OKC Thunder 2014 - 2015

[ljbab728]

KD has a BIGGGG decision to make now and what he decides could have a big impact on the Thunder in a couple of years.

Kevin Durant offered massive deal by Under Armour; Nike has right to match - ESPN

[JohnH_in_OKC]

What about putting the 66ers in Springfield, MO? Like Tulsa, it's on Route 66. If there is no municipal stadium, I'm sure Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Misssouri State) has a decent sized stadium that could be utilized. Actually, to gauge interest in the D-League, some of next season's games could be scheduled in Amarillo, Wichita Falls, Lawton, Ft. Smith, Little Rock, Wichita & Springfield. If one of those cities engenders great enthusiasm, like the Hornets did in OKC, the 66ers could move to that city permanently in the following season. The Thunder might want to contact the city leaders of nearby mid-sized cities to check on interest in having a D-League team & the possibility of a game or two in these alternate cities.

[dankrutka]

While it is interesting to think which of these small cities might best support the 66ers, it's worth noting that the D-League has generated little excitement in the cities in which teams are presently located. There's a decent chance none of the cities mentioned could garner decent support. Furthermore, I actually think OKC wants the team in... OKC for developmental purposes. I just don't buy that they couldn't find a suitable place to play in Tulsa. Does anyone think these young NBA players want to shuttle back and forth between OKC and any of the cities named? Can you imagine being drafted and then shuttling back and forth 4 hours between Springfield, Missouri and OKC?!? I think being in OKC makes the most sense... and I actually think OKC might draw the best crowds of any of the cities named, which still means there will be very few people in the stands. The D-League is just not found a market yet.

[warreng88]

Hasheem Thabeet traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for a $1.3 million trade exception.

OKC Thunder trade Hasheem Thabeet to Philadelphia for a $1.3 million trade exception | News OK

[BrettM2]

Hasheem Thabeet traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for a $1.3 million trade exception.

OKC Thunder trade Hasheem Thabeet to Philadelphia for a $1.3 million trade exception | News OK

There goes our title hopes... I'm sure Durant is a lock to sign with Washington now.

[Laramie]

Nike is located in Beaverton, Oregon which is 9 miles from Portland. Do you think Nike could have influenced Durant to play for the Portland Trailblazers?

If Durant decides to leave Oklahoma City it won't be because of a clothing apparel deal near Washington D. C., or his greed for money.

LeBron James initially played with Cleveland (30 miles from his hometown of Akron) then he went to Miami. Now he's back in Cleveland.

Durant talks more about the University of Texas (Austin) and playing with the Seattle Supersonics than he talks about the Washington D. C. area. His favorite NBA player was Vince Carter who played for the Toronto Raptors:

"When I was 11 years old, my mom bought me the whole Vince Carter Toronto jersey when the new ones first came out. I had the shorts and the jersey, and I wore them to every game when I was 10. It was something I’ll never forget."

Durant appears to me to be taking roots in Oklahoma City. He built a restaurant from the ground up on the Bricktown Canal; he lives in Deep Deuce and has a home for sale in Gaillardia which he still owns.

K.D. doesn't strike me as being a money hungry mongol; he's quick to acknowledge God's grace for his fortunes. He is active in the community and generous to charitable organizations. My true feelings are that so many NBA teams are going to go after Durant with money that he will probably decide to stay.

Kevin Durant is not about Greed.

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

[jn1780]

Nike is located in Beaverton, Oregon which is 9 miles from Portland. Do you think Nike could have influenced Durant to play for the Portland Trailblazers?

If Durant decides to leave Oklahoma City it won't be because of a clothing apparel deal near Washington D. C., or his greed for money.

LeBron James initially played with Cleveland (30 miles from his hometown of Akron) then he went to Miami. Now he's back in Cleveland.

Durant talks more about the University of Texas (Austin) and playing with the Seattle Supersonics than he talks about the Washington D. C. area. His favorite NBA player was Vince Carter who played for the Toronto Raptors:



Durant appears to me to be taking roots in Oklahoma City. He built a restaurant from the ground up on the Bricktown Canal; he lives in Deep Deuce and has a home for sale in Gaillardia which he still owns.

K.D. doesn't strike me as being a money hungry mongol; he's quick to acknowledge God's grace for his fortunes. He is active in the community and generous to charitable organizations. My true feelings are that so many NBA teams are going to go after Durant with money that he will probably decide to stay.

Kevin Durant is not about Greed.

I wouldn't go that far. He let them use his name and told them what kind of food he likes to eat.

[ljbab728]

KD is staying with Nike.

Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City Thunder stays with Nike after shoe company matches Under Armour offer - ESPN

[PWitty]

...

Durant appears to me to be taking roots in Oklahoma City. He built a restaurant from the ground up on the Bricktown Canal; he lives in Deep Deuce and has a home for sale in Gaillardia which he still owns.

K.D. doesn't strike me as being a money hungry mongol; he's quick to acknowledge God's grace for his fortunes. He is active in the community and generous to charitable organizations. My true feelings are that so many NBA teams are going to go after Durant with money that he will probably decide to stay.

As much as I'd like to be positive and assume beyond all doubt that Durant won't consider playing for another team, all those things you listed mean nothing. Every player in every sport across the world owns/rents real-estate in the town they work/play. Now days every big name player also gets involved with community volunteering. Heck, most organizations push that stuff from the top down more than anything else now days.

Also, don't fool yourself into thinking that a professional athlete isn't greedy. Everyone is greedy, it's human nature. Some people are just a lot more vocal about their greed than others. KD signed with Jay-Z for one reason (as far as they would say at least). He wanted to expand his global brand and maximize marketing opportunities (AKA make more $$$).

