Friday Bolts – 9.11.15
Berry Tramel: “I can’t think of anything would make Durant stay in OKC any better than considering going to New York. What a disaster. Durant knows that New York is a mess. I think there are other organizations that could appeal to Durant, but not the Knickerbockers.”
Ben Golliver of SI.com on the Southwest: “Alvin Gentry is a terrific, creative head coach who could optimize the wide skill set of a player like Davis. That his staff is well-stocked and well-rounded only helps his cause; no longer should a team this equipped defensively fall in the bottom 10 of the league in points allowed per possession. Davis and Asik will patrol the interior. Jrue Holiday will soon be back to challenge the offense at its point of initiation. The basic components are in place to build a competent defense in balance to the Pelicans’ increasingly efficient offense—an important step for a playoff team looking to solidify its standing.”
Ben Leibowitz of SI.com: “When the 2015–16 NBA season rolls around, new head coaches like Billy Donovan (Oklahoma City), Fred Hoiberg (Chicago) and others will look to make a promising first impression. Incoming rookies like Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves) and D’Angelo Russell (Lakers) will likewise aim to make a splash and, of course, players entering contract years will try and play their way into lucrative new contracts next summer. Former MVP Kevin Durant and three-time champion Dwyane Wade are both entering contract years, but they’re not facing as much pressure to perform as many of their peers. Instead, that distinction falls on a variety of players looking to bounce back to form or take their game to the next level in time for what’s sure to be another lucrative off-season.”
Flip Saunders is stepping aside for now. Best wishes his way.
This from Deadspin on DeAndre Jordan is just super: “DeAndre Jordan—a grown-ass man in the process of reneging on his commitment and signing an $88 million contract—got back in contact with his head coach of two years via a message on a disappearing messaging app to a third party.
Mark Cuban, the owner of the team Jordan spurned, owns a vastly less successful disappearing messaging app called Cyber Dust, which he promotes by making reporters ask him questions over it. Jordan was in closer contact with Doc Rivers’s 20-year-old son Spencer than his 24-year-old son (and teammate) Austin, or Doc himself.”