Friday Bolts – 7.5.13
Perk on the new picks: “I love them. I think they got great potential. You can just see the upside in them. We gonna develop ’em, and they’re going to come to our program, and they know it’s one way how we do it, and that’s just work hard, put our hard hats on, and sooner or later, they gone get the picture and learn. We just see everybody improving, you know, I was watching a play yesterday from Jeremy Lamb. He’s improved a ton. I mean he’s shooting the 3-ball like no other, so I’m planning on trying to go on down to Summer League for a day or two to watch them play. But I’m excited. The youth that we got in, you know, even the young guys that we got now better, so I’m waiting to just lead them and go forward.”
Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com in a 5-on-5 on Kevin Martin’s deal in Minnesota: “Bad deal. Martin will be effective offensively playing in Rick Adelman’s system, but the money is too big for a player on the wrong side of 30. In 2016-17, Martin will be making $7 million, and it’s hard to see him being able to defend anyone.”
Serge Ibaka is playing in London in some thing in July.
Amin Elhassan of ESPN Insider on Martin’s deal: “I like the acquisition of Martin, but I don’t like the cost. This is the kind of deal Minnesota will regret two years from now. It’s not enough to get the right players; if the pay is inappropriate, it ruins flexibility to improve the roster in other areas.”
Darnell Mayberry on KD going back home: “At the end of the discussion, a few children get to ask Durant questions. Right off the bat, the first kid asks Durant which team he would like to play for besides the Thunder. Perhaps playing to his audience, Durant politely says he’d love to be back home playing for the Washington Wizards. He is showered with cheers, but he quickly adds he’s happy in Oklahoma and loves it there.”