I was being a little harsh, I think. They aren't trash, I'm just not a fan of the overall Miami Vice theme. I really enjoy the classic simplicity of the Philly and Chicago jerseys. If you put some kind of cursive script on a jersey, chances are I'm going to love it. See OSU's throwback basketball and baseball unis.

It's also in homage to their old Miami Arena.

https://allucanheat.com/2017/12/27/miami-heat-pay-respects-to-old-home-with-new-city-jerseys/

CLEVELAND'S KING LeBRON JAMES:
http://givemesport.azureedge.net/images/18/01/21/3562746f2620e61155150fbdc56a0e3f/960.jpg
Are things crumbling in Cleveland?


Shockingly, after Saturday’s loss, LeBron indicated that coach Tyronn Lue’s future might not be set in stone in Cleveland, even after winning an NBA title in 2016.

“I would hope not, but really don’t know,” James told reporters when asked about whether or not Lue would be fired as a result of the team’s recent struggles, according to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with our team. I have no idea what conversations have been going on. I’ve been trying to stay as laser-sharp as I can to keep my guys ready to go out and play.”

That isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of his coach.


LeBron James gives eyebrow-raising answer about Tyronn Lue’s job security: http://www.givemesport.com/1240387-lebron-james-gives-eyebrowraising-answer-about-tyronn-lues-job-securityhttp://

If you watched Inside the NBA commentators last night; they were primed for LeBron to break that 30,000 point plateau. The show's theme centered around LeBron becoming the youngest NBA player to eclipse 30,000 points.

Cleveland's return of a healthy Isiah Thomas was to be the turning point for the CAVS to get back in the game.

LeBron fell short 7 points shy of his goal; they probably had confetti ready to fall from the rafters of the Q-Arena. Cleveland will be on the road against the Spurs when they play their next game--sorry King James--it didn't happen on the Thunder's watch.

Heh, IT coming back will fix the problems. Yeah right.

Heh, IT coming back will fix the problems. Yeah right.

Got to admit that Isiah Thomas just got back; let's see if he can shake the cobwebs off or deal with the cob corn :wink:

It's not even that. Their defense is the issue, and they traded Kyrie for one of--if not the--worst defenders.

It's not even that. Their defense is the issue, and they traded Kyrie for one of--if not the--worst defenders.

Agree, the Kyrie trade for Isiah was bad because I. Thomas can't play any defense--Irving can lock down on opponents.

Kyrie is a really bad defender too. Not as bad as IT, but one of the worst point guard defenders in the league.

The Cavs may or may not pull it together, but it's way too early to judge. IT came off a serious injury and, as the Heatles/Thunder/etc. have taught us, it sometimes takes time to gel. We'll see.

.
NBA All-Star 2018 Schedule of Events

February 16-18 | Los Angeles, CA

Friday, February 16

All times Central (CST)


11:30 a.m. | Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Practice | NBA TV
__6 p.m. | NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles | ESPN
__8 p.m. | Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars | TNT

Saturday, February 17

All times Central (CST)


12 p.m. | Hall of Fame Announcement | NBA TV
_1 p.m. | NBA All-Star Practice & Media Day | NBA TV
_6 p.m. | Commissioner Adam Silver media availability | NBA TV
_7 p.m. | State Farm All-Star Saturday Night | TNT


Source: NBA All Star Eastern Times: http://www.nba.com/allstar/2018/schedule

. . . . . . . . . . - Taco Bell Skills Challenge (first event)

. . . . . . . . . . - JBL Three-Point Contest (second event) Paul George, Thunder 7 p.m. TNT

. . . . . . . . . . - Verizon Slam Dunk (third event)

Sunday, February 18

All times Central (CST)


__12 p.m. | NBA Legends Brunch | NBA TV coverage begins at 2 p.m. CST
3:30 p.m. | NBA G League International Challenge presented by Kumho Tire | NBA TV

___7 p.m. | 67th NBA All-Star Game | TNT coverage begins at 6 p.m. CST

Russell Westbrook & Paul George, Thunder

Thunder Rookie Terrance Ferguson Suffered A Concussion After Colliding With (stonewall) Steven Adams

https://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/gettyimages-859963878.jpg


Billy Donovan says Terrance Ferguson is in the concussion protocol. Further evaluation tomorrow.

— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) March 9, 2018

Source: https://uproxx.com/dimemag/terrance-ferguson-concussion-protocol-oklahoma-city-thunder-steven-adams/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMiKncybs6o

Shame the notable jazz def is bad against the 3 ball.

