John Lucas' Chances
I’m often asked whether John Lucas has a chance to make the team. My answer usually is it’ll be tough.
You never want to count a guy out, and Lucas is a player who has proven he can play in the NBA. In his first preseason action with the Thunder on Saturday against Golden State, Lucas scored six points with a team-high-tying four assists, two rebounds and one steal in 16 minutes.
But Lucas seems caught in a numbers game with the Thunder, which currently has 14 guaranteed contracts or one below the maximum a team can take into the regular season.
Teams generally prefer to leave a roster spot open when possible to allow maximum flexibility in the regular season. What is “maximum flexibility?” It’s something that allows teams that are below the roster max to sign a player in mid-season in case rampant injuries set in. It’s something that allows teams that are below the roster max more options in trade scenarios, granting teams an opportunity to take more players back in a trade than they’re sending out if need be because of the finances.
Helping Lucas’ cause is that teams usually want to have three point guards, and Lucas is more than capable of being a third-string point guard in this league. Earl Watson and Russell Westbrook, however, will command so many minutes at point guard that a third point guard is not high on the team’s pressing needs list, which brings up another problem for Lucas.
The Thunder is so thin in the frontcourt with injuries to power forwards and centers that any addition likely will be made with those positions in mind. Guards and wing players, however, are the Thunder’s deepest positions right now.
If Lucas doesn’t make the team, the Thunder can’t just stash him in Tulsa like some people have asked. Lucas would no longer belong to the team and he can sign wherever he wants, whether it’s another team, overseas or with a D-League team. If Lucas made the team, the Thunder couldn’t send him down to Tulsa anyway because he’s already amassed two years of experience. The NBA’s farm system setup is for players with no more than two years experience.
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John Lucas’ Chances
I’m often asked whether John Lucas has a chance to make the team. My answer usually is it’ll be tough.
You never want to count a guy out, and Lucas is a player who has proven he can play in the NBA. In his first preseason action with the Thunder on Saturday against Golden State, Lucas scored six points with a team-high-tying four assists, two rebounds and one steal in 16 minutes.
But Lucas seems caught in a numbers game with the Thunder, which currently has 14 guaranteed contracts or one below the maximum a team can take into the regular season.
Teams generally prefer to leave a roster spot open when possible to allow maximum flexibility in the regular season. What is “maximum flexibility?” It’s something that allows teams that are below the roster max to sign a player in mid-season in case rampant injuries set in. It’s something that allows teams that are below the roster max more options in trade scenarios, granting teams an opportunity to take more players back in a trade than they’re sending out if need be because of the finances.
Helping Lucas’ cause is that teams usually want to have three point guards, and Lucas is more than capable of being a third-string point guard in this league. Earl Watson and Russell Westbrook, however, will command so many minutes at point guard that a third point guard is not high on the team’s pressing needs list, which brings up another problem for Lucas.
The Thunder is so thin in the frontcourt with injuries to power forwards and centers that any addition likely will be made with those positions in mind. Guards and wing players, however, are the Thunder’s deepest positions right now.
If Lucas doesn’t make the team, the Thunder can’t just stash him in Tulsa like some people have asked. Lucas would no longer belong to the team and he can sign wherever he wants, whether it’s another team, overseas or with a D-League team. If Lucas made the team, the Thunder couldn’t send him down to Tulsa anyway because he’s already amassed two years of experience. The NBA’s farm system setup is for players with no more than two years experience.
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Thunder-Warriors Pre-Game Notes
OAKLAND, Calif. — We’re about 30 minutes away from the opening tip here at Oracle Arena. I just got out of the locker room, and coach P.J. Carlesimo still was undecided on which starting lineup he’s going with tonight. Here’s what we do know…..more injury woes!
Joe Smith is out. He fractured his nose in last night’s game when Russell Westbrook inadvertently elbowed him in the grill. He’ll have to get the thing popped back in place next week. The thing is leaning to the left. Pretty disgusting stuff. He’ll likely have to wear one of those Richard Hamilton facemask for the next few weeks.
