Category Archives: NTTB Rumblings

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 28 August 2017

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Well wishes for the people of Houston and Southeast Texas. Harvey hit harder than expected, but we will overcome as we always do. If you would like to help out, text 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross to help relief efforts. Here are the Rumblings.

Doug McDermott tell Nick Gallo of OKCThunder.com he is not content on just being a spot-up shooter: “The NBA is a league of “more”. More skills, more star players, more athleticism, more defense, more leadership, more shooting. Really, what every player and every team wants, for the most part, is more of everything. The more a player can do, the more worth they have to their team. The more a team can do, the higher they can climb in the standings. So that’s what Doug McDermott, and the Thunder, are determined to do. With the addition of Paul George, Patrick Patterson and Raymond Felton, the Thunder checked a lot of those aforementioned boxes with its swing-for-the-fences off-season. Filling in the seams of those big puzzle pieces that are inserted into the mix will be players like McDermott.”

Scott Brooks spoke to CSN MidAtlantic about the difficulties in keeping a good core together: “Before taking over as coach of the Wizards, Brooks spent seven years leading the Oklahoma City Thunder. They rose very quickly to reach the NBA Finals in 2012, his fourth season on the job. But not long after that their core was dismantled, first by the trade of James Harden to the Houston Rockets, a casualty of the salary cap. Last summer, one year after Brooks had been dismissed, OKC traded Serge Ibaka and saw Kevin Durant sign with the Golden State Warriors in free agency. That’s three very good players the Thunder had drafted and developed who left all in just a few years time.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 28 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 25 August 2017

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img_4133-2Hello Friday. Nice to finally meet again. Here are the Rumblings…

So 2K released their All-Time teams for each team in the league, and the Thunder’s team was mostly filled with Sonics players (because of our current shared history). And, of course, Seattle Twitter had a field day with it.

Russell Westbrook has yet to sign his extension, but according to ESPN’s Royce Young, nothing has really changed and there isn’t really any urgency to worry yet: “The primary difference, and it could be key, is the years. The rules of the designated player extension stipulate a minimum of five years (with only a player option available for Year 5). Signing that deal would put Westbrook under contract until he’s 34 years old. If he waited until next summer, he could sign a two- or three-year deal, and hit free agency again at 31 or 32.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 25 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 24 August 2017

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img_4133-5Is it just me or, after a furious start, is this off-season starting to snail-crawl now? Is it October yet? Here are your Rumblings….

It’s official: Michael Winger is now the GM of the Los Angeles Clippers: “The Clippers offered Winger the job late last week, and the sides have agreed on terms for a multiyear contract. Winger, an assistant general manager/team counsel for the Thunder, will report to Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ new president of basketball operations.”

The Thunder are better positioned now to replace lost front office personnel: “General manager Sam Presti has been here before. Winger will be the third executive under Presti to leave for a general manager job, joining Rich Cho, who went to Portland in 2010 and Rob Hennigan, who went to Orlando in 2012. Both those GMs were fired, but Cho now is general manager in Charlotte.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 24 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 23 August 2017

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img_4133-5So Kyrie Irving is a Celtic and Isaiah Thomas is a Cavalier. We are all officially living in the Upside Down. Here are the Rumblings for this Hump Day.

Another member of the Oklahoma City Thunder finally got his 2K rating. This time it is Alex Abrines.

In a bit of comedy gold, Abrines acknowledged in a tweet that his character finally looks like him. The tweet basically translates to “This year, yes!” (For reference, just look up Alex Abrines 2K17).  Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 23 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 22 August 2017

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img_4133-5Hopefully everybody still has their eye-sight. Here are the Rumblings…

The Ringer looks at the Clippers’ hiring of Michael Winger: “If Winger, just 37 years old, accepts the job in L.A., he’ll report to Lawrence Frank, the former veep under Rivers who was promoted to Doc’s old position. Just like with West and Golden State, there’s much front-office strategy to be learned from Winger, who served as an assistant under Sam Presti for seven seasons, and the Thunder, an organization that has become something of an executive factory in recent years, spawning Charlotte’s Rich Cho and former Magic GM Rob Hennigan. We’ll call the following the tenets of the OKC front office that could be applied in L.A.—Clippers fans can call it more evidence for hope.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 22 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 21 August 2017

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img_4133-5Let’s start things off right this week. Wait, why has the sun disappeared??? Here are the Rumblings for Monday.

