Check out the inaugural episode of the Topic: Thunder Podcast, featuring myself, Anthony Montero, Dylan Huntzinger, Stephen Dolan, and Matthew Mullins, where we discuss the first week of training camp and the upcoming preseason games.

Nick Gallo (OKCThunder.com) recaps the Blue and White scrimmage: “Along the perimeter, during the Thunder’s annual Blue & White Scrimmage on Sunday, Schröder had a menu full of options. Paul George, the dynamic All-Star forward, was moving in and out of positions along the wing, curling around screens and finding openings to receiving passes. Trailing in transition or spotting up in the corner was Patrick Patterson. The burly yet deft Steven Adams was barreling down the middle of the lane presenting a wide target. Schröder hit them all, aiding the White squad in a blowout victory over four quarters against the Blue team.”

Erik Horne (NewsOK) looks at Patrick Patterson’s day in the scrimmage: “After signing a three-year, $16.4 million contract with the Thunder in July 2017, Patterson had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee that August, which forced him to miss all of preseason. Before that, Patterson couldn’t even play 5-on-5 as he tried to rehab his knee all summer with no luck.”

Horne (NewsOK) on Billy Donovan’s assessment of Andre Roberson’s progress so far: “He just can’t do those things,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “Someone asked me if he’s jumping in there. Really, it’s been hard for him to jump into anything with the way practice has been. There will be a time as we start to go forward where he’ll be able to do that.”

Jordan Buckamneer (Thunderous Intentions) on the defection of the Thunder’s head athletic trainer to the Charlotte Hornets: “It’s an end of an era for the Thunder medical staff, as head athletic trainer Joe Sharp won’t be on the end of the bench for the first time in since organization’s move to Oklahoma City. Sharp started with the organization in 2008 and has been tending to Thunder injuries ever since. Joining the Hornets will be a reunion for Sharp, as he spent four years with the Bobcats prior to going to Oklahoma City.”

Grant Afseth (OKC Thunder Wire) on the comfort level of Dennis Schröder heading into the season: “Dennis Schröder told reporters following the ‘Blue and White’ scrimmage that when he first arrived in Oklahoma following the Carmelo Anthony, the team chemistry was ‘amazing’ and that the team was like a ‘big family.’”

Rylan Stiles (Thunderous Intentions) with 5 takeaways from the Blue & White scrimmage: “Dennis Schroder played shooting guard with Raymond Felton handling the ball at times. Thunder fans have questioned if Schroder and Westbrook will play together once Russ returns, and that seems obvious.”