Lottery on May 19, draft on June 25. Thunder will likely have the 14th pick.

***

Sources: Thunder to evaluate Scott Brooks' future as coach (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--thunder-to-evaluate-scott-brook-s-future-as-coach-052154505.html)


By Adrian Wojnarowski
1 hour ago
Yahoo Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to spend time evaluating the partnership with coach Scott Brooks before committing to bring him back for the final year on his contract, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Brooks is guaranteed for the 2015-16 season on his deal, with the Thunder holding a team option for 2016-17, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Oklahoma City missed the playoffs for the first time in six years on Wednesday, finishing 45-37 with superstar Kevin Durant lost for most of the year. Thunder general manager Sam Presti has to decide an organizational direction for the final year of Durant's contract, and that will include a decision about whether Brooks is ultimately the coach most capable of delivering a healthy Thunder roster to a championship. Brooks is well liked within the organization and has forged close relationships with management and players in his seven years as head coach.

Several league sources close to Brooks have doubts about his job security.

If a change comes, University of Florida coach Billy Donovan could emerge as a serious candidate to coach Oklahoma City, league sources said. Presti has a longstanding friendship with Donovan, a two-time national championship coach who has been open about his interest in moving to the NBA.

Nothing less than the 14th pick:

Throughout all the 2014-15 NBA season, our Oklahoma City Thunder has been hit with adversity; it's time to put on the charm. The Thunder will have 0.5% chance to get that top pick. There are 13 teams ahead of the Thunder with better odds.

https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=JN.rU3ii6Apnaepe4oPqq2%2bCA&pid=15.1&P=0

Could this be our year?



The Lakers' pick will be sent to the Suns if it falls outside the top five as a condition of an earlier trade.

The Heat's pick will be sent to the 76ers if it falls outside the top 10 as a condition of an earlier trade.

A random draw will break the tie between the Jazz and Pacers and determine which team gets an additional .1% shot at the No. 1 pick.

NBA lottery 2015: Draft odds for every team (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/draft/2015/04/16/nba-draft-lottery-2015-odds/25821803/)

Just realized... Probably should start posting here: Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City Thunder near multiyear deal on coaching job (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12789991/billy-donovan-oklahoma-city-thunder-multiyear-deal-coaching-job)

Guh

Woj saying a five year deal with Billy Donovan has been agreed upon.

I am excited for this coming season!

Billy Donovan press conference in OKC happening now

Thunder Live | Oklahoma City Thunder (http://www.nba.com/thunder/live)

Hope he brought his Zyrtec.

Oklahoma City Thunder Talk - Rumors:

HoopsHype - Oklahoma City Thunder Rumors (http://hoopshype.com/rumors/tag/oklahoma_city_thunder)

Billy Donovan has the charm of Scott Brooks; he will bring more variety to the team, which should allow him to be a better extension.

I just saw Donovan's exit/farwell press conference in Florida. From a personal standpoint, Billy Donovan is class personified. That should translate to the court.

Billy Donovan Farewell Press Conference 5-4-15 - GatorVision | Florida Gators Official Site for Live & On-Demand Sports Video (http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=4024491&db_oem_id=6500)

I am excited for this coming season!

I am buying a new neck brace for next season. Is it Fall yet?

Uni-Watch.com EXCLUSIVE: Next Season’s NBA Christmas Uniforms (http://www.uni-watch.com/2015/05/13/exclusive-next-seasons-nba-christmas-uniforms/)

http://i.imgur.com/r8RzUsX.png?1

Caveat:
Remember, we don’t yet know which teams will be playing on Dec. 25, or even how many games there will be on that date, because the NBA hasn’t yet released the 2015-16 schedule. (For reference, last year there were five games on Christmas.) So we won’t be seeing all of these designs on the court, but the designs were developed months ago, so they did one for every team, just in case.

The NBA usually releases the schedule around the beginning of August.

I like those way better than the cursed alternate unis from the past few seasons. I would like to see a statistical breakdown, but I honestly believe their introduction was the beginning of The Troubles. Just like the stupid OU mascots ruined OU football.