Billy Donovan to return as Thunder coach: http://newsok.com/billy-donovan-to-return-as-thunder-coach/article/5593218

^^^^^^^^
Best possible move, assuming Carmelo situation is resolved and PG retained. If not, it will be bumpy, but of course would be bumpy for even a Pop or a Phil Jackson.

14647

Just trying on his next jersey.

Like pain huh? Watching the second ex Thunder player potentially win a NBA Championship is for me not enjoyable. Just hope the team goes all in for RW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIt6o4g2V9M
(DAMN) HEATED SPURS FANS ALREADY BURNING KAWHI LEONARD'S JERSEY AFTER HE DEMANDS TO BE TRADED!

San Antonio's rose.

Don't get it. If the fans want him out and he wants out; sounds like a win-win situation...

Carmelo Anthony is on the Thunder's books for $26,243,760
Kashi Leonard on the Spurs' books for $18,868,626 plus we get Rudy Gay $8,406,000.

Sorry, but this is a pet peeve, but why does one idiot Spurs fan represent Spurs fans? I guarantee you that Spurs fans want Kawhi to stay. We do this with every superstar now. Why do we give them so much attention?

I’d love to get Kawhi. Easily my favorite non Thunder player. I’m know several Spurs fans and none of them want to see him leave I can guarantee that.

I'm sure the spurs would love another iso player.

Kawhi for Singler! Hell, I'd even throw in Melo to help with the salary match.

You'd be a fool to not Kawhi on your team. I wonder how he'll come back from this injury though.

Given how the storyline has played out, and how much you interpret whos fault it is between Kawhi and the Spurs, I hope he comes out not as good.

Hang on...you're wishing for an injured player to not have a healthy return to form..? Or am I understanding it wrong? I wouldn't even wish that on Draymond Green, and I despise him about as much as any player in memory. It's just a game. And he's a human being.

Without knowing what if any limitations Leonard has, either physically or professionally, his value is an unknown at this point.

Hang on...you're wishing for an injured player to not have a healthy return to form..? Or am I understanding it wrong? I wouldn't even wish that on Draymond Green, and I despise him about as much as any player in memory. It's just a game. And he's a human being.

I'm hoping it turns out he was a product of the system, and that he'll be Roberson 2.0 just about anywhere else.

OK, fair enough. I read it as wishing an injured player to not recover fully. My bad.

I'm hoping it turns out he was a product of the system, and that he'll be Roberson 2.0 just about anywhere else.

I’ll go ahead and burst your bubble, he’s not a product of the system. ;) I think he’s a sure fire top 10 player, likely top 5. Even with injury uncertainty and only a year on his contract, the Spurs will get great offers if they make him available. However, I think the Spurs should be patient and try to repair the relationship. We’ll find out soon... maybe even on draft night on Thursday.

The Spur player Thunder fans should pay attention to is Rudy Gay who opted out of his contract today. I personally don’t think he’d help OKC, but the Thunder were interested last summer…

Oh, and if we do not hear any news on Melo by Saturday then it means he has opted in for this year, which is bad (but very likely) news for the Thunder, in my opinion.

Oh, and if we do not hear any news on Melo by Saturday then it means he has opted in for this year, which is bad (but very likely) news for the Thunder, in my opinion.

I just keep hoping we keep telling him he will have to come off the bench, so that he doesn't opt in... fingers crossed

I’ll go ahead and burst your bubble, he’s not a product of the system. ;) I think he’s a sure fire top 10 player, likely top 5. Even with injury uncertainty and only a year on his contract, the Spurs will get great offers if they make him available. However, I think the Spurs should be patient and try to repair the relationship. We’ll find out soon... maybe even on draft night on Thursday.

The Spur player Thunder fans should pay attention to is Rudy Gay who opted out of his contract today. I personally don’t think he’d help OKC, but the Thunder were interested last summer…

Agree on Leonard being in that stratosphere. Its been pretty clear he wants out of SA and all this smoke about him being mad how his injury was handled gets at the bottom line -- he wants out and prefers to be home (in LA). This is pretty foreign territory for SA and will be interesting to watch how it plays out.

Trae Young being drafted number 5 makes OU the first college to have three different players in three different sports get drafted in the top 10 in the same year. Boomer!

Trae Young being drafted number 5 makes OU the first college to have three different players in three different sports get drafted in the top 10 in the same year. Boomer!

