Friday Bolts – 10.16.15

Kurt Helin of PBT on Dion Waiters

: “An extension at a fair price also could also be a good financial deal for a Thunder team looking to spend big the next two summers to retain Durant and Russell Westbrook. Former Nets executive Bobby Marks noted on Twitter Waiters’ cap hold is $12.8 million, if they can bring him in for less than that number they have a little more flexibility. Look for a few teams to come in with extensions for players that may not have lived up to expectations or blown people out of the water, but who are solid rotation players the franchises would love to lock up at a good price. Waiters is one of those guys.”

Matt Moore of CBSSports.com: “Now, there are still things Waiters provides. When he’s plugged in, and playing within himself, Waiters’ defensive abilities are really underrated. He’s long and athletic, tough and physical, aggressive. He could very much be a 3-and-D player at a high level if he focuses on his spot-up shot and still has the ability to score well enough off the dribble as a counter if the defender tries to run him off. It’s just that Waiters has always envisioned himself as a star, someone who creates with the ball, but is overall very inefficient. The Thunder offense was very good with him on court last year, but then, OKC’s offense was always very good. There is a good player locked somewhere within Waiters at age 23. Can the Thunder bring that out?”

(If you missed it, the Thunder are reportedly talking an extension with Waiters.)

Reggie Jackson said this: “Probably the weather. Here, it gets cold. You got homely people in both places. Probably a little more (here) — I haven’t been out too much, but they had super-religious places in Oklahoma. But it has the same kind of welcoming feeling and I’m enjoying it. This is one of those places that has grit, and everyday we’re proud of the people that work hard. You get what you work for, and I love that aspect.”

Kevin Durant talking Fantasy Football, and how he wants to own some of the Redskins one day.

On Dion Waiters and a possible extension.

Jonathan Tjarks of RealGM: “From a big picture perspective, there’s one team playing to be a dynasty against a team that should have been one. That’s before we even get into Durant’s free agency in 2016 and the very real possibility that he could sign with Golden State. If OKC stays together, that series could be the start of a rivalry that defines the NBA in the second half of the decade. If the Warriors can break up Durant and Westbrook, they could take out their biggest threat in the Western Conference in one blow.”

Anthony Slater: “The Thunder-Grizzlies rivalry was already one of the richest in the NBA’s current landscape. But the injection of Barnes — an Oklahoma City nemesis who has no problem playing the villain role — adds a bit more spice. The teams will meet four times during the regular season. Friday serves as an appetizer.”