Player Rankings: 16-20
We continue the NTTB Rank with the players that I think should be on the Thunder’s 15-man roster. Because of contract situations, this is not likely how the roster will shake out. But, in a vacuum, these are the 15 best players on the roster from here on out.
| Year | Team | Min | FG% | 3pt FG% | FT% | Rebs | Asts | Stls | Blks | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-17 | Thunder | 15.2 | .345 | .190 | .548 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.9 |
Continue reading NTTB Rank: 15-12
Fred Katz talks about Russell Westbrook being ranked 6th in SI’s Top 100: “SI just concluded its list of top-100 players, and on the final day, it named Westbrook sixth, wedged between two Houston Rockets guards, Chris Paul, who was seventh, and James Harden, who was fifth. Two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard was ranked fourth, two-time MVP Stephen Curry was third, reigning Finals MVP Kevin Durant was second and — of course — four-time MVP LeBron James was named the best in the NBA. Needless to say, Thunder fans thought Westbrook should have been ranked higher coming off an historic season, one in which he averaged a league-leading 31.6 points to go with 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, making him the second player ever to average a triple-double. Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who accomplished the feat in 1961-62, is the only other man to do it.”
A run down of all the important trades in Thunder history.
If Westbrook doesn’t sign the extension this offseason, this is the going to be the season of “are Westbrook and George both going to LA next year”: “Perhaps the deafening Los Angeles Lakers rumors are to thank for the price of George being driven into the ground, but the Thunder gladly took advantage of it and snatched up one of the NBA’s best players. They might change their tune by next summer, though, when both George and Russell Westbrook can become free agents. Westbrook has yet to sign a five-year, $207 million contract extension the Thunder have put on the table, and with a star-studded 2018 free agency class on the way, things could get very interesting around the league.”
Apparently the dance-off between Westbrook and Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr wasn’t all it was cracked up to be: “Imaginations ran wild. A dance-off between megastars Odell Beckham Jr. and Russell Westbrook.Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like Catch NYC’s sixth anniversary party in New York City got to see all Beckham’s moves last week.”
Steven Adams’ humor is in mid-season form.
If this whole basketball thing doesn’t work out for Josh Huestis or Andre Roberson, they do have other options: “Thunder teammates Andre Roberson and Josh Huestis experienced first hand what it was like to work with a talented group that celebrated its 5A State Championship just last fall. The practice session inside the school’s gym was interrupted when Roberson and Huestis sauntered onto the court generating head turns as they were cascaded with whoops and hollers.”
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report looks at every team’s death line-up.
Steven Adams enjoying the increase in popularity of basketball in New Zealand: “Thursday’s event was sponsored by Homeland. In New Zealand, Adams’ basketball camp sponsor is “a dairy sort of company,” he said. “So it’s real weird, the kids after we do the camp, they get, like, a big block of cheese, some eggs and some bread and some milk,” Adams said. “The parents are, like, stoked, because they don’t have to go buy groceries anymore. They’re like, ‘Yes!’ It’s quirky, but it’s awesome.”
Seattle has a deal in place for a “new arena”: “If the NBA ever returns to Seattle, there could be a shiny new arena waiting. The city of Seattle and Los Angeles-based Oak View Group agreed to a $600 million renovation of KeyArena and construction could begin next year.”
Rob Hennigan returns to the Thunder: “Hennigan worked for four seasons in the Thunder front office, ascending to assistant general manager before being hired by the Orlando Magic as general manager in 2012. Hennigan was fired in April after the Magic went 132-278 (.322) in five seasons.”
Here is the beginning of the NTTB Ranking of Thunder players. Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 14 September 2017
It’s that time of year again. With about 35 days until the season starts, it’s time to start ranking players. Sports Illustrated has started their Top 100 list. ESPN has followed suit. But ranking 100 players is just too much for me. Especially, since I mainly just focus on one team.
I’ve decided to do an Oklahoma City Thunder players ranking based on the 20 or so players that are currently involved with the franchise. This first installment will look at players ranked 16-20. These will likely be a combination of training camp invitees, 2-way players, and/or under-performing veterans.