On the sports last night they stated that it has happened 4 times since 1967. And that if Trae was selected top 10 then OU would be the fifth school since 1967.

^^ Noted. Thats what I get repeating water cooler talk. Coupled with never hearing of it happening. Thx Bell

What if you include Paige Lowary selected #1 in the softball draft this year? How many schools have had four different players in four different sports drafted in the top 10 in the same year?

.
An OKC Barber Claims To Be Breaking The NBA’s Biggest Free Agency News On Twitter: https://uproxx.com/dimemag/paul-george-barber-thunder-lakers-lebron-free-agency-news-twitter/

https://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/paulgeorgeheadonhands.jpg?quality=95

.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1008393815370199040/wV4HkAxC_400x400.jpg

https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunder/comments/8v43p1/pg_could_be_staying/?st=JJ1ZA16X&sh=ee37d9c8

https://twitter.com/ScissorhandsOKC

Great game of cat & mouse among all the sources ready to break this story. One local source you shouldn't underestimate--Scissorhands.

Just heard PG going to sign a 3 year deal with OKC with the last year being player option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ233vdK_DY

PG: 4 years with the last year being an option. 137M
CP3: 4 years 160M with Rockets
DRose: 1 year 2.1M with TWolves
DJ: 1 year to the Mavs.
Ariza: 1 year to Suns for 15M
Will Barton : 4 year 54M with Nuggets
KD: 2 year 61.5 with Warriors
Gay: 1 year, 10M with Spurs
Gerald Green: 1 year 2.4M with Rockets
Belinelli: 2 year 12 mil back to Spurs
Ed Davis: 1 year 4.4 mil with Nets
Jerami Grant; 3 year 27M with Thunder
Doug McDermott: 3 year 22M to Pacers
Baynes: 2 year 11M with Boston
Ilyasova: 3 year 21M with Bucks
Joe Harris: 2 year 16M with Nets

lololol...

You know what the worst part of Kevin Durant is? He all but ruined NBA basketball for 3, probably 4 straight seasons.

This one will be the least interesting of all.

Boogie to the Warriors is just silly even if he's coming off an Achilles injury. Hard to see them not cruising to another title.

Just for reference sake. Kyle Singler, a player who gets essentially zero minutes and sometimes doesn't even dress out for the game.... Will be getting paid the same as Cousins @ GSW.

I don't even know what the league is now since it was already a joke that the Warriors have 4 Allstars. Now they get an entire starting lineup of them. LOL

They weren't kidding when their front office said they were light years ahead. I'm not sure how it works out given the salary cap/luxury tax lines.

The players association basically allowed this to happen by rejecting the cap-smoothing request during the last CBA negotiations. That allowed the summer of 16 where teams gave giant contracts to mediocre players. Now, when the money is dried up, actual good players have to take much less.

Nerlens Noel turned down 70 million from the Mavs because he thought he could get more. Now, he gets a little over a million a year.

If you're Boogie, why wouldn't you go get a guaranteed ring during your rehab if the market has dried up a bit for you?

.
NBA Practice Facilities:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuE1ifSQM_c


The NBA’s new practice facilities


The newest trend has teams breaking with the practice of building the facilities into or adjacent to their arenas. It’s being driven by the desire to give players an exclusive space for training, conditioning and relaxing without the daily distractions of a big-city arena.

On the business side, the Kings, Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets have partnered with health care providers to develop practice facilities that include naming rights. They’re following a trend established by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and, most recently, the Minnesota Timberwolves, all branding their practice facilities after medical centers. It’s a natural tie-in for sponsor activation. In some cases, local hospitals acquire space at the practice facilities to expand their operations, to serve both the public and professional athletes.

Away from the arenas, embracing health-based partnerships: https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/06/06/Facilities/NBA-facilities.aspx

Key dates for 2018-19 NBA season
Notable upcoming dates, season milestones and key NBA initiatives: http://www.nba.com/key-dates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU7G67BFdLM

Tomorrow, January 21 is the last day of NBA All Star voting; your selections will count twice...

NBA All Star 20196 vote: https://vote.nba.com/?referrer#/

Oklahoma City's Historic Skirvin Hotel

Skirvin ghost tales may get a Hollywood treatment:

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960_blur-4067e4c135f06b9a0e5e406c795e87be.jpg

The Skirvin Hilton Hotel and Effie, the fabled ghost who supposedly haunts the historic landmark, may soon be featured a Hollywood movie based on tales told by NBA players who say they've had encounters with the tragic and sometimes amorous apparition...

