Monday Bolts – 4.7.14
Tom Haberstroh of ESPN Insider on Sam Presti ranking fourth best overall in drafting: “It’s no surprise to see Presti is the draft’s gold standard among current decision-makers (R.C. Buford and Jerry West trail him on the active exec list). Most folks recognize him for turning three top-5 picks into Kevin Durant (second in 2007), Russell Westbrook (fourth in 2008) and James Harden (third in 2009). But Presti worked his magic outside the lottery just as well. Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson were both selected at No. 24 in their respective drafts, and the former Spurs exec also found promising big man Steven Adams outside the top 10. Presti does have some blemishes. Like most advanced metrics, the DRAFT Initiative model doesn’t like the Jeff Green pick at No. 5 in 2007, and trading up to get Cole Aldrich at No. 11 didn’t do Presti any favors. But all in all, grabbing three potential Hall of Famers with only six lottery picks is ridiculous. And we’re not even giving Presti credit for pushing the Spurs to draft Tony Parker. If Westbrook takes care of his knee issues, Presti could be at No. 1 before long.”
David Thorpe of ESPN Insider: “It may sound blasphemous, but if OKC fails to get to the Finals this year with a healthy Russell Westbrook, is it too crazy to think about a Pekovic-for-Westbrook deal? A team with Pekovic surrounded by Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant is a scary thought, and so is pairing Westbrook with Love and Dieng. With Pekovic’s $12 million salary, Minnesota would have the room to bring in a star or some talented players.”
Darnell Mayberry: “Well, allow me to say this as well. The Thunder continues to trot out a starting lineup that isn’t conducive to the Suns style of play. It’s similar to what we see against Miami and at times Houston, especially in last year’s postseason. I couldn’t help but wonder how much better off the Thunder might have been if Serge Ibaka played Miles Plumlee, Kevin Durant played Channing Frye and then one of the Morris twins when they came in, Caron Butler was put on Tucker or Green, and Russell Westbrook and Reggie Jackson were on Dragic and Bledsoe. That way Ibaka isn’t guarding a 3-point shooter from the start, and the Thunder becomes better suited for switching. The one-big lineup definitely seems like the way to go against the Suns.”
KD on the way Houston guarded him: “They wasn’t playing one on one. It was one on three,” Durant said. “They’re funneling me to two or three guys. And before I get the ball, they got two guys on me. So those dudes can’t check me one on one. They know that. I ain’t afraid to say it, either. They know that. I was playing with double teams, triple teams, but I still got to find a way to do it. They’re physical just like everybody else, and I’ve been playing against physical players my whole life. So it’s nothing different.”
Lang Whitaker went from writer to D-League coach.
Berry Tramel: “Perkins is a lightning rod. His offensive limitations make him an easy target when things go wrong. But when Perkins plays, the Thunder defense goes right. Post players get shoved far from the basket. The pick’n roll isn’t very smooth. Thunder defenders tend to get where they’re supposed to be. It’s not a coincidence. The Thunder needs Perk to win this NBA title.”