Billy Donovan gave a coaching clinic this weekend and here are the highlights from it.

One of Sam Presti’s assistant GM’s, Michael Winger, has been offered the GM job for the Los Angeles Clippers: “Winger, a lawyer and salary cap expert, has been with the Thunder for seven seasons after coming over from the Cleveland Cavaliers and is one of the most well-respected young executives around the NBA. He would work directly under new Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, who was recently hired into that position. The Clips have shaken up their front office this summer, promoting Frank and bringing in NBA legend Jerry West while sending Doc Rivers back to just a coaching role.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 21 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 18 August 2017

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img_4133-5Hello, Friday. Hopefully, it’s a payday for you. Here are the Rumblings.

Nick Gallo chronicled Paul George’s visit to Castaic Lake with Russell Westbrook and other members of the Thunder organization: “This day was very special,” George explained. “Everyone here had a wonderful time. This has been a dream of mine for a very long time, to push it out of its nest and hopefully let it take off and be something down the road. About an hour later, a sports car pulled into the parking lot near the west ramp of Castaic Lake. Fresh off of an airplane, Russell Westbrook had just cruised up the 405 to meet George at his event. A large contingent of Thunder players, coaches and staff who had attended a staff member’s wedding reception the night before had boarded a 6 a.m. flight out of Oklahoma City on Sunday morning, including the league’s reigning MVP. Per usual, the ever-punctual Westbrook was the first to make it from LAX to George’s event.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 18 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 17 August 2017

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img_4133-5My readers, you guys are awesome. Make sure you spread the word about the site. Here are the Rumblings:

Thunderous Intentions predicts Russell Westbrook’s 2K rating: “We can use last year as a measuring stick. Westbrook had a 93 rating last year and that was before the season he had. So this year, he deserves something in the ballpark of a 97 because LeBron James, who is well known to be the best player in league, has that rating. Westbrook was the best player this season, and that should grant him a 97. Westbrook showed that he was the complete player. He put up double digits in rebounds and assists along with averaging 30 points a game for the season. It all totaled up to averaging a triple-double for the season. Westbrook should be a straight up beast in this game, at least for this year.”

Paul George loves Indiana, but he will likely receive a little of the Kevin Durant treatment when he returns there on December 13th.  Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 17 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 16 August 2017

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img_4133-5Thank you for reading. Here are the Rumblings…

Paul George talks about his return to Indianapolis: “After repeated first-round playoff exits, George, 27, faced a contract year with idle 42-40 Indiana, and clarified his desire to chase victories elsewhere. And though much hearsay exists concerning where the four-time All Star may land next season, for now, George and reigning-MVP teammate Russell Westbrook look to ascend the Western Conference rankings.”

Enes Kanter reunited with Kevin Durant in a pick-up game in New York City: “Enes Kanter and Kevin Durant … playing pickup basketball … together? That was the scene Tuesday at New York City’s Life Time Athletic Sky, where Kanter and his former Thunder teammate were videoed playing a 5-on-5 game on the same court along with LeBron James, J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 16 August 2017 →

Daily Thunder Rumblings – 15 August 2017

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img_4133-5Finally, the schedule is out. Finally, I can map my life out for the next 10 months. Here are the Rumblings.

NTTB Podcast about the Thunder’s schedule.

Russell Westbrook and Paul George finally got to work out together: “Russell Westbrook and Paul George are beginning the process of building chemistry on the court as the new duo had their first workout as Oklahoma City Thunder teammates on Monday in Los Angeles, sources told ESPN.com. At a gym on campus at UCLA, George and Westbrook went through drills and conditioning together, along with a few Thunder players, including Jerami Grant, Kyle Singler, Semaj Christon and Doug McDermott.”

NewsOK breaks down the Thunder’s schedule for this upcoming season. Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 15 August 2017 →