More On The Durant Free Agent Front
This time next year, Kevin Durant will be eligible to re-sign with the Thunder for up to five more seasons beyond the 2010-11 season.
In Monday’s paper I wrote about Durant’s contract situation and how he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, in large part because, no matter how hard it might be for some to believe, he really has grown fond of Oklahoma and the Thunder. But I wanted to post some additional information about Durant’s forthcoming decision and give you an even clearer idea of why Durant isn’t likely to leave after his rookie deal.
In short, players like Durant just don’t walk after their rookie contracts.
Whether we believe Durant will do what he’s repeatedly said he wants to do — remain with the Thunder for as long as possible — is up to us at this point. It’s certainly understandable how fans and media types have revoked the benefit of the doubt from athletes and coaches. There are far too many examples of a player or coach insisting his or her heart is somewhere only to jump ship weeks later.
But if Durant’s good old-fashioned word isn’t enough, let’s examine history.
Out of 70 top 10 picks from 1999-2005, 40 players went on to sign an extension with the team that drafted them or the club that traded for them.
(I chose this seven-year time frame because the second most recent CBA was instituted in 1999 and still contained rules with similar structuring of rookie contracts to today. I stopped at 2005 because the jury is still out on the class of 2006, which just became eligible to sign extensions this summer and so far has seen No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani become the lone top 10 pick from that class to re-up.)
Of the remaining 30 players from 1999-2005 who didn’t sign extensions, 15 were players who can be considered busts or simply didn’t live up to early expectations: Marcus Fizer, Rodney White, Nickoloz Tskitishvili, Dajuan Wagner, Jarvis Hayes, Stromile Swift, Keyon Dooling, Joel Przybilla, Channing Frye, DeSagana Diop, Michael Sweetney, Darko Milicic, Rafael Araujo, Ike Diogu and Luke Jackson.
Durant As Good Or Better Than LeBron?
I asked Thunder general manager Sam Presti just a few days ago what the USA Basketball mini-camp did for Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. Presti, always modest, surprisingly gushed about how he thought the few days his players spent in Las Vegas really went a long way to build their reputations in the minds of scouts, coaches and GMs throughout the league.
Presti said nationally people really liked what they saw out of Oklahoma City’s big three. They were impressed with their practice habits and their work ethic. They liked that they played the game the right way and excelled against the best young competition in the NBA.
It was the first time opposing execs got to see Durant, Green and Westbrook up close for an extended behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making them special players. The first time outsiders got to see their passion for the game and their willingness to put the necessary time into becoming the best players they can be.
Then along came this observation from longtime NBA writer Sam Smith:
“It’s being whispered now among NBA types because, I believe, under a secret NBA/ESPN provision you are not permitted to say aloud anything that might be interpreted to suggest LeBron James isn’t the best thing to ever happen in anyone’s life. But sitting in the stands in Las Vegas at the USA Basketball mini-camp and hearing NBA coaches and general managers, the gasps have been for Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant. I’ve now heard more than one say that Durant could be a better player than James given Durant’s combination of amazing size at about 6-10 and pure shooting stroke. And he’s still 20. The feeling is Durant is on the brink of being a 30 per game scorer. Plus, Durant is a serious worker…”
I tweeted a link to this blurb on my Twitter account, and Durant responded by saying, “Man Y people keep sayin that…I’m not nowhere near as good as LeBron man.”
Breaking Down The Etan Thomas Trade
It’s official.
The Thunder has acquired Etan Thomas and two 2010 second-round picks from Minnesota in exchange for Damien Wilkins and Chucky Atkins.
On one hand, the deal could be viewed simply as three aging reserves and two second-round picks swapping places. But this trade holds much more significance for the Thunder in both the short and long term.
Just last week I touched on how the Thunder’s post play remains the weakest link. Young guns D.J. White, Serge Ibaka and Byron Mullens aren’t ready to contribute consistent minutes next season and the addition of Thomas now means they don’t have to.
Oklahoma City is now looking at a steady power forward/center rotation of Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic as the starters and Nick Collison and Etan Thomas as their backups. Roles should be clearly defined in 2009-10 as opposed to the uncertain responsibilities surrounding Thunder bigs Collison, Green, Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith, Robert Swift and Johan Petro at the start of last season.
