The Wolves only played eight guys last night, but somehow Adreian Payne managed only 14 minutes.
We only traded a first for him.
We only traded a first for him.
Lithuania just introduced the draft for men under 26 because the Russians are being assholes.
Gonna take my center and blow out his achilles climbing army ropes & shit.
Gonna take my center and blow out his achilles climbing army ropes & shit.
But Westbrook can also be unnecessarily harsh on reporters. One night, a game ran late. Darnell Mayberry, the Oklahoman’s senior Thunder reporter, was up against deadline. He brought his laptop into the locker room to move quotes directly from the players’ lips to his copy. Mayberry sat in a chair in front of an empty locker. Westbrook saw him and told him the chairs were for players only.
Mayberry got up. But then a funny thing happened. Backup point guard Reggie Jackson took his chair, wheeled it across the locker room, and offered it to Mayberry. Remember that when you wonder why Jackson now plays for the Pistons.
At All-Star Weekend, Durant said, “To be honest, man, I’m only here talking to y’all because I have to. So I really don’t care. Y’all not my friends.” The Thunder press corps noted a certain irony. Durant wasn’t addressing them. He was talking to an Australian reporter named Brad Graham (@BackpackBaller on Twitter), who is writing a coffee-table-style book about Durant. And Graham had thrown Durant a softball.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-russell-westbrook-kevin-durant-oklahoma-city-thunder-sports-media/
The entire OKC franchise sounds so fucking immature and inexperienced right now.
While complying with the league’s minimum standards for access, the Thunder carefully proscribed their availability. As Bob Barry Jr. put it, “We can never be mad at people we never have access to.”
Barry is local royalty: the sports anchor at the NBC affiliate, a host on the Thunder’s flagship radio station, and the son of the “voice of the Sooners.” Yet even he has a hard time securing one-on-one interviews. “I’ve made 100 requests over two years,” Barry told me. “I say, ‘Give me anybody, anybody for five minutes. The no. 15 guy on the roster. The trainer. The chaplain.’ They always have a smile on their face when they say, ‘I’ll run it up the flagpole.’ But you never hear back.” Before the season, the team offered him seven minutes each with Perry Jones and Serge Ibaka.
I asked Mayberry, the Oklahoman beat writer, how many one-on-ones he gets with Durant and Westbrook in a given year.
“Zero,” Mayberry said.
Jesus, really?
and another thing
there's no stat for being a timid bitch on the court, but if there were he'd be leading all rookies
at least payton asserts himself (he sucks too)
there's no stat for being a timid bitch on the court, but if there were he'd be leading all rookies
at least payton asserts himself (he sucks too)
By diehardIt could be worse, we could have a rookie that can't even get on the court.meh, that's on the coach
dude had biyombo behind maxiel on the depth chart to start the season. he's obviously a fucking idiot
By diehardIt could be worse, we could have a rookie that can't even get on the court.
How's that worse? Would you rather have year 1 of Exum or Years 2-20 of Blake Griffin?
By VahagnPretty sure he was talking about playing time.By diehardIt could be worse, we could have a rookie that can't even get on the court.
How's that worse? Would you rather have year 1 of Exum or Years 2-20 of Blake Griffin?
By reiloThe entire OKC franchise sounds so fucking immature and inexperienced right now.It's well known that they operate with the most limited access possible. Presti runs a tight ship.
It's part of the reason trades almost never leak too.
I'd be OK with guys like KD and YNB having more latitude to talk if they want, but the franchise gains nothing from allowing access. It's kind of like the Patriots mentality.
By reiloBy VahagnPretty sure he was talking about playing time.By diehardIt could be worse, we could have a rookie that can't even get on the court.
How's that worse? Would you rather have year 1 of Exum or Years 2-20 of Blake Griffin?
I thought he was trolling Randle/LA Fans. Meh.
I really hate Morey and Hinkie and even dislike Presti. I hope in about 10 years we look back and realize hiring unqualified, young, unprofessional wannabe renegades was just the result of business based ownership groups being impressed by data driven young guys they saw themselves in.
By the way, this shit doesn't just apply to management. Jim Buss and James Dolan are the epitome of unqualified and unprofessional wannabes.
By KingGondoBy reiloThe entire OKC franchise sounds so fucking immature and inexperienced right now.It's well known that they operate with the most limited access possible. Presti runs a tight ship.
It's part of the reason trades almost never leak too.
I'd be OK with guys like KD and YNB having more latitude to talk if they want, but the franchise gains nothing from allowing access. It's kind of like the Patriots mentality.
