Who’s Ready For Summer League?
OKC's five-game summer league schedule starts Monday against Boston.
ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s been 66 days since we last watched Thunder basketball.
But you can kiss that streak goodbye at approximately 4 p.m. today and gear up for a week of summer league hoops. The Thunder kicks off its five-game schedule in the AirTran Airways Pro Summer League against the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. OK, well maybe not the Celtics crew that won the East but you get the idea.
A lot of jokes are made about summer league ball but, as I wrote over the weekend, the Thunder takes this time quite seriously and stresses summer development a great deal in its program. And that dedicated approach has paid off nicely for Oklahoma City. This is the third straight summer the Thunder has participated in this league, and last year’s roster was the only outfit that traveled to Las Vegas as well. Laugh at these leagues if you must, but Russell Westbrook’s breakout second season originated in Orlando. James Harden and Serge Ibaka now appear next in line.
I’ve been asked a lot lately why the Thunder chose Orlando and is not competing in Las Vegas again this year as well. My explanation is that Orlando is shorter, has a much more compact schedule and is cheaper. But here’s a good article by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel that lists the “no frills” aspect of Orlando as a leading reason several teams prefer this place. You can count the Thunder among those teams.
This should really be a fun week. For the first time, NBA TV will broadcast all 20 games being played here live. And for $14.95, you can get Summer League Broadband, an online package that provides streaming access to these 20 games as well as the other 55 contests being played in Las Vegas from July 9-18.
There is some pretty good talent on hand this year, too. Four of the top 10 picks in last month’s draft will make their pro debuts: Philadelphia’s No. 2 overall pick Evan Turner from Ohio State, New Jersey’s No. 3 overall pick Derrick Favors out of Georgia Tech, Utah’s No. 9 pick Gordon Hayward of Butler and Indiana’s 10th overall pick Paul George from Fresno State. Host team Orlando, with former Bishop McGuinness High standout and 29th pick Daniel Orton, and Charlotte are the final two teams in the league.
A quick primer going into Day One…
Kevin Durant Q&A Part II
As promised, here is part two of the Q & A with Kevin Durant. In this installment, Durant shares his thoughts on tonight’s NBA Draft, upcoming contract extensions for himself and Jeff Green and why it was tough for him to watch the NBA Finals. Enjoy.
Q: How do you view this draft? Anybody you see that you’d love to have as a new teammate?
A: Since I’ve been in the league, this is the first time that we haven’t had a top five pick. So I really don’t know who to expect is going to be down there at 21. I’m not a front office guy, but I guess whoever is the best available is who we should take. I don’t know. You never know what’s going to happen with the first 20 picks. But I like some players. There’s a couple of guys. Gordon Hayward, I hear he’s a guy that could be a good small forward for us. Bigs, Daniel Orton, Larry Sanders, guys like that could help us out as well. We have a good core of guys and whoever we pick is going to come in an jell with us right away.
Q: I’ve got two names for you. At 21, Damion James. At 26, Dexter Pittman.
A: That would be perfect. That would be perfect for me. Those two guys have had great careers at Texas. They really deserve to be picked in this draft. We’ll see what happens. Those two would be perfect fits for us.
Q: Now that you’ve had some time to reflect on last season and what you guys accomplished, is there anything that you’ve taken away from last year that you can use going into next season.
A: I took a look back. It was disappointing for me to watch the Finals, knowing that we had a chance to beat the Lakers and advance. But that doesn’t take away from the year that we had. We had such a fun year. A lot of people didn’t think we’d get to the playoffs and wing 50 games. But we proved people wrong and that felt good. But at the same time, we wanted to win when we got there. That was a little disappointing. It kind of feels like we expected to win the championship. For example, if the Lakers would have lost their season would have been a failure even though they won 57 games. That’s how I kind of felt. I don’t know if that’s the right feelings or what but that’s how I felt. I guess that’s just my competitive nature. But looking back on it, it was a fun year, a lot of guys got better and I’m looking forward to coming back.