...We were quite aware of Effie, who legend says was a former maid impregnated by the hotelier and oil wildcatter W.B. Skirvin and then locked in the room on the 10th floor until she gave birth.

ESPN and Variety reported Monday afternoon the hotel will get the Hollywood spotlight with Imagine Entertainment announcing it has optioned an upcoming Players' Tribune oral history article on the Skirvin with the movie set to star Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics and “Uncle Drew” fame.

The reports do not indicate whether the studio will be filming at the historic hotel, but based on past response by the hotel's current owners, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, film crews may find themselves unwelcome guests.

Once the baby was born, the tale goes, Effie jumped, baby in her arms, to her death.

Repeat after me: It never happened.

Skirvin ghost may get a Hollywood treatment: https://www.oklahoman.com/skirvin-ghost-tales-may-get-a-hollywood-treatment/article/5621437

Dallas Mavs just got better. Especially with the potential rookie of the year on the roster already.
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2019/1/31/18205802/kristaps-porzingis-trade-mavericks-knicks

Dallas Mavs just got better. Especially with the potential rookie of the year on the roster already.
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2019/1/31/18205802/kristaps-porzingis-trade-mavericks-knicks

wow... that's just crazy

Saving clicks

DSJ + DJ + Wesley Mathews + first round pick for KP, Tim Hardaway Jr, Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke.

The New York Knicks are finalizing a deal to trade Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal, according to the New York Times’ Marc Stein, will send Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews to New York, and Porzingis, Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Mavericks. There may be more draft assets to follow, according to Wojnarowski.

With the numbers 19-year-old Doncic is putting up; along with those support players, Dallas (23-27) will be a nightmare for any team if they make the playoffs.

Presti will make a mid season move; because the WC playoffs is now up for grabs...

BTW: What's the status on Dre; also Alex Abrines will need to step up his game and minutes now that he's back.

With the numbers 19-year-old Doncic is putting up; along with those support players, Dallas (23-27) will be a nightmare for any team if they make the playoffs.

Presti will make a mid season move; because the WC playoffs is now up for grabs...

BTW: What's the status on Dre; also Alex Abrines will need to step up his game and minutes now that he's back.

I saw a Billy quote recently that said Roberson is doing some non contact stuff right now and is nowhere near getting on the court.

Has Kristops even played this year ?

Seems like he's hurt most of the time.

Has Kristops even played this year ?

Seems like he's hurt most of the time.

He had an ACL injury. He hasn't played in a year.

Update on Seattle Center's Key Arena...

New Seattle Center arena to cost an estimated $850 million: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/arena/new-seattle-center-arena-to-cost-an-estimated-850-million/281-621138581

https://tribkcpq.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/seattle-center-arena-12.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&w=770

Check out these renderings of the new arena at Seattle Center: https://q13fox.com/2018/07/12/first-look-at-updated-plans-for-new-arena-at-seattle-center-photos/

I hope Adam Silver is more forgiving than David Stern was. I didn't think Stern would ever allow the NBA to return to Key Arena, regardless of what was done to it. Silver might not have the same level of personal animus. I think the biggest challenge going forward is sharing the overall arena revenue with both an NHL and NBA teams as "anchor" tenants.


I think Seattle is going to be the first expansion market for the NBA, but, it may be over 10 years before they expand. And I don't think any team is going to relocate within the next 25 years.

I hope Adam Silver is more forgiving than David Stern was. I didn't think Stern would ever allow the NBA to return to Key Arena, regardless of what was done to it. Silver might not have the same level of personal animus. I think the biggest challenge going forward is sharing the overall arena revenue with both an NHL and NBA teams as "anchor" tenants.


I think Seattle is going to be the first expansion market for the NBA, but, it may be over 10 years before they expand. And I don't think any team is going to relocate within the next 25 years.

Not so fast. The Pelicans might be flying away to Seattle unless they can swing a deal for Anthony Davis that brings in names (or draft picks) that will fill seats. Mediocre Lakers players will not do that. If they work a deal with the Knicks and land the #1 pick, Zion Williamson might fill seats and possible save the franchise. I just don't have good feelings about their staying power down there.

Weren't the Bobcats an expansion franchise? I couldn't remember.

As for the Pelicans, I think they have been on life support for some time now. I have deep roots in Louisiana and no one cares about the Pelicans. I'm actually surprised they have lasted this long, but their current lease does end in 2024. I think this Anthony Davis debacle might have sealed their fate.