If you're going to take the position that exposing things to the media will eventually bite you in the ass because things will leak or they'll eventually tear you to shreds make sure you instruct your superstars not to act like assholes to the media. What's the point of being so meticulous about manipulating narratives - which is clearly what they're doing by trying to move conversations in certain areas. Don't let the narrative be "you're an unprofessional organization"
By KingGondoIt's well known that they operate with the most limited access possible. Presti runs a tight ship.
It's part of the reason trades almost never leak too.
I'd be OK with guys like KD and YNB having more latitude to talk if they want, but the franchise gains nothing from allowing access. It's kind of like the Patriots mentality.
The NFL is a different beast though. Plus my counter-argument is that I know the limited access thing to such a degree isn't beneficial to anyone. I can also pinpoint to the Blazers and how they handle it and the local reporters have a really good relationship with the players and you get some actual honest and worthwhile quotes from the players because of it, even at times when they butt heads like when Jason Quick called out Batum during his contract negotiations.
Noone benefits from one word answers.
By KingGondoBy reiloThe entire OKC franchise sounds so fucking immature and inexperienced right now.It's well known that they operate with the most limited access possible. Presti runs a tight ship.
It's part of the reason trades almost never leak too.
I'd be OK with guys like KD and YNB having more latitude to talk if they want, but the franchise gains nothing from allowing access. It's kind of like the Patriots mentality.
Olshey runs a tight ship from what I'm told and yet the Blazers still manage to talk to their beat writer and give reporters answers.
By Dark PhaZeI wonder how mad Rodeo is gonna be when Flip trades us DeAngelo Russell for BealHow dare you.
Flip hates fucking around with rookies and he has like a hundred on that team.
I wouldn't be shocked if he'd be cool with taking Brad and a 1st and completely being done with the rebuild come draft time.
Get nervous...
I wouldn't be shocked if he'd be cool with taking Brad and a 1st and completely being done with the rebuild come draft time.
Get nervous...
It is unfair to compare Payton to Exum. Payton/Smart/Clarkson for most part does stuff (Assist,Rebound, Some Points, Steals and Win me money) and shown flashes of upside. Exum don't do shit. He is looking like a real bust and is reducing my faith in international players. If they haven't played ball on American soil for at least 2 years I don't want them.
By Dark PhaZePresti is an amazing GM. Thinking otherwise is dumb.
Presti hasn't been amazing for about 4 years now. He drafted well. Everyone knows his coach is mediocre. Everyone knows they've rushed back some players (including Ibaka last season in the playoffs. How does he come back for game 3? He was supposed to be out all post season). Westbrook the year before that. Durant this year.
You can be forgiven for not winning in the first 7 years of Durants tenure. But not if you lose Durant in FA/trade demands or end up breaking him in the meantime.
When your mistakes escalate from "uh dude, get a better coach" to "uh Dude, why did you jeapordize the long term well being of your 3 cornerstones by bringing them back early from various injuries" - there are problems.
By KumaJGIt is unfair to compare Payton to Exum. Payton/Smart/Clarkson for most part does stuff (Assist,Rebound, Some Points, Steals and Win me money) and shown flashes of upside. Exum don't do shit. He is looking like a real bust and is reducing my faith in international players. If they haven't played ball on American soil for at least 2 years I don't want them.dude is looking like the trent richardson of the nba
By Dark PhaZePresti is an amazing GM. Thinking otherwise is dumb.You cant actively go for Dion Waiters and be considered amazing.
By reiloI agree. I'm just trying to give people a window into how they think and operate. I'd run things differently if I was in charge.By KingGondoIt's well known that they operate with the most limited access possible. Presti runs a tight ship.
It's part of the reason trades almost never leak too.
I'd be OK with guys like KD and YNB having more latitude to talk if they want, but the franchise gains nothing from allowing access. It's kind of like the Patriots mentality.
The NFL is a different beast though. Plus my counter-argument is that I know the limited access thing to such a degree isn't beneficial to anyone. I can also pinpoint to the Blazers and how they handle it and the local reporters have a really good relationship with the players and you get some actual honest and worthwhile quotes from the players because of it, even at times when they butt heads like when Jason Quick called out Batum during his contract negotiations.
Noone benefits from one word answers.
By Dark PhaZePresti is an amazing GM. Thinking otherwise is dumb.This. His drafting record is pretty peerless and I think the Kanter trade will be looked back on as the reason KD and Russ stay.
And while I agree Waiters blows, he isn't hopeless and it was a low-risk high-reward move for us. It was also insurance for Jackson leaving. We had no idea we'd be able to snag Augustin later.
lmao
I love how Kanter is such a big deal like its an amazing move or something. Imagine how great it is to NOT have Kendrick Perkins at center for once.