Desmond Mason is also out. He sustained a knee contusion while trying to take a charge on Kings guard Kevin Martin. It’s also Mason’s birthday.
Kevin Durant is in the starting lineup again.
I asked Durant the obligatory question about today’s OU-Texas game, and he treaded lightly, not wanting to fan the flames. I’ll have a note on it in Sunday’s paper.
In Warriors news, Golden State announced today that Monta Ellis will be suspended for 30 games without pay for failing to come clean about his infamous offseason moped accident that will cause him to miss most of this season. Also, former Duke guard DeMarcus Nelson is supposed to get the start tonight at point guard over recently acquired guard Marcus Williams.
And be sure to join us for our regular live chat during the game. Maybe Baldwin can talk Thunder and keep the ALCS scores to himself tonight. 
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Thunder-Warriors live blog at 9:30 tonight
Kevin Durant To Sit Tonight?
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — P.J. Carlesimo said he was going to shake up his starting lineups and that’s exactly what he’s doing. In a big way.
PG- Earl Watson
SG- Damien Wilkins
SF- Desmond Mason
PF- Joe Smith
C- Nick Collison
That’s right, no Kevin Durant, no Jeff Green.
P.J. said Durant likely won’t play tonight. If he doesn’t he’ll be back in the lineup tomorrow.
Let me also clairfy something that made this morning’s paper. Joe Smith did not sit out Wednesday’s game because of his toenails. He sat out because this is the preseason and, as a 13-year veteran, he doesn’t need the experience.
Kyle Weaver, Robert Swift and Mo Sene will sit out tonight.
I would expect to see more of Russell Westbrook tonight, and Derrick Byars and John Lucas also could get their first look tonight.
Updating a previous report (if you want to call it that and I know you were just dying to know), Nick Collison found his dog. Someone in his neighborhood saw his flier in a bank and, after housing the pet for a few days, returned the dog to its rightful owner. I asked Nick what that person’s reaction was when they learned it was the dog of “Nick Collison of the Oklahoma City Thunder” and he said they really didn’t know who he was.
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Thunder vs. Sacramento live blog, 9 p.m. tonight
Don't be surprised when…
…. you tune into the game tonight and see Robert Swift, likely on the sideline in a suit, with his long red hair braided. I don’t know who did his do on this road trip or when, but when I walked into shootaround this morning I saw the new look.
Don’t worry, I’ll get back to the regularly scheduled business of actual basketball tonight. That reminds me, we’ll be doing a live chat again during the game. So be sure to come back and stick with us throughout the evening for news, views and opinion on all things Thunder.
-DM-
Don’t be surprised when…
…. you tune into the game tonight and see Robert Swift, likely on the sideline in a suit, with his long red hair braided. I don’t know who did his do on this road trip or when, but when I walked into shootaround this morning I saw the new look.
Don’t worry, I’ll get back to the regularly scheduled business of actual basketball tonight. That reminds me, we’ll be doing a live chat again during the game. So be sure to come back and stick with us throughout the evening for news, views and opinion on all things Thunder.
-DM-
Permanent Practice Facility Site Selected
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The site of the Thunder’s permanent practice facility has been tentative selected, the team announced Friday.Pending certain evaluation and testing, the site will be an eight acre tract of land at Britton Ave. and Broadway Extension in northeast Oklahoma City currently owned by Kickingbird Medical Building, LLC.
The City Council on Tuesday will consider a proposal for an early entry agreement with the property owner to conduct a due diligence evaluation, inspection and survey of the property to ensure its viability, according to the team’s release.
The practice facility is expected to be completed in time for the 2010-11 NBA season. The Thunder’s is currently using a temporary facility in north Oklahoma City.
The new facility will cost approximately $20 million, funded by the extension of a 1-cent sales tax Oklahoma City voters approved in March to raise approximately $121 million to fund Ford Center improvements and the permanent training facility.