Technically, the Thunder still have one more spot available for their 20 man training camp roster. There are still plenty of unsigned free agents looking for a chance to make a roster. For every run of the mill training camp invite that ends up getting cut, you sometimes ends up with a player like Lance Thomas that works on his game and takes advantage of the training camp opportunity to earn a roster spot. Continue reading NTTB Rank: 20-16
Westbrook signs an extension…….with Jordan brand: “After first signing a five-year endorsement deal in 2013, Westbrook has been positioned as the face of the brand and the annual Air Jordan model each subsequent season. During that stretch, he also elevated his game yearly as the franchise point guard of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The shoe deal extension, negotiated by the Wasserman agency and Westbrook’s longtime agent, Thad Foucher, is in advance of the initial deal’s expiration next fall. The increased pay rate will retroactively apply to his 2016-17 MVP season, according to sources.”
Kevin Durant continues on his tour of passive aggressivity. Sad part is, I actually kind of like the new KD shoes. Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 13 September 2017
Russell Westbrook was on the Jimmy Fallon Show last night and it was awesome.
Lottery reform is on the agenda again, and the Thunder have a history of pushing back against any proposed lottery reform: “In 2014, Presti lobbied against lottery reform which would have given all 30 teams an equal chance at the first pick, citing how such a system could hurt organizations in small markets. ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported at the time that NBA owners voted 17-13 in favor of lottery reform then. The league needed 23 “yes” votes to pass the rule. The Thunder voted, no.”
Enes Kanter holding a camp for kids in Oklahoma City.
It’s from about 6 months ago, but this is an interesting read from training camp invitee Bryce Alford on the Player’s Tribune: “After almost four years here at UCLA, I like to think I haven’t let the haters bother me too much — I like to think that I’ve never cracked. There was one time, though. It was in a game my sophomore season. I can’t remember who we were playing, but we won. And — the strangest thing about it — I played fine, if not pretty well. At least I thought so. But as I was walking off the court, I heard a voice behind me.”
NBA.com previews the Oklahoma City Thunder: “Whoever had Oklahoma City in the George trade pool should go immediately to Las Vegas and bet heavy. Almost out of nowhere, the Thunder emerged as winners in the George sweepstakes and one year after losing Durant have added a star to side next to Westbrook. Not only did OKC pull it off, nudging aside other suitors such as the Cavs and Celtics and Lakers, but the price was surprisingly low. The Thunder surrendered Oladipo, a good but not spectacular guard that they foolishly paid like a superstar two summers ago, and Sabonis, their 2016 No. 1 pick who was inconsistent. The trade surprised many observers given what it cost OKC, and even if George turns out to be a one-year rental, it’s no big deal.”
Andre Roberson and Patrick Patterson make ESPN’s top 100.
If you’re into fantasy basketball, here’s your guide to the Thunder: “Thanks to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offseason moves, Westbrook may have trouble replicating his league-winning impact from last season. Rather than playing alongside a marginalized Victor Oladipo in the backcourt, he’ll now have an All-Star teammate in the form of Paul George and a grizzled veteran in Patrick Patterson accompanying Steven Adams in the frontcourt. While OKC likely boosted its chances of a deep playoff run with its roster makeover, Westbrook should have less on his plate offensively this season.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 11 September 2017
On Episode 12 of the NTTB podcast, we discuss the following topics:
Intro/Outro music provided by OSC Productions
Thank you for listening. We will be doing a podcast once a week. If you have any Thunder or NBA related questions, make sure you hit us up on Twitter (@alexroig_NTTB or @Montero_A13).
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This weekend, let’s appreciate the importance of Andre Roberson.
Jonathan J. Bates of WTLC looks at a potential death line-up for the Thunder: “The Thunder welcome two significant additions this season: Paul George and Patrick Patterson. It is not only that they are better players, but also the skill sets they bring that will radically change the Thunder. George shot 46.1 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from downtown per game. Patterson shot 37 percent from the three point line and averaged 6.8 points. 6.8 points seems low, but he only averaged 24 minutes per game as the fourth scoring option on the team. The Raptors only used him (Usage Rate). According to Scott Rafferty of Fansided, Patterson knocked down 36.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers.”
Dan Feldman of NBC Sports looks at the premise of the Thunder being a two superstar team once again: “Durant is better than George, sure. But Westbrook now is also better than the Westbrook who played with Durant. George might also fit better with Westbrook than Durant did, which can go a long way in overcoming the talent deficit. For a star, George is exceptionally comfortable off the ball – important as Westbrook dove headfirst into controlling everything post-Durant last season. George can also be a lockdown defender. And when Westbrook sits, George can dominate the offense himself.” Continue reading Daily Thunder Rumblings – 08 September 2017
Now That's Thunder Basketball 