Thursday Bolts – D-Day Edition
Last chance to get in the Daily Thunder MockTest. Here’s what you can expect tonight: Of course and open thread to 
discuss everything, but I’ll be running another wonderful live draft diary as part of it. And then of course, once the smoke settles, some instant analysis. It’s going to be beautiful. Also, if you are interested, the TrueHoop Network will be running a massive Live Blog throughout the evening with multiple blogs taking part. So be sure to check that out as well. Matt over at HP is heading it up.
Chad Ford’s confidence level is 50 percent for OKC taking Ricky Rubio: “If the Thunder keep the pick, my brain says Harden is a perfect fit in Oklahoma City next to Russell Westbrook. The scuttle is that Curry is the hot name in the Thunder’s draft war room. And a few people think Thabeet’s size will win the day. But I have to believe that Rubio, whom we’ve had here since the night of the lottery, will end up in OKC.”
Ian Thompson’s latest and greatest mock: “Thunder – Stephen Curry. The Thunder could go with shooting guard James Harden, Ricky Rubio, Tyreke Evans or even Jrue Holiday here. But the latest hunch is that they’ll complement Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook with a shooter and playmaker. As Oklahoma City turns into a playoff team, Curry could become his generation’s Manu Ginobili off the bench.”
Reader Jacob Thompson (who designed the awesome Thunder logo I use for Twitter and other places) put together this little photoshop for the player he’d like to see in a Thunder uniform tonight:
Just wanted to say thanks to Steve Kerr for beginning to blow up the Suns. I like the looks of that 2010 pick more and more. Potentially an unprotected lottery pick for Kurt Thomas? Yes please and thank you.
Bruce Jenkins of the SF Gate looks at the draft: “Oklahoma City: This appears to be Thabeet’s preference, and he’d look good alongside Kevin Durant and point guard Russell Westbrook. So would the best shooting guard available, 6-5 James Harden out of Arizona State.”
Chris Littman on the Rubio-Westbrook situation: “And you know what? You are indeed trippin’ if you bring in Ricky Rubio and try to move Russell Westbrook off the ball. A point guard averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds probably shouldn’t be moved. And more to the point, why upset one of the best young groups of talent in the NBA with an unwanted influence? Here’s why it won’t happen: Sam Presti is smart. I mean really smart. Think I’m kidding? The search “Sam Presti Genius” returns 5,930 results on Google! The guy has a long-standing history of quite literally turning nothing into something — most famously making two first round picks appear out of thin air in the Kurt Thomas deal. In other words, Presti knows better than to screw this up.”
Darnell Mayberry took part in a teleconference talking to Sam Presti: “Q: Did you guys hire a Spanish law firm, and if so, what for? A: I believe that the report was confirmed from the team. And secondly we want to be as thorough as we possibly can as we prepare for the draft in all aspects. It’s not specific to one piece of information that was reported. Q: Should the fans read into that decision in any way? The Thunder is the only team that has reportedly hired a Spanish law firm. A: I can’t speak for any other team. Our focus is on being as prepared as we can for this draft.”
I absolutely LOVE this about Ricky Rubio. I’m split about 50.1/49.9 between Rubio and Harden, but this just about puts it over the top:
HoopsWorld looks at a few players who could slide tonight: “James Harden – During a breakout sophomore campaign at Arizona State, Harden saw his draft stock skyrocket and has been projected to go as high as No. 2 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. The 6′5″ shooting guard’s stock began to dip after a lackluster performance in the NCAA Tournament in which his Sun Devils were eliminated by Syracuse in the second round. In two tournament games Harden shot made just three of 18 field goal attempts and scored 19 points, one fewer than his season average. The Pac-10 Player of the Year was reportedly given a guarantee by the Washington Wizards that they would select him with the fifth pick in the draft, but the team has since shipped the selection to Minnesota for guard Randy Foye and forward Mike Miller. Compound Harden’s disappearing act in the team’s biggest games with a horrible private workout for the Grizzlies in Memphis and you’ll find reason to suspect him to slide in the draft.”
Did you know this? I didn’t: “There are all kinds of reports that the Lakers will trade or sell their first-round pick and yet just the other day I wrote that ‘NBA rules prohibit trading your first-round pick in consecutive years. The Lakers have traded away their 2008 and 2010 picks. So they have to keep this one.’ What’s the deal? Gather around for a little story.”
Speaking of blowing up the Suns, the NY Post is reporting this rumor:
Amar’e and Barbosa (and maybe the #14) for McGrady, Landry, and Brooks.
Do it, Phoenix! Then trade Steve Nash, and we’re a lock for another lottery pick.
TrueHoop posted a transcript of an NBA chat between fans and several draft prospects. Relevant part:
” Orel (Tulsa,OK)
How do you think you would mesh with KD, Russell, and J-Green if picked 3rd by the Thunder?