The Oklahoma City Brewers.

Thunder have an almost 99% chance to land the 14th pick when the lottery picks happen tomorrow night. Drama likely will be over early - if Thunder name is pulled out of hat first then they are 14th. If not, they are guaranteed of a top 3 pick. Hey 1 in 100 is better than 1 in a million!!;)

Marc Stein is saying that there's a strong chance that Monty Williams will be Billy Donavon's top assistant

Marc Stein is saying that there's a strong chance that Monty Williams will be Billy Donavon's top assistant

And the source god (woj) says it's a done deal. Huge huge addition for okc.

And the source god (woj) says it's a done deal. Huge huge addition for okc.

Such a big pick up... Has had multiple years experience in the NBA and with coaching a young superstar in Anthony Davis.

Oklahoma City Thunder in talks with former Orlando Magic coach James Borrego about assistant coach job (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13009326/oklahoma-city-thunder-talks-former-orlando-magic-coach-james-borrego-assistant-coach-job)

Wow. OKC pulling out all the stops in the coaching department this season.

Such a stark contrast to the last 3 years.

I am excited for the season, but I am still indifferent on seeing Durant is still in his boot.... On one foot, he is [smartly] staying off the injury, on the other foot, maybe it is still stubborn enough to pain him.

Wow. OKC pulling out all the stops in the coaching department this season.

Such a stark contrast to the last 3 years.

I am excited for the season, but I am still indifferent on seeing Durant is still in his boot.... On one foot, he is [smartly] staying off the injury, on the other foot, maybe it is still stubborn enough to pain him.

Yes, looks like they want to make sure BD has plenty of NBA experience on the bench with him!

Come back, Mo!


Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 12h12 hours ago

Hearing Maurice Cheeks has emerged as increasingly serious target for OKC as Thunder seek to put another former HC on Billy Donovan's staff

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 12h12 hours ago

Maurice Cheeks addendum: Cheeks' good relationship with Russ Westbrook after his first OKC stint would make him handy aide to Billy Donovan

Come back, Mo!


Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 12h12 hours ago

Hearing Maurice Cheeks has emerged as increasingly serious target for OKC as Thunder seek to put another former HC on Billy Donovan's staff

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 12h12 hours ago

Maurice Cheeks addendum: Cheeks' good relationship with Russ Westbrook after his first OKC stint would make him handy aide to Billy Donovan


https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=JN.xMBpPs7radQ0bWBJkdaLaw&pid=15.1&P=0
Westbrook's pacifier = Maurice 'MO' Cheeks

Mo would be good! Like the idea of these NBA coaches with lots of experience both as assistants and even head coaches being with team! Hopefully good mix of new ideas from Donovan and some tried and true experience as well.

The Vegas odds for next season have the Thunder tied with Golden State right behind Cleveland.

Las Vegas likes Cleveland Cavaliers as winner of 2016 Finals (http://espn.go.com/chalk/story/_/id/13096380/las-vegas-likes-cleveland-cavaliers-winner-2016-finals)

DailyThunder.com: Report: Jeremy Lamb traded to Hornets (http://dailythunder.com/2015/06/report-jeremy-lamb-traded-to-hornets/)


According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, the Thunder are sending Jeremy Lamb to the Hornets in exchange for Matt Barnes’ recently acquired contract. Barnes will not be joining the Thunder.

It’s a pretty clear move to free a roster spot, likely to add whoever the 14th overall pick is tomorrow night.

So, Lamb’s career in Oklahoma City appears over. As the key piece in the James Harden deal, he never found footing with the Thunder, falling out of the rotation any time he got in it. There was expectation that he might find new life under Billy Donovan, but clearly, the Thunder are ready to move on.

Thunder trades Jeremy Lamb to Charlotte Hornets | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5429882?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ShareBar-Twitter)

This is breaking good for Thunder thru 10 picks....Payne might be there.:)

Suns gonna take Booker and we get Payne? Broke good for the home team!!!

Get on the Payne Train!!!!!

Anyone know roughly when the schedule will be released?

Usually very late July or first of August I think.