2010 Green Room Attendees
The NBA has released the names of the 15 players who have been invited to attend Thursday’s NBA Draft. None of the names come as much of a shock. But what the list does do is provide a clearer idea of who is not likely to be available to the Thunder at 21 if OKC doesn’t attempt to move up. The league does extensive research on players’ projected draft range before inviting them to the event as to ensure no one is embarrassingly sitting around forever waiting for their name to be called. On the other hand, if the Thunder trades up Thursday, it’s a safe bet that one of these 15 names will be in Oklahoma City in 2010-11.
2010 Green Room Attendees
Cole Aldrich: Kansas
Al-Farouq Aminu: Wake Forest
Luke Babbitt: Nevada
DeMarcus Cousins: Kentucky
Ed Davis: North Carolina
Derrick Favors: Georgia Tech
Paul George: Fresno State
Gordon Hayward: Butler
Xavier Henry: Kansas
Wesley Johnson: Syracuse
Greg Monroe: Georgetown
Patrick Patterson: Kentucky
Evan Turner: Ohio State
Ekpe Udoh: Baylor
John Wall: Kentucky
In related news, the betting site Bodog.com has set the over/under on what pick former Kentucky center and Bishop McGuinness standout Daniel Orton will be selected with at 20 1/2. Quite interesting for all those who covet Orton at 21.
-DM-
A Media Mock Draft
With the NBA Finals in the bank, it’s time to turn our full attention to the NBA Draft, which is now just six days away. I recently participated in a media mock draft with a Baltimore radio station that set up interviews with media members throughout the country who cover the respective teams selecting in this year’s first round.
I have absolutely no idea what other media members participated in this station’s mock draft. But it’s always interesting to read other writers’ opinions on who their teams might select — especially when it’s the beat writers, seeing as how he or she should have a pulse on the team’s needs if not its plans. Now, this format has its warts. Players can be overlooked and forgotten about, allowing them to slip far past their projected range. Which is the reason Avery Bradley came within one selection of coming to OKC, and Portland got another potential steal in Luke Babbitt at No. 22.
But here’s the plus side. Unlike a version of my own mock draft, where I can subconsciously slot players to teams based on personal biases and what I think makes sense, I had no control over which two players were there for the Thunder’s taking at No. 21 and No. 26. And yet, I managed to pull my Sam Presti-like magic and come away with a highly successful first round that I’m sure you Thunder heads would be proud of. If I had to grade myself, I’d give me an A+. The Thunder would be hard pressed to end up with a better scenario. Here’s how it unfolded. (Note: Picks 27-30 have yet to be selected)
1. Washington: John Wall;PG;6-4;196;Fr.;Kentucky
2. Philadelphia: Evan Turner;SG/SF;6-7;205;Jr.Ohio State
3. New Jersey: Derrick Favors;PF;6-10;245;Fr.;Georgia Tech
4. Minnesota: Wesley Johnson;SF;6-8;196;Jr.;Syracuse
5. Sacramento: DeMarcus Cousins;C;6-10;270;Fr.;Kentucky
6.Golden State: Greg Monroe;PF/C;6-11;247;Soph.;Georgetown
7. Detroit: Ed Davis;PF;6-9;215;Soph.;North Carolina
8. L.A. Clippers: Cole Aldrich;C;6-11;245;Jr.;Kansas
9. Utah: Ekpe Udoh;PF/C;6-10;240;Jr.;Baylor
10. Indiana: Xavier Henry;SG;6-6;210;Fr.;Kansas
11. New Orleans: Patrick Patterson;PF;6-8;240;Sr.;Kentucky
12. Memphis: Al-Farouq Aminu;SF/PF;6-8;210;Soph.;Wake Forest
13. Toronto: Daniel Orton;C; 6-10;265;Fr.;Kentucky
14. Houston: Hassan Whiteside;C;7-0;230;Fr.;Marshall
15. Milwaukee: Gordon Haywood;SF;6-8;210;Soph.;Butler
16. Minnesota: Paul George;SF;6-9;215;Soph.;Fresno State
17. Chicago: James Anderson;SG;6-6;200;Jr.;Oklahoma State
18. Miami: Solomon Alabi;C;7-1;240;Soph.;Florida State
19.Boston: Damion James;SF;6-8;225;Sr.;Texas
20. San Antonio: Ryan Thompson;SG;6-6;220;Sr.;Rider
21. Oklahoma City: Larry Sanders;PF;6-11;215;Jr.;Virginia Commonwealth
22. Portland: Luke Babbitt;SF;6-9;215;Soph.;Nevada
23. Minnesota: Dexter Pittman;C;6-10;290;Sr.;Texas
24. Atlanta: Quincy Pondexter;SF;6-7;220;Sr.;Washington
25. Memphis: Avery Bradley;SG;6-3;180;Fr.;Texas
26. Oklahoma City: Kevin Seraphin;PF;6-10;260;France
Brandon Roy: “It was the right decison for Kevin Durant to be in OKC”
Greg Oden has played the equivalent of exactly one season since Portland drafted the 7-foot center out of Ohio State with the number one overall pick in 2007. He’s scored 165 fewer points for his career than Kevin Durant scored during his 29-game streak of 25 points or more.
