Desmond Mason, Thunder Part Ways
Desmond Mason’s days in a Thunder uniform have come to an end.
For now.
Oklahoma City has decided to go in a different direction and will not re-sign the former Oklahoma State standout and fan favorite, The Oklahoman has learned.
Mason, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer, became a casualty of the Thunder’s commitment to developing its young talent and was the odd man out on a roster that is one player below the NBA maximum of 15 allowed.
The Thunder remained open to the possibility of re-signing the 31-year-old Mason throughout the summer and had ongoing discussions with his agent since the start of free agency on July 1. Mason made $5.3 million in the final year of his contract last season and is believed to have been seeking a deal in the same neighborhood this summer.
Contract negotiations were believed to have been more exploratory in nature, comprised of more casual discussion rather than concrete proposals. Mason’s camp is believed to have been seeking a multi-year contract of at least two seasons while the Thunder was willing to agree to nothing longer than a one-year deal.
But it appeared less likely Mason would return with each transaction the Thunder made since February.
Q&A With Kevin Ollie
It was long overdue but I finally got in touch with Kevin Ollie, the veteran point guard the Thunder signed on Aug. 1 to add stability and leadership to the lead guard position. Throughout our 18-minute conversation, Ollie talked about why he joined the Thunder, why he thinks something special is being built in Oklahoma City, his goals of a coaching future, the impact of assistant coach Maurice Cheeks’ addition and how he plans on mentoring Russell Westbrook while competing with Shaun Livingston for backup minutes.
Ollie, who turns 37 in late December, is regarded as one of the classiest guys in basketball and that characterization was evident in our brief chat. He was thankful for the opportunity to continue his career and eager to meet his new teammates and start training camp. He was insightful, introspective, eloquent, humble and gave the impression of being an extremely hard worker. Thunder fans definitely will take a liking to Ollie’s personality, and if he provides anything of value on the court this season that will just be icing on the cake.
DM: What attracted you to the Thunder?
KO: From Day One they gave me a call and expressed interest and had a strong belief in me and my talents and what I can bring as an asset to the team. So I really appreciate their involvement from Day One. And once I met Sam Presti and coach Brooks I just fell in love with the organization. They do everything in a classy way, and I just believe that they’re building a winning program there that I wanted to be a part of.
Collison Confronts Jim Traber
In case you missed it on The Sports Animal today, host Jim Traber’s mission to run Nick Collison out of town hit a climax when Collison called into the station and had a 17-minute conversation with Traber.
For those that don’t know, The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson wrote a column Monday about how Collison is using the social networking site Twitter to show his personality, which includes his fondness for the city of Seattle.
Traber took exception to Collison’s tweets and his alleged shots at Oklahoma City and has declared war on the Thunder’s power forward ever since. What transpired today turned into truly unbelievable radio, combining comedy, shock value and downright good entertainment. What makes it so interesting is that neither Traber nor Collison is joking. It would be one thing if this were staged, a big act to drive ratings. But these two are genuinely going at it, airing out their differences for thousands to hear.
The first 15 seconds alone had me in stitches.
Traber: “Craig, we have a guest on the line. You know who it is?”
Craig Humphries: “I was told during the break that Nick Collison might be calling in.”
Traber: “That’s exactly right. Live from I’m sure up in Seattle right now it’s Nick Collison. Nick, I’m Jim Traber (with) Craig Humphries. What are you doing?”
Collison: “Hey Jim, what’s up? I heard you’re trying to run me out of town. What’s the deal?”
Other highlights include:
- Collison’s admitting his hatred for the word, “Tweet.”
- Collison claiming he’s “the sweatiest dude in the league,” which has actually been confirmed by at least one opposing player.
- Traber getting personal by calling out Collison for how much he makes every two weeks.
- Collison calling this ownership group and management the most dedicated to winning of any he’s every played for. (He points out he’s played for five head coaches, two GMs and two ownership groups, all with Seattle/Oklahoma City since he joined the league in 2003.)
- Collison asking Traber if he can stay at his place when he returns for the season since his lease is up.
Listen to the rest yourself by clicking on the link above.
-DM-
Maurice Cheeks Coming To OKC
Maurice Cheeks and Rex Kalamian have been hired as assistant coaches by the Thunder.
It was previously reported that Dale Osbourne, a former assistant with the Utah Flash, has taken a job with Oklahoma City. But it appears Osbourne will join the Tulsa 66ers, the D-League affiliate of the Thunder, in some capacity.
Cheeks, who has 30 years of NBA experience as a player and coach, was most recently coach of the Philadelphia 76ers from 2005-08. He holds a 284-286 record as head coach with Philadelphia and Portland. Cheeks spent seven seasons as an assistant with the 76ers prior to joining the Blazers.
Thunder To Name Two Assistant Coaches
The Thunder could soon announce additions to its coaching staff for the 2009-10 season. But the impending announcement is beginning to look like a mere formality.