I love how Kanter is such a big deal like its an amazing move or something. Imagine how great it is to NOT have Kendrick Perkins at center for once.
Rushed Westbrook back last season. Rushed Ibaka back in the post season. Rushed Durant back this season.
All three have injuries that have popped up and flared up this season. Great GM'ing.
All three have injuries that have popped up and flared up this season. Great GM'ing.
By KumaJGIt is unfair to compare Payton to Exum. Payton/Smart/Clarkson for most part does stuff (Assist,Rebound, Some Points, Steals and Win me money) and shown flashes of upside. Exum don't do shit. He is looking like a real bust and is reducing my faith in international players. If they haven't played ball on American soil for at least 2 years I don't want them.Well, the last part is rash. International guys come over and play well all the time. Playing well in the Euroleague has a tendency to translating well in the NBA.
But Exum was playing against Australian high school kids and if you can't shoot, you basically have to be awesome at everything else like Rubio. It's why I'm pretty wary of Mudiay this year: he can't shoot and the Chinese League sucks. I wouldn't touch him.
By reiloIs Enes Kanter even going to be in the NBA come 2017?Yeah, he will. But he's really nothing more than a crappier Val imo. I doubt OKC keeps him because his poor defense has already started to show out and they've got other, better bigs on the roster anyways.
I think a lot of Kanter's value in OKC has been confused with the addition by subtraction that came with Perkins being shown the door.
Now, if Lamb ends up actually being good - or even better than Waiters, then that's just another huge negative on management outside of trying to kill their 3 star players and giving the other away.
By Dark PhaZePresti is an amazing GM. Thinking otherwise is dumb.Don't start something you can't(or won't be able to) finish.
By rodeoclownI'm 100% with you on that.By KumaJGIt is unfair to compare Payton to Exum. Payton/Smart/Clarkson for most part does stuff (Assist,Rebound, Some Points, Steals and Win me money) and shown flashes of upside. Exum don't do shit. He is looking like a real bust and is reducing my faith in international players. If they haven't played ball on American soil for at least 2 years I don't want them.Well, the last part is rash. International guys come over and play well all the time. Playing well in the Euroleague has a tendency to translating well in the NBA.
But Exum was playing against Australian high school kids and if you can't shoot, you basically have to be awesome at everything else like Rubio. It's why I'm pretty wary of Mudiay this year: he can't shoot and the Chinese League sucks. I wouldn't touch him.
That's not a Brandon Jennings situation at all.
By VahagnBy Dark PhaZePresti is an amazing GM. Thinking otherwise is dumb.
Presti hasn't been amazing for about 4 years now. He drafted well. Everyone knows his coach is mediocre. Everyone knows they've rushed back some players (including Ibaka last season in the playoffs. How does he come back for game 3? He was supposed to be out all post season). Westbrook the year before that. Durant this year.
You can be forgiven for not winning in the first 7 years of Durants tenure. But not if you lose Durant in FA/trade demands or end up breaking him in the meantime.
When your mistakes escalate from "uh dude, get a better coach" to "uh Dude, why did you jeapordize the long term well being of your 3 cornerstones by bringing them back early from various injuries" - there are problems.
I mean, nothing you've said has even resulted in anything yet. Its a lot of "he could have gotten these players killed doe" except that Westbrook came back from that shit and looks like a gawd and we honestly don't have any idea about the ramifications of this Durant shit. The Ibaka thing was whatever. So the rushing them back stuff doesn't count for anything until it actually results in something tragic. Holla at me when it does.
And "well he just drafts well lul" is the single most important thing a GM can do. There are teams that are perenially terrible because they can't do it. Presti and his staff are some of the best in the business at it. Its why I said him and his staff hold more value than Durant, because if Durant leaves, well, tank a bit and Sam will find more studs.
The Waiters trade was dumb no doubt. But I really like what he did in getting DJ, Kanter, and Singler.
The Harden thing was obviously an ownership thing. GM's have to listen to the guy upstairs about things like lottery tax stuff.
The thing about Brooks that people don't understand is...you can't quite determine what percentage of these great draft picks are Sam and what percentage are Brooks. You face tradeoffs with coaches. For whatever you want to say in Brooks, there's been a clear correlation between and the development of his players to levels that were not even close to expected a lot of the time. I don't blame Sam for being concerned about letting him go. Finding great player development guys is fucking hard to do.
There are so many bigs in the NBA that are just "meh." I dunno, I guess I just expect more from top level dudes.
OKC should pick up Bropez.
OKC should pick up Bropez.