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Practice Report
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The biggest news of the day is D.J. White will miss four to six months after undergoing surgery on his jaw next week. You can read more on that in the post directly below this one.
For Friday’s paper I wrote about the team’s surprising amount of depth and how it could help win games.
The team used Thursday’s practice to put in a few more offensive sets. The additions are expected to be on display Friday. “I don’t know how good it’s going to be but at least we’ll have a couple of more looks,” said coach P.J. Carlesimo. “We’ll get more stuff in even tomorrow at the shootaround.”
Some notes…..
* Jeff Green said his left ankle is fine after he rolled it midway through the third quarter Wednesday by landing on Al Jefferson’s foot.
* P.J. won’t start either Chris Wilcox or Nick Collison Friday night, choosing to separate them to allow Johan Petro and Chris Alexander to play with a more natural power forward rather than alongside another true center. P.J. didn’t like playing Chris and Johan together because they’re both big centers and not accustomed to playing next to someone so similar.
* P.J. also plans on changing a starter at one of the wing positions. He wouldn’t say who but my guess is Desmond Mason is inserted for Jeff Green. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave Russell Westbrook a start over Earl Watson, but P.J. specifically said “one of the wing positions” and point guards generally aren’t referred to as wings which makes me think Mason gets the nod Friday.
* Joe Smith practiced the entire session Thursday and should be a go Friday as long as his feet are fine come game time. He could be inserted as the starting center for Nick Collison. Or not. I really don’t know what P.J. is thinking. I don’t think he does until dissecting all his options. He said he plans on changing two or three starters every game for a while.
* P.J. said Thursday he still hasn’t figured out how he’ll handle playing time in the Oklahoma back-to-backs. “Some of the decisions might get made for us, how Joe Smith plays, things like that. I’ll just wait and see. If everybody’s healthy, we’ve got a long plane ride on Sunday to figure that out. I don’t think we’ll make that decision probably until Sunday on the plane.”
* Robert Swift still is not participating in full-contact practice. He’s doing more drills but primarily using his left hand. “Until he’s able to catch the ball and shoot the ball with his right hand he can’t really participate in practice,” Carlesimo said. ”He does a lot of conditioning, but he’s not really practicing.”
* Kyle Weaver didn’t practice Thursday. He was listed with a strained groin for Wednesday’s game.
* Mo Sene took part in 5-on-5 play for the first time Thursday, which could be a big boost to the team’s thin frontcourt. That’s assuming Sene can provide quality minutes. There are still several question marks about where he is in his development and whether he can contribute.
* The guys who didn’t play Wednesday – Joe Smith, John Lucas, Derrick Byars and Kyle Weaver – will either see some game action Friday or Saturday against the Warriors. It’ll most like be Saturday. “But between tomorrow and Saturday we’ll get everybody in,” Carlesimo said.
* P.J. said he will try and do a better job Friday of keeping everyone in the mid-20s in minutes.
* Desmond Mason said he prefers to start this season but isn’t opposed to coming off the bench. “Everybody wants to start in the NBA,” Mason said. “You always want to start in the NBA, and I’ve been a starter for the last six years. But I want to do what’s going to help the team win basketball games.”
He continued…
“My role when I come into the game, whether it’s as a starter or coming off the bench, is to bring energy, get guys picked up on the defensive end of the floor, score when I have my opportunities to score and then also bring veteran leadership to some of the young guys. Whether I start or come off the bench, I’ve played both positions, I understand both positions, I just need to go out and be able to be efficient in whatever role I get.”
And that response from Mason should effectively answer anyone’s question about why the Thunder traded for him.
* Kevin Durant said he was disappointed he didn’t make more than 3 of 13 shots in the team’s preseason opener. But he said his focus going into tomorrow’s game is still on team defense and playing team basketball.
* Following his 1-for-7 shooting performance Wednesday, Earl Watson spent a little extra time shooting mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers after practice with assistant coach Paul Westhead.
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