier and a second rounder. Guess he was really available, and not for much.
Bill Simmons: “I have a request: Can all “Pat Riley is a genius!” conversations include a mandatory “Picked Beasley over Westbrook and Love” qualifier from now on? Thanks.”
Durant on his tattoo: “I love saber-tooth tigers. And even though they’re extinct — they’ve been extinct for a while — they’re such dominant creatures. They devour. And that’s what I want to do on the basketball court.”
Tom Ziller on the Pelicans getting Omer Asik: “There’s work to do still to get the Pelicans into the tough West playoff bracket. In particular, New Orleans needs more shooting help and a backup ballhandler, if Evans is going to start. The backcourt is unsettled, especially given Eric Gordon’s injury woes. Ryan Anderson’s status is a question mark; his shooting is vital, but his contract as a third big is a bit steep for this cap sheet and he’s coming off a neck injury. There’s work to be done. But in the context of the team’s immediate goals, the 2015 pick is irrelevant. If this was the most valuable, useful piece the Pelicans thought they could get for it at this point, then this is the right move. For them. That’s something we often lose sight of in NBA deals. Not all teams can be built the same way on an ideal timeframe. Sometimes, special circumstances must be considered.”