Stephen Curry
It’s a group you can build on. They’ve established themselves as great players. As a point guard and facilitator I feel I can play with those guys. Westbrook’s athleticism. KD overall stardom. Jeff Green can score and do a lot of things. Four guys who can do things all over the court … that can work. Kevin and Russell have really got the city excited about what’s going on. If they can cement themselves as a good team early next year, that could lead to all kinds of good things, and keep the enthusiasm at a high level.”
link:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-41-139/Put-Your-Questions-to-NBA-Draft-Prospects.html
Chris Littman: “why upset one of the best young groups of talent in the NBA with an unwanted influence?”
Who says it’s unwanted? You don’t hear any players complaining about playing with Jason Kidd. Only Shawn Marion (who is borderline insane) has complained about having to take perfect passes for easy baskets from Steve Nash (oh, and by the way, how well has Marion played since leaving Phoenix). I think just about any player in the league would be happy if Chris Paul or John Stockton (back in the day) came in to run their offense. This is just a case of Russell Westbrook thinking about what is best for Russell Westbrook, and if he can’t handle being a part time point guard and full time shooting guard, I don’t think he’s as valuable as people think.
wow, it’s amazing that after last year people think we have such great chemistry that we shouldn’t draft a great prospect like Rubio . . .
So you’re 101% sure you want either Rubio or Harden?
What I get from that Rubio video is that he really speaks English well, already. That’s a good sign.
So, Royce, are you so torn that you get an extra percentage point when weighing Rubio versus Harden?
@Clark Matthews
HAHA! Yes. That’s just how torn I am.
(Grabs calculator….. dadgumit.)
AMEN
How do you think Durant and Green are going to feel, knowing that if they run, they WILL get the ball if open . . .
agree with you about Rubio being a great passing point guard in the Stockton, Nash, or Paul mode – no, he’s not a scorer (yet), but scorers love to play with a real point guard . . .
I know. Especially when it’s to satisfy a guy who supposedly wants to take his ball and go home if he has to accept a different role to help these guys he has such great chemistry with.
Harden is a better fit , but Rubio is a better player . . .
maybe it doesn’t quite work in 2009, but this is for the long haul, trades are made and players move along . . .
BPA people . . .
RW’s stance would have merit if we had won 60 games or won the title, but obviously we didn’t . . .
I fixed my mathematical snafu to hopefully spare myself any more embarrassment.
Also, well said about Rubio/Westbrook Clark. And like Kev said, this team is supposed to have incredible chemistry. How could a young, humble, talented player like Rubio NOT fit in? I hope KD, Uncle Jeff and Russ haven’t formed some sort of clique…
Also, I failed to get it in the Bolts, but I believe Westbrook is on the Jim Rome show today. I don’t know exactly when or where, but that’s what I heard. I also assume they mean radio show, but I guess it could be Jime Rome Is Burning.
Rubio wearing #9? I thought we were going to retire Malik Rose’s jersey.
@Royce
I hope you meant “have NOT formed some sort of clique”.
And I have to echo Kev’s mention of being patient. Sure, Presti could draft Harden or Thabeet tonight to address holes. However, there are so many other avenues to improve the team. Sam can take the best player regardless of fit, and alter the roster through free agency and trades to make that player the best fit. Due to his great handling of the salary cap and acquisition of assets, there are plenty of avenues for bringing in shooters and post players.
I hope his agent coaches him before the interview to be a little smarter when answering questions about playing with Rubio. He has really made himself look bad by being unprepared lately.
guys, please let me know if you get any clarification on when and where (tv/radio) Rw is going to be on the Jim Rome show . . .
that should be must see TV for us Thunder fans . . .
@Clark Matthews
Yeah that’s what I meant. I’m having a tough day already.
And I’m desperately searching for info about the Rome show.
A talent like Rubio is simply harder to find than a talent like Harden, bottom-line. We know he can already pass, so he’s a cheaper upgrade to Watson than we could possibly find on the FA market, and SGs are routinely available in free agency. And who thinks that Westbrook, Thabo, and Weaver won’t at least marginally improve their shooting in the off-season?
My only fear right now is that the Grizz draft Rubio with the intention of trading him… But all the experts seem to think they’ll just pick Thabeet. I am SO ready for tonight to get here.
@Royce
Yeah, I’ve been doing the same. For “perhaps the most respected voice in the world of sports broadcasting,” his website sure is crappy.
@KingGondo
Amen. I can’t find ANYTHING.
the olympic highlight reel sealed if for me. i know highlight reels can look good for anybody, but wow does he play the passing lanes well (probably as a result of his own court vision/passing). and he can PASS. plus the interview was great- he managed to say that he would play for free without it sounding like total BS. i think russ will be fine with it, but i’m dying to hear him on rome (even if i hate jim rome)
crap. okcthunder twitter page just gave away a Thunder mouse pad – and I didn’t win it. boiling mad!
i must say at this time, i belive that curry would happen to be a better fit in the thunder line up! i have followed my team from seattle and then to oklahoma and i see that really what we need is a guy who can defend and score, rubio can defend and pass, but he cant score! so bring in curry who can do everything and bam! our team will be a beast within the next couple years!!!
