Tuesday Bolts – 6.30.15
Anthony Slater: “How much will it cost to bring back Enes Kanter? – A lot. More than the Thunder wants to pay. Likely in the $15 million per season range, maybe upwards. But all indications are OKC is committed to footing the bill, however pricy. And even though the final numbers may make some people pause, it’s sensible. In the open market, the Thunder is hamstrung, with only a few million to spend on a free agent. But OKC can spend whatever it takes to keep its restricted players. So the money spent on Kanter couldn’t be splurged on a Wes Matthews, Danny Green type.”
Berry Tramel: “OKC fans never cheered the Sonics. Those grand old Sonics never played in OKC. There is no connection whatsoever, other than Clay Bennett and his partners owned the Sonics for two years before they left Seattle. Perhaps it’s a legal situation. Perhaps there are legal reasons why it was necessary for the Thunder to take such history to Oklahoma City. If so, OK. Then the Thunder should just make a simple administrative maneuver. Unretire the numbers. Declare them unretired. They carry no significance in Oklahoma City, and it’s no disrespect in Seattle, which doesn’t want OKC to honor Sonic heroes.”
Russell Westbrook: “I’m trying to create an empire of fashion. People introduce me to different designers, different editors, different bloggers. I just sit back and watch how they do things.”
Jeremy Lamb: “It just gives me a fresh start. It gives me an opportunity to try to get a role and just play. I’m going to make the most of it. I’m just going to work hard and try my best to put myself in a position to play and have a role on this team.”
KD ranks 54th in Forbes’ overall celebrity list.
Billy Donovan’s staff is ready to go.
Rob Mahoney of SI.com on best free agent wings: “Much of Middleton’s appeal lends itself also to Green, who while four years older comes with championship affirmation and the Gregg Popovich seal of approval. Green would be the primary defensive stopper on many teams, though for the Spurs he never had to be. That Leonard is even better in coverage shouldn’t take away from the fact that Green is outstanding—suited to guard any of the three perimeter positions for extended minutes while giving his own team’s offense plenty to work with. To classify Green as a three-point shooter is too simplistic. He’s a three-point shooter who navigates the floor as to create his own openings, and when challenged has the balance in his game to put the ball on the floor and continue the offense’s progression. Flexible offenses depend on players like that, and this summer Green stands likely for a hefty raise because of it.”