But more than that, the Thunder has brought in the type of player it lacked — a tough-minded, physical presence who rebounds, defends and blocks shots like his career depends on it. Collison is as close as it gets on the Thunder, but he lacks Thomas’ athletic gifts, shot-blocking skills and physical prowess in the post. Not only does Thomas fill that void, but he can now serve as a mentor to players like Mullens, Ibaka and White. If the Thunder stood pat and you looked around the locker room come October there wouldn’t have been any name plates above cubicles that you honestly could have said would make the young bigs better. They needed someone to challenge them every day by punishing them on the practice court and demonstrating healthy habits on game days.
The Thunder also landed two more second-round picks from Minnesota in next year’s draft. One is Minnesota’s and the other will be the lesser of the eventual second-round slotting between Houston, Portland and Chicago. It bumps Oklahoma City’s total number of draft picks to five in 2010. The Thunder has its own first-rounder as well as Phoenix’s unprotected first-round selection. And OKC likely will retain its own second-round pick rather than having to send the conditional pick to Dallas as agreed to in the draft-night deal for Mullens.
Thunder Getting Center Etan Thomas
The Thunder is on the verge of beefing up its frontcourt.
Oklahoma City is close to acquiring reserve center Etan Thomas from Minnesota, The Oklahoman has learned. In exchange for the 6-foot-10 Tulsa native, the Thunder has agreed to send the Timberwolves reserve guards Damien Wilkins and Chucky Atkins.
Under the proposed deal, the Thunder also would get Minnesota’s second-round pick in 2010 and perhaps one more second-rounder as additional compensation. The Thunder would have five total draft picks in 2010, including its own first- and second-round picks and Phoenix’s unprotected first-round selections.
The move gives the Thunder an experienced big man to play behind starting center Nenad Krstic and should allow Nick Collison to play more time in his customary power forward position.
For the Wolves, the deal appears to be nothing more than a salary dump. Wilkins’ $3.3 million contract is guaranteed for next season, but only $760,000 of Atkins’ expiring $3.48 million contract is guaranteed for 2009-10.
Thomas is owed $7.35 million in the final year of his contract, meaning the Thunder is gaining short-term relief in the middle while only slightly adding to its payroll and still maintaining its long-term flexibility.
Thomas, a product of Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High, is entering his eighth season out of Syracuse. He holds career averages of 6.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 17.9 minutes. Thomas was the 12th overall pick in 2000 by Dallas but was immediately traded to Washington. He has been plagued by injuries and illness during his seven seasons with the Wizards, missing the entire 2007-08 season with a heart condition that required open heart surgery before returning to basketball in 2008-09.
Washington sent Thomas, 31, to Minnesota in a multi-player trade two days before June’s NBA Draft.
Wilkins and Atkins were both in the final years of their contracts but weren’t in the plans going forward. Wilkins, 29, averaged 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 15.5 minutes in 41 games last year and grew frustrated as the season went on. He faced even less playing time with the addition of No. 3 overall pick James Harden and Thabo Sefolosha returning for a full season.
Atkins was acquired in the January trade that sent Johan Petro to Denver. The 34-year-old point guard played in only 18 games and averaged 3.9 points and 1.7 assists in 16.6 minutes for the Thunder.
The deal also frees up another roster spot, now putting the Thunder at 12 players under contract.
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Pick Your Favorite Thunder Girl
I’ve got to admit. I’ve campaigned with certain Thunder officials who shall remain nameless for quite some time to be the judge of which Thunder Girls hopefuls make the final cut. Things didn’t quite work out for me for various reasons.
But you, yes you, can help decide which girl will become an actual Thunder Girl for the 2009-10 season. It’s sort of a dream come true. Only you’re using your Internet browser rather than your wandering set of eyes in real life. Come on, don’t act like it’s just me. These girls have some of the best, uh, dance moves around.
The Thunder has given fans the opportunity to vote on the 19th and final member of the dance squad by logging on to thunder.nba.com. The Thunder whittled down a list that began with more than 100 girls to 40 hopefuls and 18 on Tuesday night. Now you can vote on one of two candidates for the final spot. Voting begins Wednesday and is open through Noon on Monday and the results will be announced on the team’s Web site shortly after voting ends.
Use your voice people.
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Brooks Breaks Down Summer League
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Watson Released, Thunder Falls To 0-4
LAS VEGAS — Sort of a crazy day out here. The Thunder made its first transaction of the off-season, and it’s one fans have long craved, seemingly by any means necessary. Oklahoma City released veteran point guard Earl Watson, making the man a free agent and finally ending his unhappy stay in Oklahoma City.