@cody white
i absolutely love stephen curry, but your reasoning is that he can “defend and score”? um, the only problem with curry is his defense. unless presti has found a way to transplant thabo’s defense into curry. actually, lets put curry’s offense in thabo, he’s bigger.
draft day special: lyrics to ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’
There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow,
There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow,
The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye,
An’ it looks like its climbin’ clear up to the sky.
Chorus:
Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I’ve got a wonderful feeling,
Everything’s going my way.
Repeat chorus
All the cattle are standing like statues,
All the cattle are standing like statues,
They don’t turn their heads as they see me ride by.
But a little brown mav’rick is winking her eye.
Repeat chorus
All the sounds of the earth are like music,
All the sounds of the earth are like music,
The breeze is so busy it don’t miss a tree,
And an ol’ Weepin’ Willer is laughin’ at me.
oh yeaaaaaaaaaaah, it’s DRAFT DAY!!!!!
(or, depending on your behavior, Daft Day)
jolly old (young) Sam-ta Clause is going to bring us a present.
Oh goodie! I can’t wait. Wassit gonna be? Wassit gonna be?
them other fellers can give the Parisian goodbye, we’re going to give our draft picks the OKLAHOMA HELLO!!!
Ok, you can listen to Jim Rome on KREF (AM 1400). I don’t know if Russ will be one there or the TV show, but you can listen there.
Also try AM 1340 if KREF doesn’t work. That’s supposed to be Fox Sports Radio.
I keep coming back to the fact that I can’t see Westbrook making these kinds of statements. I just can’t.
He swallowed his pride at UCLA so Darren Collison could run point. He played off the ball a ton last year so Earl Watson could run the point. And since he is one of the first guys to run up and chest bump a teammate who does something great or the fact he stood up and cheered while waving towels when Livingston had that dunk on the Clippers…I just don’t see it.
@J.G.
I agree J.G. It doesn’t seem like him. It’s fine if he feels a little bothered on the inside, but I can’t see him announcing it to anyone. I think this thing is snowballing and we’re just ASSUMING he’s upset.
can’t leave out ‘Oklahoma’
OOOOk-lahoma, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain,
And the wavin’ wheat can sure smell sweet,
When the wind comes right behind the rain
OOOOk-lahoma, Ev’ry night my honey lamb and I,
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk makin’ lazy circles in the sky.
We know we belong to the land
And the land we belong to is grand!
And when we say
Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!
We’re only sayin’
You’re doin’ fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma O.K.!
@J.G.
definitely agree. i think this was taken very much out of context by everybody. i go to ucla and watched a bunch of games with russ and he never had any problems deferring to collison as the point guard. nor did he ever have an issue deferring to guys like love or even shipp as far as touches. to quote you, “i just don’t see it.”
@Royce
Exactly. I’d like to know the context of the discussion. Was he smiling and laughing when he said it. Was he deflecting it so as to not spill the beans.
Anytime you take a TEXT out of CONTEXT, all you’re left with is a CON.
@J.G.
oh dang, that’s real clever. i feel like that’s something a grandfather would tell his grandson while the grandson rolled his eyes.
@nick
there was supposed to be a haha at the end of that, it reads kinda dick-ish without one
@J.G.
‘Anytime you take a TEXT out of CONTEXT, all you’re left with is a CON.”
Heh. That’s a good one. And mostly… true.
(Christmas is near in Thunderland….)
Jolly Young St. SAMta Claus,
Bend your (pointy) ear this way!
You haven’t told a single soul,
Who you’ll draft today!
Draft-night time is coming soon,
now you genius MAAAANNN,
whisper who you’ll bring to me…..
Tell Me “SAM THE MAN!!!!”
Hey Royce, what time is the Jim Rome Show on radio??
@GAP
Right now.
http://www.sportsradio1340.com/cc-common/ondemand/player.html?world=st
Has Russ made any other statements besides the “you trippin’?”
@MartzMimic
No, not public.
Andy Katz has OKC taking Rubio:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4285975&name=katz_andy
So Phoenix’s centers for next year will be Louis Amundson, Robin Lopez, and possibly B.J. Mullens. Scary.
haha. gotta love this, Kevin Love’s background pic on his tweet page is him dunking on Shaq!
http://twitter.com/kevin_love
@Kev
I know, right? Our team did this last season: 2008-2009 23 wins, 59 loses, 97.0 points forced 103.1 points allowed.
I think people see the upside with a future all-star, great GM, and the fan-base that will be there @ every game no matter what.(I’ll be at as many as I can. maybe 12-15 games)
Heh. That’s awesome!
I want to hear the club remix version.
I think you guys are misunderstanding the Westbrook situation. I thinked it actually happened like this:
While setting up Russ for the interview, putting on his mic, etc. a sound engineer came in and asked Russell if he’d seen Larry Trippin, who, unbeknownst to Russ, was the engineer’s assistant that had not shown up. Russ just answered that he didn’t know who that was.
Then later during the interview, just as Russell was about to answer a question, a young flustered man rushed into the studio and walked by. Russell looked up at him and said “You Trippin?”
Thanks Royce, you’re da MAN!
classic . . .