[Mel]

If he leaves he will no longer be part of MY framily.

[Urbanized]

It's pretty simple: if the Thunder wins a title on Durant's current contract there is a good chance he stays, if they don't there is a good chance that he goes. There is some important basketball looming.

[Bellaboo]

I tend to think that if the Thunder position themselves as long term championship contenders there is a good chance he stays.

[Laramie]

Kevin Durant is focused on OKC; Not D.C.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:11286199

Nobody knows what Kevin Durant is going to do come 2016; right now, I don't think he knows. All we can do is take him for his word.

As I said before, K.D. doesn't strike me as being a person preoccupied with greed; that doesn't mean that he's going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

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

[dankrutka]

Why would KD leaving mean he's greedy? If any of you took a job somewhere else for whatever reason (e.g., move back home, different work opportunities), would you be considered greedy? Besides, the money will be the same wherever he plays.

[Stan Silliman]

How much do you think JayZ paid Under Armor to trot out their offer, knowing they were squeezing NIKE to max out? I bet someone at UA has an extra half-mil walking around money.

[Urbanized]

The Journal Record just sent out a breaking news update that KD signed an endorsement deal with OKC-based OrangeLeaf Frozen Yogurt...

[warreng88]

Durant signs another deal, this time Orange Leaf

By: Associated Press September 4, 20140

OKLAHOMA CITY — Thunder forward Kevin Durant said Thursday that he has signed a partnership deal with Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt.

Durant will own an undisclosed percentage of the company, his first such partnership since he joined the Roc Nation agency founded by Jay-Z last year. Orange Leaf, based in Oklahoma City and one of the fastest-growing franchises, has 321 stores in 40 states, four in Australia and 69 under construction.

Reese Travis, CEO of Orange Leaf, thought he was on the right track when he chose to pursue Durant as the company’s first brand ambassador.

Because of his negotiations with the Oklahoma City star, Travis was invited to attend the MVP award ceremony and once he heard Durant’s acceptance speech, he knew he was doing the right thing.

“It was moving,” Travis said. “It was a speech that Kevin Durant delivered in the way that only Kevin Durant can deliver. It was heartfelt, it was authentic, it was unique to Kevin. As I’m sitting there thinking of everyone that’s special in my life, every MVP I had in my life — my wife, family, my kids — something like that — when I walked out of that room, there was a sense of pride that we were in the process of creating a partnership with Kevin Durant.”

Durant has been in demand like never before since delivering his tearful 25-minute speech in May during which he thanked his teammates, support staff, coaches and his mother, Wanda Pratt. Since winning the MVP award, he has re-signed with Nike, Sprint and BBVA Compass, added deals with Orange Leaf and Sparkling Ice and was named the cover athlete for NBA 2K15.

Michael Yormark, Roc Nation’s president and chief of branding and strategy, said more partnerships are in the works, and his goal is to get Durant more deals than any NBA player. He said much of the extra attention has been a direct result of the way he handled being named MVP.

“I think the speech created a sense of urgency with many of the brands that we were talking to, to move forward in a meaningful way and develop a relationship with Kevin,” Yormark told The Associated Press. “Obviously, the speech was beyond magnificent, and we were talking with many brands during that period of time. I think that speech created that sense of urgency, and in many cases, truly convinced those people we were talking to that this was the right guy, the right athlete, the right brand to build a relationship with.”

The Nike deal was Durant’s biggest catch. He had a lucrative offer from Under Armour, but Nike surpassed it, and Durant remained with the company that has made his popular KD shoes.

“We think consistency is important,” Yormark said. “It’s the place he wanted to be, and it’s the place he will be most likely for the rest of his career.”

Orange Leaf has grown quickly since its founding in 2008, and Durant and Roc Nation introduced the possibility of ownership.

“The equity component creates a unique dynamic for him,” Yormark said. “As we continue to build his portfolio off the court, these are the types of opportunities we want to explore. These brands he’s working with are brands we want him to have relationships with for the next 10 years, the next 20 years.”

[dankrutka]

I'm sure the national media will pick up the KD-staying-in-OKC story with this... Oh wait, that doesn't fit the narrative, does it?

[Bellaboo]

Wow- Preseason games start in 3 weeks and a couple of days.

[Bellaboo]

Michael Cage replaces Grant Long.

Thunder hire Michael Cage as new TV analyst :: Daily Thunder.com

[Laramie]

By the looks of Michael Cage; he'll pull of a Grant Long look-alike.

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

[ljbab728]

The Thunder are number 7 on this year's Ultimate Team Rankings by ESPN of all pro franchises. Their best areas are in "bang for the buck" and "players efforts on the court along with likeability".

Ultimate Team Rankings - All Sports - SportsNation - ESPN

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Thunder regional exhibition games:

Tuesday	October 14	Chesapeake Energy Arena	8:00 p.m.	vs. Memphis Grizzlies	Tickets (391) available
Friday	October 17	@ Intrust Bank Arena (Wichita, KS)	8:00 p.m.	vs. Toronto Raptors	Tickets available
Sunday	October 19	@ Bank of Oklahoma Center (Tulsa, OK)	7:00 p.m.	vs. Minnesota Timberwolves	Tickets (333) available
Tuesday	October 21	@ Chesapeake Energy Arena	8:00 p.m.	vs. Utah Jazz	Tickets (483) available

Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC . . . . Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita

Bank of Oklahoma Center, Tulsa . . . . Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC

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

[Mel]

Do they televise the pre-season games?

[Laramie]

Do they televise the pre-season games?

I recall several preseason games that were televised last season:

The preseason games from Wichita & Tulsa (sellouts), a home game from the Peake (sellout) against the Utah Jazz.

They usually announce which games will be televised around the first week of October.

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