Jazz have been amazing on defense and have the best record since the break and everyone keeps trying to bum me out talking about Exum :(
By Dark PhaZeBy VahagnBy Dark PhaZePresti is an amazing GM. Thinking otherwise is dumb.
Presti hasn't been amazing for about 4 years now. He drafted well. Everyone knows his coach is mediocre. Everyone knows they've rushed back some players (including Ibaka last season in the playoffs. How does he come back for game 3? He was supposed to be out all post season). Westbrook the year before that. Durant this year.
You can be forgiven for not winning in the first 7 years of Durants tenure. But not if you lose Durant in FA/trade demands or end up breaking him in the meantime.
When your mistakes escalate from "uh dude, get a better coach" to "uh Dude, why did you jeapordize the long term well being of your 3 cornerstones by bringing them back early from various injuries" - there are problems.
I mean, nothing you've said has even resulted in anything yet. Its a lot of "he could have gotten these players killed doe" except that Westbrook came back from that shit and looks like a gawd and we honestly don't have any idea about the ramifications of this Durant shit. The Ibaka thing was whatever. So the rushing them back stuff doesn't count for anything until it actually results in something tragic. Holla at me when it does.
And "well he just drafts well lul" is the single most important thing a GM can do. There are teams that are perenially terrible because they can't do it. Presti and his staff are some of the best in the business at it. Its why I said him and his staff hold more value than Durant, because if Durant leaves, well, tank a bit and Sam will find more studs.
The Waiters trade was dumb no doubt. But I really like what he did in getting DJ, Kanter, and Singler.
The Harden thing was obviously an ownership thing. GM's have to listen to the guy upstairs about things like lottery tax stuff.
The thing about Brooks that people don't understand is…you can't quite determine what percentage of these great draft picks are Sam and what percentage are Brooks. You face tradeoffs with coaches. For whatever you want to say in Brooks, there's been a clear correlation between and the development of his players to levels that were not even close to expected a lot of the time. I don't blame Sam for being concerned about letting him go. Finding great player development guys is fucking hard to do.
A) A Scout's job is drafting input. a GM has a lot to do. Including implementing culture, making trades, hiring and firing coaches, holding guys back from playing when injured. When you're great at one thing, and have no experience doing anything else, you're unqualified. His mistakes in other areas like trading, coaching assessment, injury management are clearly showing.
B) That's absurd. The guy is playing with fire, the fact he hasn't been burned yet isn't good management. Westbrook's hand injury was a 4-8 week recovery time. He came back in less than a month. Durant's injury was a 3-4 month recovery time. He came back in 6.5 weeks. Ibaka was supposed to be out over a month, he came back in 3 games last postseason. There's a pattern here
Sucks about Durant but was 100% predictable with OKC docs. Hopefully Ibaka doesn't listen to a thing they say.
Exum should be falling down 3 or 4 times a night and being made fun of. Walls first two years were him basically taking on every tree in the league and trying to drop finesse layups down their throats right at the rim and he got thrown on his ass for it. If you're going to be attacking point, you have to be willing to do that a lot in your first few years.
By diehardJazz have been amazing on defense and have the best record since the break and everyone keeps trying to bum me out talking about Exum :(Draft busts happen to all of us. Jonny Flynn and Derrick Williams and whoever else got brought up weirdly regularly and, eh, whatever.
I don't know who will be out there, but Utah definitely should be looking for a point guard this summer.
By reiloIs Enes Kanter even going to be in the NBA come 2017?
In a world where Andrea Bargnani is going to get a third contract? Kanter will probably get close to somebody's max.
By livefromkyotoI could absolutely see him being paired next to Andrea in NY next season. What GM could say no to all that 7ft passing?By reiloIs Enes Kanter even going to be in the NBA come 2017?
In a world where Andrea Bargnani is going to get a third contract? Kanter will probably get close to somebody's max.
By DY_nastyBy livefromkyotoI could absolutely see him being paired next to Andrea in NY next season. What GM could say no to all that 7ft passing?By reiloIs Enes Kanter even going to be in the NBA come 2017?
In a world where Andrea Bargnani is going to get a third contract? Kanter will probably get close to somebody's max.
omg, Melo-Bargs-Kanter would be an amazing frontcourt.
By VahagnBy Dark PhaZeBy VahagnBy Dark PhaZePresti is an amazing GM. Thinking otherwise is dumb.
Presti hasn't been amazing for about 4 years now. He drafted well. Everyone knows his coach is mediocre. Everyone knows they've rushed back some players (including Ibaka last season in the playoffs. How does he come back for game 3? He was supposed to be out all post season). Westbrook the year before that. Durant this year.
