Tuesday Bolts – 8.30.16

Three Thunder players received votes to become first time All-Stars according to ESPN”s Summer Forecast: Steven Adams (7 votes) finished just outside the top-10, while Victor Oladipo (2 votes) and Enes Kanter (1 vote) were also featured in the vote count.

Enes Kanter offered his condolences to Dwayne Wade following the tragic death of Wade’s cousin Nykea Aldridge in Chicago: “Wade took to Twitter Friday night to announce his loss and make a plea for the violence to stop, saying “My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal” bookended by the hashtag #EnoughIsEnough. Thunder center Enes Kanter was one of the first NBA players to express his condolences to Wade.”

Duke withdraws its claim against former Thunder minority owner Aubrey McClendon’s estate: “Duke University said it has withdrawn a claim for about $10 million it made against the estate of oil man Aubrey McClendon, who died before he could make good on pledges the North Carolina college said he made to his alma mater. A spokesman for the university said paperwork asking to withdraw the claim was filed on Friday in the Oklahoma City district court where the Chesapeake Energy Corp. co-founder’s estate is being wound down. Records in that case show the claim was filed Aug. 12, but it was only made public last week and first reported by The Wall Street Journal.”

How Russell Westbrook’s role may change with the departures of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka: “The news was clearly a windfall for the Thunder, and despite what was first discussed when Durant left, it also means no, Oklahoma City is not going into rebuilding mode. Instead, the Thunder are in full-fledged “Build around Russ” mode. Westbrook is unequivocally the star of the team, and everything will unequivocally revolve around him. Still, for those who think Oklahoma City Thunder games are going to simply turn into the Russell Westbrook show, well, don’t be so sure. For the first time since KD’s departure, Thunder coach Billy Donovan spoke at length about how he sees the team playing next season, during an interview with Yahoo Sports’ “The Vertical Podcast with Woj.”

So, Russ, do you think you and KD are ever getting back together?

Apparently, Steven Adams and Andre Roberson ‘want it that way’.

How apropos that Ty Lawson is now a King. Dysfunction meets dysfunction.