Oklahoma City Thunder Thread

You can ask questions from the players right now: http://www.nba.com/thunder/videos/media ... 00927.html

SI article about the Thunder

Pretty good game against the Bulls so far. 82-82 with one quarter to play.

thunder won, didnt expect it to be so close even though i am a bulls fan.

Cole Aldrich scores his first NBA basket in similar fashion to how Blake Griffin did the other day.

And much like Griffin's debut, his team is losing by double digits at home.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... z16CAnvFQP

The Thunder have signed center Nick Collison to a multiyear extension.

Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti announced the agreement on Tuesday, but the terms were not disclosed.

Collison has spent his entire career with the franchise after being drafted with the 13th overall pick by the Supersonics in 2003.

Durant calls out Bosh and tells him to shut the fuck up...sort of.

Kevin Durant has always shown the league’s elite players appropriate respect. After the Thunder’s Sunday afternoon loss to Miami, for instance, he called LeBron James and Kobe Bryant 1A and 1B, as in being the best players in the game.

Chris Bosh is probably pretty far down Durant’s list.

Asked about a first quarter verbal spat when he and Bosh both picked up technicals, the mild-mannered Durant didn’t mince words. He called the former Toronto All-Star forward a “fake tough guy” who talks because he’s on a good team now.

“I was talking to my teammate and [Bosh] decided he wanted to put his two cents into it,” Durant explained after the 108-103 setback. “I am a quiet guy, laid-back guy, but I’m not going to let nobody talk trash to me. He’s on a good team now so he thinks he can talk a little bit. There are a lot of fake tough guys in this league and he’s one of them.”

“I’m no punk,” he continued. “I wasn’t even talking to him first off. He decided to butt in and I’m not going to just let that slide. Especially in our house. Like I said, he’s not one of those guys I look at and say he has a rep for talking back to guys or getting into it. He’s a nice guy. I’m not going to let that type of person say something to me like that.”

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/f ... ef:nbahpt1

Perkins trade alters Thunder landscape for present, future

There's no question that the Oklahoma City Thunder still have their eyes on the future.

But now instead of gazing out dreamily at a distant horizon, they've set their sights on a nearer goal.

Say April or May, perhaps even June.

It's no longer all about patiently planting the Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green seeds, adding water and watching them grow.

Now it's about now.

So as the big clock ticked toward Thursday's trade deadline, along came the Thunder to make some of the biggest noise on an explosive, tumultuous day by reeling in Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson from the Boston Celtics for Green and Nenad Krstic. They also got Nazr Mohammed from the Charlotte Bobcats for D.J. White and Mo Peterson.

Just like that, OKC went from being the young, talented group of kids who could make flashy plays but still get pushed around at crunch time on the playground to a team that can stand its ground and mix it up.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti insisted that the moved was not a quick-fix move.

"That's not how I think," he said. "It was more of, 'We love Perkins. We want to get him in the program. We want to keep him in the program.' He is so in our DNA.

"This is not a 'win-now' move. This is not, 'Let's go for it.' This is us methodically continuing to put pieces in place that we think can help us now and in the future. We traded for Perkins with the intent that he'll be here for a while."

Nobody is saying that OKC is making a panicky move or pushing in all of the chips on the table to win one hand. At 26, Perkins is just entering the prime of his career and could be a physical and emotional anchor for the Thunder for years. Nobody is saying they are skipping steps or cutting corners, only that it was time to press down a little more on the accelerator.

With the playoffs approaching, OKC is having another nice season and likely headed to the Northwest Division title. But as they were previously constructed, another first-round exit wouldn't have been entirely out of the question. Now this makes things much more interesting.

Perkins brings his size and bulk and also his attitude to the middle of a Thunder lineup that was decidedly lacking. Nearly a year removed from their fun run against the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs last spring, the Thunder were still lacking a low-post offensive player to work with Durant late in games. Far too often in too many games, OKC couldn't get the ball into the paint and wound up taking long jumpers rather than getting the ball to the basket or getting to the free-throw line.

With Perkins and Mohammed taking up space and minutes at center, the Thunder, not coincidentally, are a better defensive matchup against the long Lakers and now have a size advantage over San Antonio, the likely No. 1 seed in the West.

The new version of the Thunder is likely to have Serge Ibaka taking over for Green at the power forward spot. Green was always undersized at the position. Ibaka still needs work defensively. But he'll have Perkins and Mohammed manning the middle and could collect blocked shots from the weak side and knocking down his mid-range jumper in tandem with Westbrook.

James Harden will also likely see his minutes increase as coach Scott Brooks uses a three-guard lineup more often as he goes from fourth on the OKC list of scoring options to third.

However, it's still Perkins who is the difference maker, the one who changes the makeup and the personality of the Thunder. Ever since he went down with a torn right ACL in Game 6 of the Finals last June, Perkins has been a driven man, craving nothing more than a return meeting with the Lakers. Now maybe he won't have to wait so long. In addition to his post moves, board work and defense, Perkins and just the way he takes the court will also light an emotional fire under the Thunder that the Celtics might regret giving up. Nobody lives the "Beat L.A." spirit more than him. Note how many of his veteran teammates back in Boston are upset with the trade.

Of course, there were financial considerations that went into the deal. With Durant having signed an $85 million contract extension that kicks in next season and fellow All-Star Westbrook in line for a whopping deal of his own, there was no way the Thunder were going to hand over another similar bundle of money to Green.