Watson has agreed to sign with Indiana but can’t until he clears waivers after seven days.
I’ll try to sum up this move quickly by providing clarity on what seems to be the biggest question of the day. Why did OKC waive Watson instead of trading him?
The answer: the Thunder couldn’t trade Earl Watson for two reasons, 1) his trade value likely wasn’t high and 2) you have to get something of value in return when you trade a player. GMs don’t just trade a player to satisfy his desires without getting something in return, even if that’s peanuts that turns into money off the books (read, expiring contracts).
Oklahoma City would have had to take back a salary if they did last season. And it’s now clear whatever offers were out there clearly didn’t appease the front office. And the Thunder is way under the cap this summer. That means two things, 1) OKC doesn’t have to match salaries in a trade for Watson and 2) any trade would mean OKC would again be seeking something of value in return. It wasn’t there.
A trade would have brought somebody that the team clearly doesn’t want, either because of his skills or because of his contract. There was no way the Thunder was going to trade Watson and take somebody with another two, three or even four years on his contract. It would have messed up the cap flexibility that’s been built. The only logical instance would have been if it were a darn good player, which Watson alone doesn’t warrant.
So the Thunder saved some money, added an additional roster spot and got rid of a potential locker room cancer. All in all, it’s not a bad day at the office. I don’t know how much the Thunder saved, but teams generally don’t do things like this unless a player makes it worth their while. And the Thunder had the upper hand because Watson was desperate to get out of OKC. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave up half of his $6.6 million to get out of his deal. His agreement with the Pacers might be a good indicator of how much he forfeited. For example, if he signs a one-year deal worth $3.3 million, it likely means he gave up $3.3 million with the Thunder but is coming out even with his new contract with the Pacers.
As for the actual guys who are still members of the Thunder and are down here busting their tails in Vegas…..
Update: Watson A Done Deal
The Thunder has finalized its move to waive Earl Watson today. I’ll have more details on NewsOK.com throughout the day and more in tomorrow’s editions of The Oklahoman.
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Thunder Close To Parting With Earl Watson
LAS VEGAS – The Thunder could be close to waiving point guard Earl Watson. An agreement could be reached as early as today.
Watson, the 30-year-old backup to Russell Westbrook, averaged 6.6 points and 5.8 assists in 68 games last season. The eight-year veteran grew frustrated his role last season as a member of the 23-win Thunder, going from opening-night starter to mid-season backup to bench warmer by season’s end.
Watson said at the end of last season that he doesn’t expect to return, and if a deal is finalized the agreement could benefit both sides. Watson would become a free agent and could sign with any team, potentially ending up on a playoff contender that can offer him more playing time as opposed to being caught in the Thunder’s commitment to youth. And Oklahoma City could save a good portion of Watson’s $6.6 million salary for this coming season while also freeing up a roster spot.
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Thunder Enjoys Off Day, Griffin Enjoys Dazzling Debut
LAS VEGAS — The Thunder was not one of the 12 teams in action Monday in the NBA Summer League. Oklahoma City got a much needed day off after playing five games in seven days dating back to last Monday’s opening day of the Orlando Pro Summer league.
The Thunder did go through a practice at a local high school in preparation for Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 p.m. Central Time. As for the game, Oklahoma City is simply looking for continued development out of the roster, individually and collectively, and for players to continue focusing on playing as a team.
It should be an interesting match up from the standpoint that the Lakers have a vagabond bunch with the two most familiar names being Adam Morrison and former OSU forward David Monds. Former Arizona standout Mustafa Shakur once was a big name, and some of you might remember Michigan State product Alan Anderson from his successful college days with the Spartans. But the Lakers roster is awfully sketchy after that, so the fact that L.A. has only one NBA player on its summer league roster should bode well for the Thunder executing its game plan. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, former Oklahoma star Blake Griffin torched that Lakers squad in his debut Monday night. A buzz began building in Cox Pavilion for Griffin’s debut about 30 minutes prior to the Los Angeles Clippers tip-off. Before the final horn even sounded on Phoenix and Dallas’ game, media and league personnel began making their way across the hall to the Thomas & Mack Center to get a good seat. And Griffin didn’t disappoint, scoring 27 points with 12 rebounds in 30 minutes.
