OKC Thunder 2014 - 2015

[OKCisOK4me]

Why would Gasol choose OKC over Chicago? Of all the contenders that Pau is considering, Oklahoma City can pay the least. I just do not see it.

The opportunity to play with 2 of the top 10 players in the league? Supposing he's not all in it for the paycheck...

[Jersey Boss]

Bulls Injury Update: Derrick Rose's health not an obstacle ~ Sports Injury Alert
6/30/2014 07:00:00 AM
The Chicago Bulls compiled a regular season record of 48-34 in the 2013-2014 season and lost in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs to the Washington Wizards. The Bulls won nearly 50 games, despite ranking 30th in the league in scoring. Much of the offensive woes can be attributed to the fact that Derrick Rose missed most of the season due to injury. The good news is that Rose appears to be on track to be ready by training camp. The Bulls, looking to sign free agents this off season, aren't worried that Rose's health status will be a deterrent to potential free agents the Bulls may be interested in pursuing.


Keith Allison via Wikimedia Commons

I reported on June 26 that Rose was regularly playing 5-on-5 in practice and was certainly on schedule for training camp in the fall. Rose has had no setbacks in his recovery and is ready to join Team USA for mini-camp in July before the World Cuip in late August through early September.

If the Bulls get Melo, Rose really is healthy and they pay more, not to mention the amenities of Chicago, Gasol would be foolish. While it probably is not a factor now, wasn't Russ bothered by injury last year as well?

[Jersey Boss]

It is all speculation now and certainly fun to think, what if...

[Bellaboo]

Why would Gasol choose OKC over Chicago? Of all the contenders that Pau is considering, Oklahoma City can pay the least. I just do not see it.

Not sure if the money means as much to him as the opportunity to win. If we do a sign and trade with Perkins, we can compete with anyone but the Lakers salary wise.

The way I understand it, the Thunder is not too afraid with the luxury tax, as long as they stay away from the repeater tax.

[SoonerDave]

Thats a pretty huge leap. Are you assuming that Chicago, Clippers, Houston, Indiana, and Miami remain statue quo and make no improvements?

Meh, maybe a leap, but not a huge leap. I mean, let's think about it - the biggest critique as the year wound down was that the Thunder needed a shooting guard and a guy who could play offense/defense besides Ibaka. If a team that made it to the western conference finals fills both of those needs, I don't think you're buying the Brooklyn Bridge to call them a favorite. It makes them, on paper and talking on forums (lol) a better team than the one that started last year.

[dankrutka]

Would that suggest the Mike Miller notion has gone by the boards?

Not at all. Telfair's contract is non-guaranteed like Gomes' last season.

[dankrutka]

Also, Miller is about a 50/50 DNP on any given night due to nagging injury problems. When he can play, he can be a game-changer, but I would hate to give him that tag without reservation.

Miller played in all 82 games last season for the Grizzlies.

[dankrutka]

Thabo signed a 3 year $12 million deal with the Hawks. More than I expected him to get. He was nothing but a good ambassador for OKC while he was here. I hope he does will in ATL.

[Laramie]

Obtain a top 'free agent' is a must for the Thunder to be competitive next season. Pao Gasol could be that player.

Something is 'wrong' in Memphis; didn't Mike Miller just sign with them last season? He may be ready to walk away from Memphis.

Not sure how many pieces we will need? We did finish with the second best record in the NBA at 59-23 behind the champion Spurs.

If one of these rookie draft pics (Mitch McGary and Josh Huestis) could become an impact player like Adams; we will be a title contender. We've lost Derek Fisher and probably will not have the services of Sefolosha and Butler.

Reggie Jackson, Andre Roberson & Stephen Adams will have more experience; these guys could make major contributions for the 2014-15 season.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[warreng88]

Thabo signed a 3 year $12 million deal with the Hawks. More than I expected him to get. He was nothing but a good ambassador for OKC while he was here. I hope he does will in ATL.

Good luck to him. Easily one of my favorite Thunder players. Always did what he was told, knew his role and never complained. Second only to Nick Collison to me.

[Laramie]

Preliminary indications are that Thabo Sefolosha appears to be headed for the Atlanta Hawks. According to ESPN his salary was $3.9 million last season.

Hawks Add Thabo Sefolosha - ESPN Video - ESPN

NBA Player Salaries - National Basketball Association - ESPN

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Easy180]

Thabo signed a 3 year $12 million deal with the Hawks. More than I expected him to get. He was nothing but a good ambassador for OKC while he was here. I hope he does will in ATL.

Surprised here as well. $4 mil a year for a defensive player who can't defend like he used to. They must have some indications he can bounce back to lockdown status.

Best of luck to him. Will always remember his battles with Kobe.

[Laramie]

Surprised here as well. $4 mil a year for a defensive player who can't defend like he used to. They must have some indications he can bounce back to lockdown status.

Best of luck to him. Will always remember his battles with Kobe.

Best of luck to Thabo Sefolosha as well.

Could problems which affected Thabo have stemmed from the incident in which he brought his old Chicago Bulls' teammate Joakim Noah into the Thunder's locker room which led to the verbal altercation between Noah and Perkins?