But Blazers guard Brandon Roy isn’t complaining about what could have been.
Roy, Portland’s 25-year-old franchise player, told Yahoo! Sports that the Blazers made the right selection in Oden, attributing his assumption in part to concern over whether him and Durant could have worked. Durant was drafted second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics.
Can me and Kevin Durant even coexist? We’re similar. We’re both creators. We are both perimeter players. I don’t know if there is enough room for both of us. But that doesn’t say Kevin Durant isn’t a great player. He’s right there for the MVP, so not a knock to him at all. I think he’s a great guy off the court. He’s cool. He’s humble. But as far as me having the career I wanted to and him having the career he wanted to, it was the right decision for him to be with Oklahoma City and for us to take Greg Oden.”
Roy, a three-time All-Star in his fourth NBA season, is saying all the right things. By questioning his effectiveness if teamed with Durant, he’s indirectly supporting Oden, who has fallen on tough times and likely is in need of a groundswell of support from the entire state of Oregon. The Blazers and their fans have admirably stood behind their big man every step of the way despite his plentiful pitfalls. Oden missed the entire 2007-08 season after undergoing microfracture surgery, sat out five weeks in 2008-09 with foot and knee injuries and missed all but a month this season thanks to a fractured patella.
But there is absolutely no question whether Durant and Roy could coexist. Look at Russell Westbrook and Durant. Westbrook, much like Roy, has the ball in his hands the majority of the game, controlling the pace and orchestrating the offense. Durant, over the past 1 1/2-plus seasons, has never had an issue with getting shots or finding a way to get into the flow. That’s not to say the Blazers made a mistake in selecting Oden. He was the consensus No. 1 pick, and Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard has said he’d draft him first overall again if he had to do it all over. And I believe him. Most GMs would have drafted Oden, too.
But Roy and Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge would be a sight to see. I think it could have worked and worked well.
Fortunately for Thunder fans, the tag team of Durant and Westbrook and Jeff Green and James Harden and Serge Ibaka looks like it’ll be even better.
-DM-
A Draft Do-over
I was watching NBA Fastbreak last night, and the show called for Jamal Mashburn to put on his GM hat and re-draft the top 10 picks in 2009. The idea stemmed from the strong play of late first-round and second-round picks such as Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton down in New Orleans and big DeJuan Blair in San Antonio.
It’s obviously waaaaaaay too early to know how most of the players taken this year will pan out, but it’s always fun to revisit the way things should have gone. The only major issues I had with Mashburn’s draft re-do was he completely neglected Ricky Rubio’s talents simply because he’s not in the league this year, etching him from the top 10, and I thought he overvalued the contributions made by Thornton and Blair and placed them into the top 10, while leaving Thabeet where he was selected. Very contradictory stuff there, seeing as how Thabeet is barely in the league either.
With that said, it’s all kinds of ways to do a do-over. You could re-slot based on how players are playing now, re-draft on what you think players’ long-term potential is now after seeing them 60 to 65 games and having the benefit of hindsight, or you could just pencil in which players would be the best fit based on what we know now. I’m doing a little of all the above. I think.
Actual 2009 top 10
1. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
2. Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies
3. James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings
5. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
6. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
8. Jordan Hill, New York Knicks
9. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
10. Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks.
Jamal Mashburn’s 2009 top 10
1. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
2. Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies (Mash argued the Griz already have Mike Conley.)
