Friday Bolts – 6.5.09
DeJuan Blair is among a couple players set to work out for OKC next: “Former Pittsburgh forward DeJuan Blair will be
among six prospects who will participate in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s next NBA draft workout. Blair was named the co-Big East player of the year with Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet, another prospect in this year’s draft. Other players participating in Friday’s workout will be guard Ben Woodside from North Dakota State, forward Jeff Adrien from Connecticut, center B.J. Mullens from Ohio State and guard Curtis Jerrells and forward Kevin Rogers, who are both from Baylor.” B.J. Mullens, eh? Well then, the Thunder must be high on him!
A mock draft: “Oklahoma City Thunder – Ricky Rubio, 6-3/185, PG, Spain – The most intriguing prospect of this year’s draft. He has the floor presence, swagger and haircut of a young Pete Maravich. But he doesn’t have the Pistol’s jump shot. Rubio more than held his own against the “Redeem Team” playing for Spain in the 2008 Olympics. His upside will be too great for the Thunder to pass up with this pick. They’ll move Russell Westbrook off the ball to make room for Rubio. You could do worse than a young nucleus of Rubio, Westbrook, Jeff Green and Kevin Durant (average age: 20).”
Earl Watson has changed agents: “Earl Watson has changed sports agencies, leaving agent Dan Fegan and BEST Basketball to join Bill Duffy at BDA Sports Management. Watson grew frustrated last season with his situation as a member of the 23-win Thunder and was believed to be disappointed in his agent’s handling of the matter. Watson never publicly said he desired to be traded but did say at the end of the season that he doesn’t expect to return. “You never know, this business is incredible,” Watson said in April. “But going into the last year of my deal, business-wise you become an attractive contract. And for the last month I haven’t been playing. So why would I be here?” Watson, who turns 30 on June 12, is owed $6.6 million next season.”
Ricky Rubio has not scheduled a workout with the Grizzlies. Duhn, duhn, duhnnn: “The Grizzlies have not scheduled a workout/meeting in Memphis with 18-year-old Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio.A team insider said the Griz were unaware of Rubio’s exact plans – whether he would work out for any NBA team or simply arrive in the U.S. for the draft. Long-time NBA writer and good friend, Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee, wrote in her blog that sources say Rubio “is suddenly amenable to participating in interviews and individual workouts with a select number of teams …Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, is limiting the visits to the teams with draft picks 2-4.”
Chris Bosh declines signing an extenstion: “Chris Bosh doesn’t plan to sign a contract extension with the Toronto Raptors this summer and is preparing to become a free agent at the end of next season. Bosh is in the final year of a deal that will pay him $15.7 million. While Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo has spoken optimistically in the past about signing Bosh to an extension this summer, Bosh said that isn’t his intention. He said leaving his status up in the air could actually help both himself and the Raptors, who missed the playoffs this season with a 33-49 record.”
Steph Curry sees himself as a point guard and a Knickerbocker: “I’m a true point guard. It’s something I’ve been working toward, and I’ve really focused on my ballhandling and my shooting to be able to do that.”
You want to see some athleticism from Curry? Watch here: (via The Baseline)
HoopsWorld on James Harden: “Harden’s one of those sneaky players, he’ll score 20+ points in a game, but you can’t easily recall specific plays he made. He’s an efficient scorer with an extremely high basketball IQ, especially good in transition and has great control and shifty use of his body. “I’m so versatile, I can do a variety of things which just makes my game that much better, just playing with guys, making guys better…it’s just something that I love to do,” he says with confidence. “Fortunately I feel like I can go in to an NBA team and help those guys, score the ball, assist to the ball, playing defense, and a couple other things.”
Are the Celtics shopping Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo?: “For the past few days we’ve been hearing rumors that the Boston Celtics might be willing to part with Ray Allen before the start of the 2009-2010 season. HOOPSWORLD asked around in Chicago, where the majority of NBA executives were taking a look at most of the first round draft prospects, and managed to find out a few more details. We have now added to those, with the help of WEEI’s Jessica Camerato in Boston. Off the record, we have several sources telling us that Ray Allen is, indeed, on the block. It’s easy to make the leap, as the Celtics have managed to develop some nice young talent around their Big Three while also managing to win a championship. They might have even repeated had Kevin Garnett been healthy. It’s not a stretch to say the Celtics would part with Allen, who has an ending contract next season, if they could add another top young player to the mix.”
Blake Griffin to work out for the Clippers and the media Saturday: “Although only available to the media, Blake Griffin will be working out for the Clippers and Mike Dunleavy on Saturday. That can only lead to good things. But it also puts Griffin in an odd position. Just Griffin and Dunleavy and the media. Seems awkward if you were the player.”
