Thursday Bolts – 7.17.14
Zach Lowe of Grantland on OKC’s offseason: “Anthony Morrow is better at shooting basketballs than Thabo Sefolosha is, and much, much worse at defending other people who are trying to shoot basketballs. But Morrow flashed a bit more off-the-bounce juice in New Orleans last season, he’s a stable locker-room veteran, and the Thunder hope Perry Jones (post-surgery), Andre Roberson, and other youngsters can pick up some of Sefolosha’s defensive responsibilities. This team will be awesome as long as Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka are healthy. The rest is just trying to nail the fringe signings.”
Netw3rk of Grantland on summer league: “It’s Andrew Wiggins, who can’t really dribble to his right, spinning on the baseline, bursting toward the ceiling like a coiled spring, unfurling his spidery frame, and two-hand dunking in the general vicinity of Nerlens Noel. It’s people in the crowd booing because Cox Pavilion doesn’t have screens to replay the dunk. It’s a burst of unbridled energy that no amount of coaching, no amount of practice could possibly teach. It’s the way the crowd sinks back into their seats when Wiggins, or Jabari, or Exum are on the bench. It’s the way parents in the arena will point out certain players to their kids. It’s a feeling that’s part hope, part hype, part an investment in players who will be part of your life for years to come. Sure, there are illusions. But every once in a while, you see something, and you feel like you are on fire.”
Anthony Slater wrote about the newest (not that one) Thunderer: “When that international contract expired in 2010, Schortsanitis came over and competed in summer league for the Clippers. But he was unimpressive. And weight issues continued to emerge as a potential red flag. So L.A. passed and, eventually, shipped his rights to Atlanta in a sign-and-trade deal for Willie Green. Schortsanitis’ value had diminished and, from an NBA perspective, basically disappeared. He’s 29 now and controlled by a Thunder team that never plans to use him.”
Via Kevin Arnovitz: “We took a bad deal [in 2011],” said a veteran NBA player. “It’s like LeBron said, ‘What did we have a lockout for?’ Where are they going to hide the money next time when owners are getting two billion dollars?”
Mitch McGary in a Q&A: “I talked to Jim Rome about this (Monday). I ride my unicycle. But I don’t know, I need to check. I don’t know if it’s (against) my contract. I hope not because it’s one of my hobbies I like doing. I recently learned how to juggle. So I got to put those together. If basketball falls through just join the circus. I like just hanging out with my friends, my teammates, getting to know them. They’re a great group of guys already. Just kicking it with them. After working so hard each and every day, it’s pretty exhausting on our bodies so I just like to relax and hang out.”
Another plug on the thing I wrote yesterday on KD’s pending free agency.
Hip pastor guy and KD buddy Carl Lentz tweeted something about Durant going to the Knicks in 2016, then tweeted something about free agency. This will only get worse and worse and worse.