3. James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder (Mash said you can’t argue with what OKC has done)
4. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings
5. Stephen Curry, Minnesota Timberwolves
6. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves
7. DeJuan Blair, Golden State Warriors (I forgot Mash’s logic here, but seventh, really?)
8. Brandon Jennings, New York Knicks
9. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
10. Marcus Thornton, Milwaukee Bucks (Again, I don’t remember his logic, but 10 is awfully high IMO)
DM’s 2009 top 10
1. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
I don’t care if Big Blake misses all of next season. No one can argue this selection.
2. Tyreke Evans, Memphis Grizzlies
Move over Mike Conley. Evans is a bigger, stronger, more versatile version.
3. James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
I’m with Mash. Can’t really argue Harden’s selection. He’s been the perfect fit.
4. Ricky Rubio, Sacramento Kings
If he’s as good as advertised, and I’ve talked to some as recently in the last week who say he is, the Kings would have to take him.
5. Hasheem Thabeet, Minnesota Timberwolves
Why not? The Wolves are starting Ryan Hollins at center. Kevin Love is coming off the bench. And at least Thabeet would report to the Twin Cities.
6. Brandon Jennings, Minnesota Timberwolves
I love Jonny Flynn, but I love point guards who impact their team’s won-loss record more.
7. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Much like the Thunder’s selection of Harden, it’s hard to argue against Curry in Golden State. He’s a great fit.
8. Jonny Flynn, New York Knicks
The Knicks would get a point guard with potential while immediately upgrading from Chris Duhon.
9. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
At this point, he’s the best available player on the board. But it’s not like he’s a last-ditch option. He’s got upside.
10. Darren Collison, Milwaukee Bucks
He’s tough, smart, a winner and a leader. And he’s defensive tenacity is right up coach Scott Skiles’ alley.
That’s my take. What say you?
If you’re wondering where I would pick Blair, it’ll likely be in the top 20. I’m still not as high on him as some simply because he still might not be nearly as effective five years from now. That’s not a top 10 pick in my opinion. All but two –Utah and Phoenix– of the top 20 teams needed help now while also looking to build for the future. Blair might not have been as good of a fit on those other teams. But you could make an argument for Blair on every team from 11 through 20. I definitely wouldn’t have him going any lower than 18 to Minnesota. No matter how his knees hold up, he’d be better for the Wolves than a third point guard.
-DM-
Where Does OKC Go From Here?
Caution: to prevent temporary loss of vision, avoid looking directly at my dome. I’m now a part of the International Bald Brotherhood
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Open Mike Podcast: Harden, Mullens & Head Fakes
Sports editor Mike Sherman and I are back in the booth with more banter.
In today’s installment, we discuss whether James Harden is fat, if B.J. Mullens is any good and why GM Sam Presti passed on Ricky Rubio.
Join us.
(Oops. Technical difficulties on the first try for anyone who clicked on it. That was an old podcast. Today’s is now posted.)
-DM-
Thunder Get Their Man, And It Was Harden All Along
I knew James Harden would be the pick since the draft lottery balls bounced the Thunder the third pick on May 19.
Sold I was that he would be the one putting on an Oklahoma City cap before walking up the steps of the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden, reaching the top of the stage and shaking NBA Commissioner David Stern’s hand while staring out at flashing bulbs.
Then Thunder GM Sam Presti misdirected me with his maneuvers over the past week. First he flew to L.A. to meet with Ricky Rubio last Saturday. Wanted to glance over his problematic contract and parlay with Rubio’s family and representatives. Three days later, word got out the Thunder had hired a Spanish law firm to give that complicated contract a careful once over.
It knocked me off my pivot. I should have held my ground.
Few understood how or why I had reached such a firm conclusion on Harden. My explanation was the same, through tens of radio interviews and tons of talks with editors and co-workers, friends and fans.
“He fits the Thunder way.”
My Top Seven Draft Options
A little outdated now given what we know has developed over the last week. But in this video with sports editor Mike Sherman, I offer my top seven draft options for the Thunder at pick No. 3. We recorded the video last week, but even though the Thunder’s draft board has likely fluctuated since then I still think these are the best players for the Thunder in order of worst to best.
-DM-