Perkins had turned down a four-year, $22 million extension offer from the Celtics and now he'll have to see what he can get out of the scrupulous Thunder under whatever system is established with a new collective bargaining agreement. While Perkins is recovering from his torn right ACL, he's also now limping with a sore left knee that occurred when he collided with Stephen Curry on Tuesday night and could miss a week.

But eventually he'll take up his spot in the middle of the OKC lineup and make the Thunder big, stronger, more rugged and more passionate around the basket. And he'll do it immediately, which is a key.

If recent events in the NBA have taught anything, it's that the farmer approach of nurturing for the long, long haul is out the window. Less than two years ago, Carmelo Anthony had Denver in the Western Conference finals and now he's in New York. LeBron James became tired of waiting in Cleveland and took off for Miami. Deron Williams wouldn't commit to a long-term relationship in Utah and so now he's playing in New Jersey.

It's important to have a plan. It's also smart to be nimble and react.

Durant and Westbrook are only 22 years old. Harden and Ibaka are 21. This is still a rolling ball of Thunder that is built for the future. But it just became one that could make real noise now.

[quote="shadowgrin"]Durant calls out Bosh and tells him to shut the fuck up...sort of.
Hahaha. A 'fake tough guy' suits Bosh just right. He ain't no artest, Kenyon or KG. But it was Durant he was picking on! Nothing wrong there.

And Bosh allegedly is a good friend of Wade and Bron. He's allowed to talk shit now sorta like KG becoming an ass after becoming the Celt.

KG was always an ass, but he doesn't have many nights where he goes 1-18 while being guarded by Carlos Boozer.

He's allowed to talk shit now sorta like KG becoming an ass after becoming the Celt.

I'll just leave that be as another ignorant statement from the NLSC's resident illiterate, Zanshadow.

1-18 while being guarded by Carlos Boozer

Bosh was afraid he'd get injured if he tried hard enough with his game.

He's allowed to talk shit now sorta like KG becoming an ass after becoming the Celt.

I'll just leave that be as another ignorant statement from the NLSC's resident illiterate, Zanshadow.

Sure dickhead. Thx for dropping by my comment again.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1F7pe2qJf

Kendrick Perkins will miss two-three weeks with a sprained left knee, Scott Brooks confirmed on Saturday.

Perkins was acquired in a deadline trade on Thursday for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic.

Before the trade, Boston announced Perkins was going to miss at least one week.

“I believe in our medical team,” Brooks said. “If they feel it’s two to three weeks then I’m comfortable with that. I just want to know when he comes back he’s ready to play at the level that he’s able to play at.”

Perkins could make his debut for Oklahoma City on March 18th when they begin a six-game home stand.

“I’m just going to listen to whatever the doctors tell me,” Perkins said. “I’ll just keep working, trying to get back as soon as possible. I’m just here for the long haul. As long as I can get me some good games in in the regular season, get a good push going into the playoffs, I think I’m going to be all right.”

Robinson and Mohammed should be available to play against the Lakers though.

Seems like Ainge knows something about Perk's knees that the Thunder or even Perkins himself doesn't know.

He's allowed to talk shit now sorta like KG becoming an ass after becoming the Celt.

I'll just leave that be as another ignorant statement from the NLSC's resident illiterate, Zanshadow.

Sure dickhead. Thx for dropping by my comment again.

You're welcome cock sucker.

Another close game lost by OKC. Can't wait to see what Perkins will bring to this young team. Gasol & Bynum were very effective today against OKC's bigs.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1FOYYOLDH

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Kendrick Perkins to a multi-year contract extension, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Per team policy, the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Yahoo! Sports reports that it will pay Perkins $34.8 million over four years.

“We had a unique opportunity to enter into discussions with Kendrick to solidify his future with our organization,” said Presti. “We are pleased to know that he will be a part of our core group now and in the future. Kendrick’s blue-collar, team-first approach aligns with the vision we hold for building a sustainable team in the Oklahoma City community.”

Perkins (6-10, 280) owns career averages of 6.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.0 assist and 22.3 minutes in 454 NBA games. He has appeared in 12 games (7 starts) this season with the Celtics before being traded to the Thunder on February 24th, averaging 7.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in 26.1 minutes.

Perkins' $4.4 million salary for the 10-11 season was raised to $6.7 million and the extension was raised off that number, according to the Yahoo! report. The deal includes $750,000 in annual bonuses, according to sources.

Seems they're not too worried about his knees then.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1Fhfow4is

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nate Robinson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee the team announced in a press release.

The 5-9 guard first experienced discomfort in the knee following the team’s practice on Monday. After deliberation, Robinson and the team made the decision to proactively address the situation.

“After consulting with our medical team, we have decided this is the best course of action to resolve the issue with certainty, and have Nate back on the court as we enter into the final stages of the season,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Robinson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

I can live with him and Perkins missing a few games now if it means they will be fit and healthy for the playoffs.

Perkins looking slimmer this season. Harden's beard still going strong too.

James Harden's beard truly is a masterpiece.

Training camp starts and Westbrick already wants to chuck two balls right away. That's motivation.

Has Durant grown over the off-season?

Nah, he's always been taller than his listed 6-9. Perkins is barely 6-10 IIRC. Wouldn't be surprised if Durant was really closer to 6-11 than his listed 6-9.

EDIT: He measured at over 6-10 in shoes back when he was drafted: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kevin-Durant-390/

where's ibaka?