Mo Cheeks added to the coaching staff after rumors for a while... A lot of head coaching experience, but who is the defensive guru on the staff?

Mo Cheeks added to the coaching staff after rumors for a while... A lot of head coaching experience, but who is the defensive guru on the staff?

Donavon hangs his hat on the defensive side of things.

Donavon hangs his hat on the defensive side of things.

Let's hope so... I've always felt like he's more of an offensive guy.

As expected Luke Ridnour is no longer a Thunder player:

As of last Wednesday, Ridnour was still a member of the Orlando Magic, for whom he played last season. But since then he has become a member of four other teams. The Magic sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies, who sent him to the Charlotte Hornets, who sent him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who sent him to the Toronto Raptors. The last move was made Tuesday; the Thunder received the draft rights to Tomislav Zubcic, a Croatian power forward who has yet to appear in an N.B.A. game.

Story from RealGM says the Thunder will meet with Kanter tomorrow and mentioned a salary near the max. It's a lot to pay for a player who is so putrid on the defensive end, but really the Thunder are going to have to come to agreement with Kanter one way or another. Re-signing Kanter and Singler are the only real free agent options for the Thunder because of our salary cap situation.

Wojo tweet:

Clippers could have $30M-plus in salary cap space next summer -- and become a real threat for Kevin Durant.

And then there is this. Rumors abound at this time of the year.

NBA - Los Angeles Lakers' offseason allure still strong? (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13174634/nba-los-angeles-lakers-offseason-allure-strong)


Said another executive: "The Lakers will always be a huge draw. They will be fine regardless. While losing Howard was not planned, they will still be in on anyone."

And said another executive: "They just need one big guy to go there, and the rest will follow. I expect [Russell] Westbrook and [James] Harden to join forces there when they become free. It definitely still has allure. It's still L.A., and they are still the Lakers. No free agent can question whether or not they will spend the money to win titles."

You think the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes are a spectacle; OKC will have to suffer through this for next 2 years (Durant 2016, Westbrook 2017).

And it will be suffering.

ESPN article on how the new salary cap impacts Thunder:

What a higher NBA salary cap means for Oklahoma City Thunder - Oklahoma City Thunder Blog - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/okc-thunder/post/_/id/598/what-a-higher-salary-cap-means-for-the-thunder)

Woj reporting that Enes Kanter is in Portland preparing to sign an offer sheet with the Blazers.

Woj reporting that Enes Kanter is in Portland preparing to sign an offer sheet with the Blazers.

Great...get to match a max offer sheet and start triggering some serious lux tax issues. C ya P. Jones, Steve Novak and maybe others.

4 year / $70mm. PJ3 / Novak and more than likely one other person (Augustin) will be gone if we want to get into the first tier of the luxury tax.

Please don't match.

Please don't match.

They are not gonna like the player option or the trade kicker. Portland really screwed em. gonna make em pay and take a tough contract. I think they will match but those non-monetary terms are not "Sam friendly".

Please don't match.

Agree,

Will we let him walk?

Portland doesn't really want him; they just want to screw the Thunder...

Portland doesn't want Kanter; they want to jack up the price to make sure the Thunder are way over the CAP when the Durant & Westbrook sweepstakes come up in 2016 & 2017.

That was a Portland piss ant move to appease their fan base; we're now between a rock & a hard place.

If Kanter averages 15 PPG and 10 RPG he will be paid $8,048 for each point and each rebound next year. But of course you also get his stellar defense.:) It's a max deal now but will wane in comparison to the max deal as this continues to spiral upward. I think they match it and then start hacking away - Jones and Novak for sure. Maybe DJA or Waiters. Guess we shall know by Sunday.

This type of stunt is done all the time by teams. Portland made a smart move give them credit. I think we have to keep him at this point. Need to show Durant and Westbrook we will play with the big boys

Agree,

Will we let him walk?

Portland doesn't really want him; they just want to screw the Thunder...

Portland doesn't want Kanter; they want to jack up the price to make sure the Thunder are way over the CAP when the Durant & Westbrook sweepstakes come up in 2016 & 2017.

