Daily Thunder.com

The 2009-10 NBA schedule comes out in a few hours (around noon Oklahoma time). I’ll have it up as soon as I get it and then I’ll surely overanalyze it to death.

But I won’t be letting it out of the bag early. Three teams got in trouble for doing so: ”The Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves were penalized, an official with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press on Monday. The official requested anonymity because the fines weren’t publicly announced. The NBA will release its 2009-10 schedule on Tuesday afternoon. The league forbids teams to release any details before then.”

A list ranking the most reliable GMs in the league: ”Presti, a Buford disciple, has been GM of the Thunder since June 2007. In that short time, he has elevated the Thunder from the laughingstock of the NBA to the league’s most dangerous sleeper. Presti has built a solid young core in Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, while maintaining enough cap space to make a run at significant free agents in 2010. Though he initially made a mistake by hiring P.J. Carlesimo (a colossal disappointment) as head coach in 2007, Presti redeemed himself by replacing Carlesimo with Scotty Brooks last season. Brooks immediately connected with Durant and Westbrook and inspired the team to improve in the second half of the season … Presti’s team-building strategy is simple. Draft well and focus on team chemistry (evidence of which can be found in Durant’s visit to Summer League this year and the bond that Thunder players share on Twitter). It’s a strategy that works for Buford in San Antonio and appears to be having similar results in Oklahoma City. With Durant coming into his own as a superstar-caliber player, the Thunder will be a playoff contender sooner than you think.”

Another list ranking every offseason move: ”52. Earl Watson waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder – Earl Watson was released by the Thunder and immediately began battling Brevin Knight for the washed up, back-up point guard role who teams will talk into giving them a veteran presence needed for a playoff push.”

KD was mad about something last night: “Ain’t nobody real wit me nomore, erything is str8 B.S..kinda mad but I usually don’t get mad…did I catch feelings? I don’t have those tho.”

Steve Aschburner celebrates the NBA’s 60th birthday by looking at some numbers: “46. At All-Star weekend in Phoenix last season, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant scored a record 46 points in the Rookie Challenge, hitting 17-of-25 shots and earning MVP honors. That’s four points more than Chamberlain scored in setting the All-Star Game record in 1962.”

Ryan Hollins signed an offer sheet with Minnesota. I was kind of hoping Oklahoma City would take a look at the seven-footer, but obviously the Thunder didn’t.

David Aldridge with a great look at the upcoming labor situation: “Owners are adamant that the economic health of the game is in peril. Several teams lost millions of dollars, with ticket sales and advertising down across the league. The league’s worst cases, like New Jersey, fell through the floor economically, with estimated losses at or near $10 million. Several other teams were just behind, “only” losing seven figures. And those numbers are multiplied in many cases when you factor in the losses suffered by owners in their other businesses during the recession.”

Bolts