Thursday Bolts – 1.31.13
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com on the Rudy Gay deal: “By my count, Memphis has swung from $4 million over the luxury-tax line this year to about $8 million under, potentially leaving room to take on short-term salary in future deals. But on the heels of Oklahoma City trading James Harden to the Rockets, this was simply another example of the harsh realities of the new collective bargaining agreement coming home to root in a small market.”
Matt Clayton of the Tulsa World on what happens when KD scores 30: “There are some other interesting numbers to examine when Durant scores more than 30 points and what that means for the Thunder. Oklahoma City is 15-6 when KD scores more than 30 points, but 7-1 when he scores 37 points or more. Durant has reached the 30-point mark 13 different times on the road, including four 40-plus performances away from Oklahoma City. This level of performance isn’t really anything new for Durant. KD scored 30 points or more 25 times in 66 games during the 2011-12 season, 29 times in 78 games during the 2010-11 season, 47 times in 82 games during the 2009-10 season, 21 times in 74 games during the 2008-09 season and 7 times in 80 games during the 2007-08 season.”
Someone sent this to me. I don’t even.
Perk’s take on the Rudy Gay trade: “Wow that was 1 crazy trade today. Are you serious Rudy Gay is right there under KD, Lebron, Kobe, and Melo. #badtrade”
Of course the Raptors trade directly impacts the Thunder, seeing as OKC owns that Raptors pick. Does this make the Raptors better this season? According to the Trade Machine, it actually makes them worse. (Hollinger could’ve pre-rigged that though.) I don’t really get why everyone’s so in love what Memphis did though. Yeah, the luxury tax is scary and they were going to get hit. But that’s the owner’s problem. Not the roster’s. In terms of player-for-player, Ed Davis, Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye for Rudy Gay? Davis is playing better and Gay’s not having a great season, but still. Trading Gay was necessary. Is that really the best they could do? One thing though: The Raptors will be paying almost $35 million of their cap to Gay, DeMar DeRozan and Landry Fields. That’s not good.
Mike Ozanian of Forbes on Aubrey McClendon: “After it was announced yesterday that Chesapeake Energy‘s CEO, Aubrey McClendon, was leaving the company, its stock price soared in after hours trading. But McClendon’s departure may not bode as well for the Oklahoma City Thunder. McClendon is on the board of the National Basketball Association team. McClendon, whose dubious self-dealings have been well-publicized, owns just under 20% of the basketball team.”
Russell Westbrook is on the cover of SLAM this month.
Tzvi Twersky of SLAM who wrote the cover story: “Originally, we had the urge to get Griffin and Westbrook together in a room and interview and photograph them together for one cover. The cover line would have been something about them being “flight brothers” or “rising”—literally—“stars.” As time wore on though, aside from realizing the logistical nightmare this idea would pose (even with the help of Jordan Brand, who inked endorsement deals with both guys this past summer), we came to the conclusion that the pairing seemed too forced to be real. After all, highlight hops and Jordan aside, what do Blake Griffin and Russell Westbrook have in common? As it turns out—though we ultimately shot two separate covers and wrote two separate stories—the answer is a lot.”
Darnell Mayberry on trading Eric Maynor: “I don’t think it’ll happen. There’s something to be said for having insurance and taking three capable point guards into the playoffs. I use the word capable loosely. But by April, both Maynor and Reggie Jackson could be better than they are today.”