Oklahoma City has hired Dale Osbourne, an assistant with the Utah Flash, the Developmental League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Osbourne has 19 years of coaching experience, with stints in the NCAA, the D-League, USBL, CBA, WNBA and China. He spent the past two seasons with the Flash and worked under the late Dennis Johnson with the Austin Toros before joining the Flash.
Osbourne, 45, is a graduate of South Alabama, where he served as an assistant from 1992-99. Osbourne was as an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids HOOPS of the CBA from 2000-02 and with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA in 2003. From 2004-06 Osbourne coached the Dodge City Legend of the USBL, guiding his teams to consecutive regular season and division championships in 2004 and 2005 and the USBL championship in 2004-05. He was named 2004 USBL Coach of the Year. In China, Osbourne was head coach of the Vasda Legacy All-Stars and led that team to a 7-2 record against the Chinese Pro Team in 2000. That same year he also coached the Vasda Legacy College Exhibition Team during its exhibition tour through the United States.
With the departure of assistant coach Ralph Lewis, the Thunder also is expected to hire Rex Kalamian, most recently an assistant in Sacramento. Kalamian, then an assistant coach/player development coach, served on the same staff as Thunder coach Scott Brooks in Denver during the 2004-05 season. Kalamian also worked for the Los Angeles Clippers for nine seasons, Minnesota for two seasons and served as a West Coast scout for Philadelphia during the 2003-04 season.
Including Kalamian and Osbourne, Brooks’ coaching staff will be rounded out with returning coaches Ron Adams, Mark Bryant and Brian Keefe.
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Documentary “Sonicsgate” To Premier Online Oct. 12
On the day the Thunder makes its preseason debut at the Ford Center an online documentary chronicling the team’s move from Seattle is scheduled to be released online.
The film, “Sonicsgate,” is an 80-minute documentary scheduled to be released online Oct. 12 and is produced by Seattle-based filmmaker Jason Reid and “a crew of angry Sonics fans,” according to a press release by the organization Save Our Sonics. Reid, the director, hopes to generate momentum for the Sonics issue and eventually help get another NBA team in the city of Seattle.
Judging by the three-minute trailer, the documentary appears to be worthy of a look. It seems the film will be very accusatory in nature, with the blame looking like it will be pointed to everyone from Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols to Thunder chairman Clay Bennett to the Legislature to former owner Howard Schultz. But several key characters were interviewed for the documentary, including Slade Gorton, Paul Lawrence, Brad Keller, Tom Carr, Brian Robinson Chris Van Dyk, Nick Collison, Desmond Mason and Kevin Calabro among others.
Sonicsgate Trailer from sonicsgate on Vimeo.
“We feel it is important to capture the rich history of the SuperSonics in Seattle,” Reid said. “This film exposes the truth behind the SuperSonics’ tragic exodus after 41 years in the Emerald City. There are people who need to be held accountable for how the team was scandalously ripped away from fans.”
For more on the project visit www.sonicsgate.org.
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Thoughts On The 2009-10 Thunder Schedule
The NBA released its league-wide schedule today, and the Thunder will open the season at home against Sacramento on Oct. 28. Oklahoma City will travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Oct. 30 before returning to the Ford Center to face Portland on Nov. 1 and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 3.
Other highlights of the schedule include: Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic at the Ford Center on Sunday, Nov. 8, No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Ford Center on Sunday, Nov. 15, the Boston Celtics coming to town Friday, Dec. 4, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting OKC on Sunday, Dec. 13, Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets coming Jan. 6 and March 10 and the Lakers returning Friday, March 26.
Also, the Thunder will have 10 Sunday home games, nine Friday night home games and three Saturday night home games. Oklahoma City will host Utah on New Year’s Eve and Milwaukee the day after Thanksgiving.
But the most interesting bit of news in Oklahoma City’s schedule is that the Thunder will again have just one nationally televised game, a Dec. 16 home game against Dallas. For all the buzz the Thunder has built around the league for how it’s the best up-and-coming team, the television networks sure don’t seem to be impressed. The Dec. 16 game will be televised by ESPN. It’s understandable how ABC wouldn’t pick up a 23-win team for its Sunday slate but for TNT to not pick up a single game is pretty amazing. Even more incredible is the Thunder is scheduled to have only two games aired on NBATV. I guess respect really is earned, not given.
Anyway, let’s break down this here schedule shall we?
Kevin Ollie signs with the Thunder
The Thunder has signed veteran point guard Kevin Ollie.
Terms of the deal are unclear, but the contract likely is a one-year deal for the 36-year-old journeyman.
Ollie is entering his 13th NBA season and has career averages of 3.8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game. He spent last season in Minnesota, where he played 50 games for the Timberwolves and averaged 4.0 points, 2.3 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.
Ollie’s best season came in 2002-03 in Milwaukee and Seattle. While playing all 82 games, he averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 23.1 minutes.
Ollie has also played for Dallas, Orlando, Sacramento, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Chicago, Indiana, and Cleveland. With the Thunder he likely will serve as a third string guard behind Russell Westbrook and Shaun Livingston and add another experienced veteran to help mentor one of the youngest rosters in the NBA.
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