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We’ve all heard of the sophomore slump and while it does exist in every sport at every level of competition, the NBA is an intriguing case study for the opposing phenomenon of the sophomore slump: The Sophomore Surge.

(By the way, it was really hard to not title this the sophomore Serge, but I resisted.)

You see rookies are known, if not even expected, to do two horrible things in their rookie season. They take unbelievably ill-advised and often rushed shots, thereby plummeting their FG%, AND they turn the ball over so much that coaches round the world simultaneously smack their foreheads and yearn to call for a sub.

Are there exceptions to this rule? Well, of course—but not really. I mean of course there are exceptions in that not everyone is going to suffer from both and some will do better in these categories than others but, pretty much across the board, a rookie is going to take better shots and take better care of the ball more in their second-through-retirement seasons than they will in their rookie season. In fact, I’ll go out on a very short limb and say it should come as no shock to any of us that professional basketball players get better the more time they have to play professional basketball up until that no fun thief known as age steals their youth and physical prime.

It’s called experience and adapting to the speed and level of play of the Association. So why all the references to the sophomore surge? Well, seeing as the Thunder are still one of the youngest teams in the league and have a core consisting of players all under the age of 23, we have witnessed that “jump” from the rookie season to the sophomore season in terms of production and development. In fact, we’ve also seen the jump (via Durant) from sophomore stud to junior All-Star and MVP candidate (though please don’t expect all Thunder players to make that jump).

And since there are three rookie pieces that are as essential to the Thunder’s rise to the next stage of competing for a championship, the sophomore surge of Serge, Harden and Maynor will greatly affect the current and futures success of this team.

So what can we expect?

Well, for starters, you might not want to expect the same dramatic jump that you saw from Durant, Westbrook and even Green make for the Thunder’s newest sophomores. And here’s why… Read more…

Commentary Eric Maynor, James Harden, Serge Ibaka

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

If I asked you what rookie point guard, in this phenomenal rookie class of point guards, had the best assist-to-turnover ratio, who would you guess? If I then went on to tell you that it wasn’t even CLOSE, that one player just ran away with it, would that make you picture only a handful of possible candidates?

Darren Collison? Ty Lawson? Brandon Jennings?

Nope. Try, Eric Maynor.

And it wasn’t even close. The closest rookie point guard in assist-to-turnover ratio behind Maynor’s 3.13 stat is Denver’s Ty Lawson at 2.48. And before you say, well Lawson got a ton more minutes than Maynor did so he had more opportunities for turnovers (wouldn’t the same be said for assists, too? I digress…), you need to understand that Lawson only averaged 5 more minutes a game than Maynor. Read more…

Commentary Eric Maynor

(Morning. Thanks for your support of Daily Thunder. I hope you got exactly what you wanted yesterday and if not, I hope the lines are short at whatever store you’re taking it back to.)

I’m an Eric Maynor fan. I loved him at VCU and I kind of sort of wanted him with the second pick last June. And while I realize Maynor is not Chris Paul or Isaiah Thomas, I do think he’s a perfect fit behind Russell Westbrook and I love that the Thunder are one step closer to an almost completely solidified long term rotation. So introduce yourself to Maynor if you don’t already know him. He’s quite a ballplayer.

Video Eric Maynor

Per a press release:

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has acquired guard Eric Maynor from the Utah Jazz in exchange for the draft rights to Peter Fehse. To consummate the transaction the Thunder also assumes the contract of forward Matt Harpring. Harpring will not report to Oklahoma City. “We are pleased to add Eric Maynor to our organization,” said Presti. “Eric possesses a work ethic and team first mentality that we feel will help us in our continued growth.”

Maynor was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round (20^th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft. The 6-3 guard is averaging 5.2 points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 26 games with the Jazz this season. The Raeford, N.C. native currently ranks fourth in assists, 19^th in steals and 24^th in scoring among NBA Rookies.

The Thunder organization originally drafted Fehse in the second round (49^th overall) in the 2002 NBA Draft. In order to complete the transaction the Thunder has waived guards Shaun Livingston and Mike Wilks. “This was a difficult decision as we appreciate Shaun and Mike’s contributions to this basketball team on and off the floor,” added Presti. “We wish them nothing but continued success.”

Wow. I’m a little stunned. But let me say, I LOVE this deal. Love it in every way. I loved Eric Maynor before the draft and I love him today. Did I say love yet? I’m completely convinced that he’s going to be a solid role playing backup point guard at some point. I had actually hoped OKC would take him with its second pick last June. And to acquire him for virtually nothing, well, that makes me happy. (Maynor’s season stats)

Taking on Harpring’s contract is actually something to not be overlooked, especially if Presti decides to hold on to it. Combine Harpring’s $6.5M with Etan Thomas’s nearly $8M and the Thunder has some SERIOUS trade bait for the deadline. (Harpring’s contract can be traded before the deadline still because he hasn’t officially retired yet.) In the trade, Utah saved around $9 million. That’s why they did it.

I’m sad to see Shaun Livingston go though. I truly am. A total class act and a guy that’s fighting to come back from a devastating injury. I really hoped he would work out. But with a mind toward what’s best for the Oklahoma City Thunder, this is a home run.

News Eric Maynor, Mike Wilks, Shaun Livingston