Thabo was a team player who never gained the confidence needed to elevate his offensive game. The backlash he received from key team mates had to have had an impact him emotionally.

Tried to research the NBA player salaries area; does anyone have an explanation why the reports on salaries differ(?):

NBA 2013-14... player salary sources from various sites:

Player Contracts | Basketball-Reference.com

NBA Player Salaries - National Basketball Association - ESPN

NBA 2014-15 player salaries:

NBA's Top 50 Highest Paid Players | Basketball Insiders | NBA Rumors And Basketball News

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[dankrutka]

In short, no. I don't think there's anyway that incident had a bearing on Thabo's decline or leaving.

[Laramie]

NBA Free Agency:

Will Thunder get left out in the cold?

Carmelo Anthony: Derrick Rose didn't help with Chicago Bulls pitch to Carmelo Anthony - ESPN Chicago

Pao Gasol: Report: Thunder are 'front-runner' for Pau Gasol - CBSSports.com

C.J. Miles: Report: C.J. Miles, Pacers agree on four-year, $18 million deal - CBSSports.com

Could the Thunder be used as a pawn to get more money from Memphis?

Mike Miller: 2014 NBA free agent rumors: Thunder have Mike Miller in their sights - Welcome to Loud City

Paul Pierce: Brooklyn Nets not interested in Paul Pierce-to-Los Angeles Clippers deal, GM Billy King says - ESPN New York

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Laramie]

Anyone notice 97 Morris Peterson SG on the Thunder books at $6,665,000. His salary along with Perkins ($8,727,437) could bring you closer to Pao Gasol at $15.4 million.

Morris Peterson, 36 . . . . . . Tony Parker, 32

Could these guys be brothers?

Doc Rivers wants Perkins for the Clippers; point him toward Los Angeles and let him run...

NBA Player Salaries - National Basketball Association - ESPN

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[BoulderSooner]

He is not on the thunder

[dankrutka]

He is not on the thunder

Morris Peterson and his contract have not been on the books for 3 years.

[OKCJapan]

The Lakers are making their strong case this week for Gasol to stay in town. According to one report I read, Pau loves the entertainment options in LA. Obviously we cannot compete in that area, but we are a win now team. Not sure what kind of pitch Presti, KD, and Russ made, but I am sure they made as good of a case as possible. Chicago has potential to lure him. Too much uncertainty in Miami right now. I am still leaning towards it is a long shot, but hope I am proved wrong.

[dcsooner]

nba free agency:

will thunder get left out in the cold?

carmelo anthony: derrick rose didn't help with chicago bulls pitch to carmelo anthony - espn chicago

pao gasol: report: Thunder are 'front-runner' for pau gasol - cbssports.com

c.j. Miles: report: C.j. Miles, pacers agree on four-year, $18 million deal - cbssports.com

could the thunder be used as a pawn to get more money from memphis?

mike miller: 2014 nba free agent rumors: Thunder have mike miller in their sights - welcome to loud city

paul pierce: brooklyn nets not interested in paul pierce-to-los angeles clippers deal, gm billy king says - espn new york

"oklahoma city looks oh-so pretty... ...as i get my kicks on route 66." --nat king cole.

one word, yes!

[Bellaboo]

I'm sure most here knows, but Pau plays with Serge on the Spanish national team. This could factor into his decision as well.

[dankrutka]

I'm sure most here knows, but Pau plays with Serge on the Spanish national team. This could factor into his decision as well.

Yeah, but the other teams courting him have closer connections. The Knicks have his former head coach (Phil Jackson), his long time teammate (Fisher), and one of his best friends Jose Calderon. The Lakers obviously have an advantage in this are too. I hope it happens, but if I was putting odds on it I'd say we have a 10% chance. It's really not looking great with any of our other potential guys. Which is not good because I think it's shaky to go into next year with what we have. We'll see...

[adaniel]

If Carmelo Anthony signs with the Lakers (which I think he will) expect Gasol to stay. I tend to agree the chance of him coming here are probably lower than what was initially reported.

[BoulderSooner]

If Carmelo Anthony signs with the Lakers (which I think he will) expect Gasol to stay. I tend to agree the chance of him coming here are probably lower than what was initially reported.

I don't think he does. I see the lakers selling melo on hi this year and adding love next year

[Laramie]

I don't think he does. I see the lakers selling melo on hi this year and adding love next year

Definitely agree!.

Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love are't crack down defenders. Kobe Bryant will be thrilled; happier than a pigeon in a pig pin. Anyone with an ego like Bryant's will clash; Kobe lets you know upfront that it's his team.

Lakers have brought in good players in the past; the problem with the Lakers is Bryant's ego. The 'Black Mamba' isn't going to be overshadowed by anyone.

He (Bryant) is rumored to have had issues with Trevor Ariza, Shaq O'Neal, Dwight Howard and others; he doesn't appear to be a bosom buddy with Pao Gasol.

Keep the faith that the Thunder will pluck a reputable free agent.

However,

...don't be surprised if the Thunder plays:

Hand me downs...

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.