Wednesday Bolts – 6.30.10
Dime talked with D.J. Augustin and asked him about Kevin Durant: “DIME: Talk a little bit about Kevin Durant. I know you guys have some history together. Did you expect him to be this good this fast? DA: Yeah, I always knew KD would be the player that he is because I’ve never met anybody that is so talented and has the body that he has. He’s 6-9 and can play like a guard. And then his mental aspect of the game, I’ve never seen somebody work as hard as he does. He doesn’t know when to stop. I know he has all of those abilities and then has that attitude to go along with it. He’s going to be unstoppable. I’ve seen him work so hard, I had to stop myself like “Man, you need to chill.” He doesn’t know when to stop, man. He just loves basketball.”
Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld on KD’s extension: “In truth, there is only one superstar free agent whose future we can predict with absolute certainty: Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant. Loyalty isn’t even the word to describe Durant’s feelings toward the Thunder and team GM Sam Presti. He feels OKC is home, and he looks forward to helping build that team up to the Western Conference powerhouse many believe they will be in the next couple of seasons. A source close to the situation told HOOPSWORLD recently that Durant can’t wait to sign the extension, and that he’ll waste no time doing it.”
Darnell Mayberry writes on Jeff Green’s contract extension and how it’s more important than KD’s: “Meanwhile, Green’s contributions, and what they’re worth, have become an afterthought to many. But, like Durant, Green also is eligible for a contract extension this summer. And Thunder management has a critical decision ahead of pinpointing Green’s worth. It’s a decision that could have long-lasting effects for the next six seasons. If Oklahoma City overpays Green, the franchise’s financial framework could be wrecked. If the Thunder comes in too low, the team could ruin relationships or, worse, lose a key cog to what is quickly showing the makings of a soon-to-be championship-caliber squad. Avoid both and find a middle ground and Green’s deal still could set a standard for the franchise’s players who follow. It’s the business of the NBA at its best.”
ESPN’s free agent discussion summit last night was tremendous. That needs to become a regular feature.
In case you didn’t know, Morris Peterson is on Twitter. Somebody should make him a new background.
KD’s basketball camp starts today. I always love those camps. Always cool to see kids playing KD out there, especially since he’s kind of like them.
Chris Silva with a nice profile on Ryan Reid: “Few draft pundits had Ryan Reid on their draft boards. But the Thunder had been following the Florida State product closely throughout his four-year career. And like Executive Vice President/General Manager Sam Presti said, there are no silver bullets when it comes to evaluating talent. Oklahoma City heard the Florida State coaching staff rave about Reid’s attitude and defensive abilities, about his work ethic both on and off the court. Off it, Reid became the first member of his family to graduate college. On it, he was so fundamentally sound as a defender that FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton told the Orlando Sentinel earlier this season that he wanted to make an instructional video on how to defend based on Reid’s defensive techniques.”
A sneak peek at chapter two in JG’s excellent fiction novel.
Some thoughts on Byron Mullens: “At twenty-one years old, Mullens is still raw and still young enough to have the rough edges sanded off. But, Mullens, could conceivably become the kind of pick and pop center that Russell Westbrook could do unforeseen damage with, leaving the Thunder’s lone superstar, Kevin Durant, to challenge the league again for Most Valuable Player honors for a second consecutive year. As the 24th overall pick in the 2009 draft and former the #1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks, Mullens has something to prove. He is a veteran now and should be looking to claim one of those coveted fifteen roster spots for next season. This summer, Mullens can take steps towards asserting that the big man they are looking for was drafted in June last summer.”
Baseball Prospectus’s Will Carroll writes that Sam Presti is one of the best GMs in any sport.
justin :@DizzyDai
Cook shot 31% or something cruddy from 3pt range is that supposed to be our shooter? His career 3pt is worse than Durant’s.
He's shot much better from 3 in the past, also won a 3-pt contest. He's still only 23, he's worthy of a roster spot unless he continues to tank in pre-season like he did his last year in Miami.
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