Monday Bolts – 10.10.16

Russell Westbrook: “I think one thing people don’t realize is guarding teams in Europe. Their offenses are 10 times better than NBA offense just because they move around a lot. A lot of movement and not as much talent so they have to do different things to be able to score the basketball.”

Erik Horne on a new CBA: “Teams picking in the Top 5, however, beware. Under the current CBA, the No. 1 pick in 2017 will make around $5 million his first season. An overhaul of the rookie scale amount could get that number closer to $10 million and make every other rookie first-rounder even richer. It means most of your first-round rookies would make more in their first season than a free agent on a mid-level exception. The Thunder has been successful cultivating starters on relatively inexpensive rookie contracts. What if those deals turn expensive?”

Andre Roberson: “I think you can kind of say that, but it’s a good opportunity for everybody. He played a lot of minutes and put up a lot of points on the board and now it’s an opportunity for everybody to grow and kind of expand our roles a little bit. It’s definitely going to be fun and definitely going to be a little more challenging this year. But with the group that we got and how connected we are, I think we have a good shot.”

Shea Serrano of The Ringer on free throws: “If we define a Clutch Free Throw as one that is shot during the fourth quarter or overtime of a game in which neither team is ahead by more than five points, then last year Russell Westbrook was the clutchest free throw shooter in the league during the playoffs among players who shot more than eight free throws during clutch moments. He was 11-for-11 on Clutch Free Throws. Next up was Dwyane Wade in second place with 9-for-10. And then Kawhi Leonard and Joe Johnson tied for third place with 8-for-9, but let’s go ahead and give that trophy to Kawhi because he’s Kawhi and Joe Johnson is Joe Johnson, you know what I’m saying?”

Erik Horne: “Roberson looks to be the starter at small forward with a confident start to preseason, but could Huestis push Singler for the No. 2 role? Singler’s struggles last season (30 percent from 3) have been well-documented. He and Huestis played comparable minutes in Spain, but Donovan rode with a young lineup in the fourth quarter against Barcelona, with Huestis providing a big blocked shot in a one-point game. The athleticism in Huestis’ game at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds is intriguing, but there’s a learning curve in the conversion from college power forward to NBA wing that he’s still undergoing, per Donovan.”