You can be forgiven for not winning in the first 7 years of Durants tenure. But not if you lose Durant in FA/trade demands or end up breaking him in the meantime.
When your mistakes escalate from "uh dude, get a better coach" to "uh Dude, why did you jeapordize the long term well being of your 3 cornerstones by bringing them back early from various injuries" - there are problems.
I mean, nothing you've said has even resulted in anything yet. Its a lot of "he could have gotten these players killed doe" except that Westbrook came back from that shit and looks like a gawd and we honestly don't have any idea about the ramifications of this Durant shit. The Ibaka thing was whatever. So the rushing them back stuff doesn't count for anything until it actually results in something tragic. Holla at me when it does.
And "well he just drafts well lul" is the single most important thing a GM can do. There are teams that are perenially terrible because they can't do it. Presti and his staff are some of the best in the business at it. Its why I said him and his staff hold more value than Durant, because if Durant leaves, well, tank a bit and Sam will find more studs.
The Waiters trade was dumb no doubt. But I really like what he did in getting DJ, Kanter, and Singler.
The Harden thing was obviously an ownership thing. GM's have to listen to the guy upstairs about things like lottery tax stuff.
The thing about Brooks that people don't understand is…you can't quite determine what percentage of these great draft picks are Sam and what percentage are Brooks. You face tradeoffs with coaches. For whatever you want to say in Brooks, there's been a clear correlation between and the development of his players to levels that were not even close to expected a lot of the time. I don't blame Sam for being concerned about letting him go. Finding great player development guys is fucking hard to do.
A) A Scout's job is drafting input. a GM has a lot to do. Including implementing culture, making trades, hiring and firing coaches, holding guys back from playing when injured. When you're great at one thing, and have no experience doing anything else, you're unqualified. His mistakes in other areas like trading, coaching assessment, injury management are clearly showing.
B) That's absurd. The guy is playing with fire, the fact he hasn't been burned yet isn't good management. Westbrook's hand injury was a 4-8 week recovery time. He came back in less than a month. Durant's injury was a 3-4 month recovery time. He came back in 6.5 weeks. Ibaka was supposed to be out over a month, he came back in 3 games last postseason. There's a pattern here
Again, Scott Brooks has been the head coach for a number of players who not only reached their ceilings but pretty much shattered them. Yea, his x's and o's stuff is fucking funny to watch some times, along with rotational decisions, but to act as if everything Brooks has done is terrible is hilarious. This isn't Grunfeld holding onto Randy Wittman because reasons. He's holding onto a coach who's gone deep in the Western conference several times and has developed players extremely well.
There are good x's and o's coaches who will have your players actually going backwards. I see it every night.
As far as bringing guys back early...yes, he's playing with fire. But who has gotten burnt? It's risky and admittedly dumb, but as a whole its ludicrous to not act like the guy isn't an extremely successful GM.
By diehardBro Kanter is gone after this season
By reiloIs Enes Kanter even going to be in the NBA come 2017?Kanter has been great since he's been here. Small sample size and all, but not many 22 year-old centers put up numbers like he has.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kanteen01.html
23.1 PER, 60.1 TS%, 17.9 ORB%, assists at a career high. Defense has been bad but he's attached to the hip to Ibaka. He also appears to love playing on this team.
I doubt we let him get to RFA status.
By Dark PhaZeAgain, Scott Brooks has been the head coach for a number of players who not only reached their ceilings but pretty much shattered them. Yea, his x's and o's stuff is fucking funny to watch some times, along with rotational decisions, but to act as if everything Brooks has done is terrible is hilarious. This isn't Grunfeld holding onto Randy Wittman because reasons. He's holding onto a coach who's gone deep in the Western conference several times and has developed players extremely well.
There are good x's and o's coaches who will have your players actually going backwards. I see it every night.
As far as bringing guys back early…yes, he's playing with fire. But who has gotten burnt? It's risky and admittedly dumb, but as a whole its ludicrous to not act like the guy isn't an extremely successful GM.
If that "extreme success" was built on draft picks 4+ years ago. And almost everything he's done in the last 4 years has chipped away at that success - how is he a great GM?
He's a great scout/drafter. He's average or plain bad at everything else. If being exceptional at one aspect of your job, and then really bad at like 5 other aspects, is something you're ok with. Cool. Go with it.
As for Brooks, it's not an all or nothing proposition. Let's assume you're right and he's phenomenal at player development. Cool. Keep him on board for a couple years, than fire him. They no longer need the guy that knows how to get them from being rookies to being all stars. They need the guy that knows how to get them from being all stars to champions.