Wednesday Bolts – 6.16.10

Ian Thompson of SI writes that OKC is the most efficient franchise: “Clay Bennett’s payroll is the envy of his fellow owners. For starters, no team has less salary on the books than the Thunder, but look deeper: More than $5 million is covered by an insurance policy on Matt Harpring, whose contract the Thunder took on while netting rookie point guard Eric Maynor in the deal. That leaves the Thunder at $49 million in actual operating costs — or an unheard-of $1 million per win. Of that total, another $8.7 million is paid to veterans Etan Thomas and Kevin Ollie, who rarely play. Boil it all down and their nine-man rotation is making $32.8 million this season in return for the league’s 10th-best record and fourth-stingiest field-goal defense.”

KD, apparently not a fan of JVG: “Man jeff van gundy is tuuuuuuurible…shutup pee wee Herman.”

Darnell Mayberry writes that Solomon Alabi could be the fit for OKC: Solomon Alabi is the low-post defensive presence the Oklahoma City Thunder needs. Well, that’s the pre-draft buzz he’s been generating.The Florida State center looks the part. He’s 7-foot-1 and has a 7-foot-5 inch wingspan tailor made for swatting shots and rounding up rebounds. And he’s even drawn comparisons to Hakeem Olajuwon. This is the player many draft experts have projected to land in Oklahoma City when the Thunder comes out of the 2010 NBA Draft.”

KD made his first return to Barry Farms last Sunday: “His performance wasn’t 62-point-esque but Durant’s 35 points raised enough ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from a packed crowd to grade his Goodman League debut as a success. Playing alongside the Washington Wizards’ Andray Blatche, Durant and Blatche dazzled at times “inside the gates” for their 3rd Eye ball club. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward launched the first shot of the game; a three-pointer that grazed off the rim before executing a spin move on his next possession and finishing with a one-handed dunk. That would turn into an ongoing theme for much of the night for the 21-year-old nicknamed “KD.” While his normally reliable jumpshot wasn’t falling, KD was busy attacking the rim and finishing strong with two-handed and one-handed rim rattlers. Clapping his hands after explosive finishes and face-flexing to the crowd.”

Video of KD getting ragged on by a fan at Barry Farms:

And another video, this one with a little actual game footage.

Evan Turner will only work out for the Sixers: “Ohio State’s Evan Turner, who is expected to be the 76ers’ choice with the No. 2 overall draft pick, will work out for the team Thursday. Turner’s agent, David Falk, has said Turner will work out only for the 76ers.”

Thunderland interviewed Kristin Chenoweth: “Stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth is currently appearing on Broadway in “Promises, Promises,” a musical that happens to boast a song titled “She Likes Basketball.” Chenoweth’s character in the show, Fran Kubelik, is a big hoops fan. And so, it turns out, is the actress herself. “I love basketball,” the Oklahoma native and Oklahoma City University graduate recently told Thunderland by email. “So finally a hometown girl has a team to root for!”

The list of college and international players that have withdrawn from the draft.