Friday Thunderbolts

Royce Young -

I hate the Cubs. Now onto the Friday’s hits.

  • Is the Thunder the NBA’s worst team? That and more burning questions answered by the Oklahoman staff: Jenni Carlson: “Right now, the Thunder probably do belong at the bottom of the list. This is a team that won only a handful of games last season, is still very young and didn’t make any monumental offseason acquisitions. This is largely the same bunch that struggled mightily last year. Now, granted, the young stars are older and wise and better, and the draft upped the team’s talent level. But those factors aren’t enough just yet to assume that this team is going to win a bunch more games this season. This group has the potential to do that, but until they show something, it’s hard to argue with the worst-in-the-league assessment.”
  • NBA.com has a little preview of the Thunder: “The Thunder isn’t an expansion team. It just feels that way. Many of the names and faces that take the Ford Center court this month wore Sonics green and gold, but the ties to the Pacific Northwest are quickly fading away. Seattle has begrudgingly moved on … with its old nickname intact should the NBA return one day.”
  • So the Warriors mascot was named Thunder and now he’s no more: Warriors President Robert Rowell: “We’re clearly going to do something to accommodate Oklahoma City and not have our mascot named Thunder. For the sake of not making things confusing, we’re going to do something. We just have to figure out a good exit strategy.“
  • Mike Baldwin writes that Kevin Durant added some muscle this offseason. He can lift a can of paint with one arm! But seriously: “Another number showed where Durant’s game was lacking. Last year, weeks before he was selected No. 2 overall by the Sonics/Thunder, Durant was criticized for not being able to lift 185 pounds. Durant declined to say how much he can lift 15 months later. But he has improved his strength after working with Dwight Daub, in his 12th season with the organization.”
  • ThunderGuru’s open letter to Sam Presti: “My idea I believe is a win win for us and the proposed trade partner. I propose that you send Chris Wilcox to the Orlando Magic in return for J.J.Redick and Brian Cook.” And a response from user okcnba at OKCThunderfans.com forums: “There is no question in my mind that we need to be actively shopping Wilcox. He is going to cost more than he’s worth next year, his stats SHOULD go up with it being a contract year and he should be decent trade bait for a team looking to make a run. Plus he can be dumped after the end of the season if it doesn’t work out which makes him all the more enticing to a trade suitor. We have more than enough addiquate power forwards that will play for the right price, so Wilcox is one we should definately trade… just not for JJ Redick!”
  • And, some training camp video from day three:


And get ready folks. Next week is preview week. Each day I’ll have some new spin on a season preview. Player breakdowns, a stupidly stupid inside look at the stats in an attempt to figure out who the Thunder’s most important player is, a schedule breakdown and bold predictions. It’s going to rock your world.