Wednesday Bolts – 5.22.13
Draft Express has OKC taking Kelly Olynyk: “The Thunder’s season ended in disappointing fashion, in no small part because of an injury to All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, which put too much pressure on Kevin Durant to carry the load offensively. Fortunately for the Thunder, the James Harden trade returned a pick in the late lottery, which can be used to add an immediate contributor on a cheap salary. With Westbrook back at full strength, what do you give the team that has everything? More offensive firepower is one option, particularly from the frontcourt, which struggled to establish itself as enough of a threat to keep Memphis’ big men honest defensively. With the status of free agent Kevin Martin very much up in the air, the Thunder could look to add more talent at the wing.”
Chad Ford of ESPN.com has OKC taking Steven Adams: “Adams might have been the big winner of the draft combine. Physically, he looked the part of a future NBA center and displayed a better than expected touch on his jump shot. He looked in terrific shape, hustled on both ends of the floor and reminded everyone why scouts saw him as a potential top-five pick going into his senior year of high school. He’s raw and won’t find any real minutes on the Thunder. But that’s what the D-League is for.”
Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com has OKC with Olynyk: “The Thunder could use another scoring option — and the big Canadian can put up points in the paint and also from the perimeter.”
Chris Mannix of SI.com has OKC taking Dario Saric: “There is increasing chatter among NBA executives that the Thunder — with two first-round picks and young talent in Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones on the roster — will look to make a major move on draft night. If they keep this pick, Saric, a smooth, mobile big man one executive describes as “the best passing big in the draft” is a nice find. Saric isn’t the bruising back-to-the-basket scorer that Oklahoma City craves, but he is exactly the kind of high potential talent GM Sam Presti loves to develop.”
Sean Deveney of Sporting News: “Who knows what the Thunder do with this pick? Gobert is a high-ceiling gamble with a massive wingspan (7-9), who can be stashed in Europe for a year before coming to the NBA.”
Jonathan Tjarks of SB Nation: “Dieng is a 23-year-old center who can play defense and knock down a mid-range jumper. Just going to throw this out there, but I suspect he is already a better basketball player than either Kendrick Perkins or Hasheem Thabeet.”
Vice President Joe Biden to KD: “You’re not only a great athlete, you’re a great humanitarian. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your generosity.”
KD spoke to reporters yesterday about his donation while in Minnesota watching friend Monica Wright play: “As the day went on and I saw the footage and the casualties and the houses being blown away, it was tough to see. I call Oklahoma City my home. I go through Moore all the time. It’s unfortunate. We’re going to come together as a city like we always do and we’re going to bounce back.”
Presti talking about the tornado.
Why Oklahoma is awesome. No. 31 and 32 forever.
Tibor Pleiss isn’t coming over soon: “I am in contact with Thunder GM Sam Presti and I often speak on phone with Jonny Rogers, who lives in Barcelona and he is a scout for the Thunder in Europe,” Pleiss wrote on his blog. “They look at me each game and they are very satisfied for my performances. But I don’t want to be misunderstood: I think to the NBA in the medium term and I don’t want to talk too much about it. After this season I have three more years on my contract with Baskonia and I will stay at least next season. I feel the confidence of coach Zan Tabak. I know I can become a better player in Vitoria, which is crucial for me.”
Russell Westbrook and a few other Thunder players visited a hospital yesterday.
Tree and Leaf shirt Moore recovery shirt. It’s cool. Buy one. All proceeds to the disaster relief.
Well done, West Virginia baseball team.
Berry Tramel on the 12th pick: “OK, 16-20: 16. Marreese Speights, Philadelphia; 17. Roy Hibbert, Indiana; 18. JaVale McGee, Washington; 19. J.J. Hickson, Cleveland; 20. Alexis Ajinca, Charlotte. Are you kidding me? Speights is a solid backup center, then came three starting (or virtual starters, Denver does some funky things with McGee) centers. And then the total bust of Ajinca. So quick review. Through 20 picks, there have been what? Two busts and a couple of dubious picks. And the Bobcats had one of the busts (Ajinca) and one of the dubious (Augustin). No wonder Charlotte stinks. And it gets worse.”