That was a Portland piss ant move to appease their fan base; we're now between a rock & a hard place.

I think if the roles were reversed, you would have applauded the Thunder.

I think if the roles were reversed, you would have applauded the Thunder.

Gotta hand it to you kwhey, you know me more than I know myself--LMAO!

Sources indicate that the Thunder will probably sign Kanter. How will Thunder respond to Enes Kanter offer? (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2015/07/09/enes-kanter-trail-blazers-thunder/29931389/)

Presti made an offer sheet on Utah's C.J. Miles in 2008; however the difference was that we really wanted the services of Miles. Portland has to do something to appease their fan base; this was more of a save face offer. They lost LaMarcus Aldridge, the Grand Prize of the NBA free agents; this would be equivalent to Durant or Westbrook on the Thunder's roster.

Let's see, there's Aldridge (Spurs), Wesley Matthews (Mavericks) and Nicholas Batum (Charlotte)--the heart and soul of the Portland Trailblazers were gutted. Portland an established NBA city, they will rebound & continue to support their Trailblazers.

Is Oklahoma City Thunder's Enes Kanter really worth $70 million? - Oklahoma City Thunder Blog - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/okc-thunder/post/_/id/606/is-enes-kanter-really-worth-70-million)

Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has signed rookie guard Cameron Payne.

Thunder Signs Cameron Payne | Oklahoma City Thunder (http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/payne_150710)

Thunder will match Trail Blazers' offer sheet for Enes Kanter


The Thunder will match the four-year, $70 million offer sheet restricted free agent Enes Kanter signed with the Trail Blazers, reports NBA.com's David Aldridge.

Thunder will match Trail Blazers' offer sheet for Enes Kanter - SBNation.com (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/7/12/8928631/enes-kanter-thunder-offer-sheet-trail-blazers)

Report: Thunder to match Blazers' offer to Enes Kanter | FOX Sports (http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/report-thunder-to-match-blazers-offer-to-enes-kanter-071215)

Thunder will match Trail Blazers' offer sheet for Enes Kanter



Thunder will match Trail Blazers' offer sheet for Enes Kanter - SBNation.com (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/7/12/8928631/enes-kanter-thunder-offer-sheet-trail-blazers)
Report: Thunder to match Blazers' offer to Enes Kanter | FOX Sports (http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/report-thunder-to-match-blazers-offer-to-enes-kanter-071215)

Not the decision I would make, but then again I'm not Presti. Looks like we're going all in for the championship now and worrying about Durant and Westbrook when we get there! THUNDER UP!

6th highest paid center in the NBA plays for Thunder!:)

6th highest paid center in the NBA plays for Thunder!:)

Thunder match Trail Blazers' $70 million offer sheet to Enes Kanter


"We traded for Enes last season with the intention of keeping him as a member of the Thunder for several years to come, and we are excited that he will continue with us," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. "He adds valuable depth to our roster, diversity to our frontcourt and the dimension that he brings offensively will positively impact our team."

Oklahoma City Thunder match Enes Kanter offer sheet of Portland Trail Blazers (http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13246647/oklahoma-city-thunder-match-enes-kanter-offer-sheet-portland-trail-blazers)

Not the decision I would make, but then again I'm not Presti. Looks like we're going all in for the championship now and worrying about Durant and Westbrook when we get there! THUNDER UP!

This shouldn't affect Durant or Westbrook's potential extensions. OKC can offer both max contracts.

While it is risky to pay a defensive nightmare this kind of money, it was the only choice. OKC couldn't get anyone else of significance because of CBA restrictions. Kanter just shouldn't be guaranteed to start and/or play above Adams.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdhICRx7aHHde79dgCsVSiDMIJ1IyvW w0gLi_wNnt6t29-wi3nmQ
'Bruise Brothers'
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS4vg76XdNk9473TjQL_28y16Y45Mcjo FYWymjYE-qqQVyvIvV4aghttps://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS4FK3_WGVUjAlgTlanFzjDYjI2jhB7c 9HMfhAQbIAqe_AGmhx_-g