2015-16 OKC Thunder

[Laramie]

True, he's a good locker room veteran; Nazr Mohammed (6'10" - 250 lbs.) has some value in that can play backup center if one of your centers get injured, exhausted or in foul trouble.

He could also be used for special assignments like wrap up or hard fouls; Nazr will finish out the season (20 games) on a 2015-16 veteran salary scale (with 10+ years experience) minimum - $1,499,187 prorated .

NBA - CBA Minimum Annual Salary Scale - RealGM

[dankrutka]

True, he's a good locker room veteran; Nazr Mohammed (6'10" - 250 lbs.) has some value in that can play backup center if one of your centers get injured, exhausted or in foul trouble.[/url]

I don't think he has any value as a player any more (as exhibited by no NBA team employing him), and I don't think the team would use Nazr even in case of emergency. They'd likely just play small. Seriously, you'd have to have injuries to at least three or t of Adams, Kanter, Serge, Collison, McGary, and KD before Nazr would get in a game. But it's good to have high character guys in the locker room.

[Laramie]

I don't think he has any value as a player any more (as exhibited by no NBA team employing him), and I don't think the team would use Nazr even in case of emergency. They'd likely just play small. Seriously, you'd have to have injuries to at least three or t of Adams, Kanter, Serge, Collison, McGary, and KD before Nazr would get in a game. But it's good to have high character guys in the locker room.

Consider what they are paying him, I see your point. Really don't think that Perkins' offered that much of a veteran's voice; his voice was more in the complaint variety. Notice how Westbrook has calmed down since Perkins' departure.

We'll see if they can use Nazr in some future match-ups or situations. Nazr can probably get you more points than Perkins .5 . Much will probably have to do with who is officiating the playoffs. Will they call a lot of 'tick tack fouls' or will they let them play . . .

[Jersey Boss]

I don't think he has any value as a player any more (as exhibited by no NBA team employing him), and I don't think the team would use Nazr even in case of emergency. They'd likely just play small. Seriously, you'd have to have injuries to at least three or t of Adams, Kanter, Serge, Collison, McGary, and KD before Nazr would get in a game. But it's good to have high character guys in the locker room.

Durant has what, seven years in the league? I would opine that is enough time for him to be the "veteran in the locker room" to provide the guidance and leadership a team of young guys would need. Nazr will bring zero to this team and is a waste of money.

[Urbanized]

This is Durant's 9th season. He does what he does, which is obviously amazing, but I don't think he will ever be the calming veteran voice in the locker room.

[Jersey Boss]

9 seasons and he can't provide that kind of leadership. Not good.

[dankrutka]

Where is everyone getting their locker room info concerning KD's lack of leadership? I'm really looking forward to reading it.

[Bellaboo]

9 seasons and he can't provide that kind of leadership. Not good.

Collison's been around since time began, where's his leadership ?

[Jersey Boss]

Where is everyone getting their locker room info concerning KD's lack of leadership? I'm really looking forward to reading it.

From the local press. Articles have been written about Perkins role in the past in providing this type of leadership in the locker room and the acquisition of a player (Nazr) who has not played this year on any other team to provide this leadership. If KD was filling this role, why the need for Nazr?

[Jersey Boss]

Collison's been around since time began, where's his leadership ?

No need to get defensive, just an observation. Collison is not of the stature of KD. No one ever called the Thunder "Collison's team"

[Laramie]

We'll find out pretty soon what's Nazr role.

[Urbanized]

Jersey Boss sortof answered it for me, but yeah, the fact that the media regularly discusses a need for a veteran voice in the locker room - despite having arguably two of the four greatest players in the world on the team, one 8 seasons in and one 9 - is evidence enough that KD probably isn't the locker room sage. And there is nothing at all wrong with that. I don't think Russell is, either; he is more of a floor general. Those are sometimes very different personality types. KD doesn't have to be the sage in the locker room; he just needs to be awesome. It's perfectly fine for someone else to fill that role.

And, regarding Nick, I think he is mostly a leader by example. He is relatively quiet, obviously lots of basketball smarts, but I just don't see him being the guy to get everyone fired up in the locker room or take the lead in calming everyone when the wheels are falling off. Basketball is a chemistry game, probably more than any other major sport.

[dankrutka]

From the local press. Articles have been written about Perkins role in the past in providing this type of leadership in the locker room and the acquisition of a player (Nazr) who has not played this year on any other team to provide this leadership. If KD was filling this role, why the need for Nazr?

Is it possible that it would be useful to have more than one leader in a locker room? To call out KD's leadership because the team brought in a veteran leader when they had an open spot on the roster that wasn't being used seems like baseless speculation. Maybe the Thunder management brought in Nazr because they are trying to recruit him to join the organization in some other capacity after his playing career? Maybe they brought him in to mentor the young bigs on defensive rotations? There are so many unknowns here that branding KD as a failed leader seems irresponsible, especially since I've hardly heard a single negative word about KD as a teammate since he arrived. In fact, I've read a ton of stories about the many ways he has been an exceptional leader.

[dankrutka]

Jersey Boss sortof answered it for me, but yeah, the fact that the media regularly discusses a need for a veteran voice in the locker room - despite having arguably two of the four greatest players in the world on the team, one 8 seasons in and one 9 - is evidence enough that KD probably isn't the locker room sage. And there is nothing at all wrong with that. I don't think Russell is, either; he is more of a floor general. Those are sometimes very different personality types. KD doesn't have to be the sage in the locker room; he just needs to be awesome. It's perfectly fine for someone else to fill that role.

And, regarding Nick, I think he is mostly a leader by example. He is relatively quiet, obviously lots of basketball smarts, but I just don't see him being the guy to get everyone fired up in the locker room or take the lead in calming everyone when the wheels are falling off. Basketball is a chemistry game, probably more than any other major sport.

Just to understand your thinking, who do you consider "locker room sages" around the league?

[Urbanized]

Who knows? I've never been in an NBA locker room. When players are in there, anyway. That is for a general manager to figure out, and to a lesser extent for sports journalists to decipher and report. All I know is that if a guy - apparently - doesn't fill that role after 8 or 9 seasons in the league, that probably isn't going to ever be his strong suit. And that's cool, as long as he's bringing other things to the table. Locker room glue guys are usually pretty cheap. All-world players are not.

[Laramie]

Enough said, don't mess with Nazr Mohammed!

...did you ever see Perkins react like this.

[Bellaboo]

I remember Perkins told some player, maybe Z-Bo, that he wanted to meet him in the parking lot behind the bus.

[Bellaboo]

No need to get defensive, just an observation. Collison is not of the stature of KD. No one ever called the Thunder "Collison's team"

This is in relation to years in the league, to which you brought up.

[SouthsideSooner]

I think this goes a long way in explaining the signing...

"So what's an example of the kind of value Mohammed can bring? Kevin Durant explained, referring back to a 2012 slump during Mohammed's first stint with the Thunder.

“We were going through the same thing we are going through right now,” Durant said. “Lost a few games in a row, we were struggling a bit, locker room was down. We were expected to be a contender. Nobody knew it from the outside, but the inside we were going through it a bit. And after every game, Nazr would invite all of us to his house. It would be Reggie (Jackson), Lazar Hayward, Royal (Ivey), myself, (Derek Fisher). We would just all hang out at his house after every game."

"He opened his doors for us and his wife was amazing just letting the boys hang out. It was just cool, man. It was something I always thought about when he left and all the other guys left. Just going through a tough time and he was always a guy to lean on, someone you could talk to about anything. Like a big brother.”

I think it was a great move on Prestie's part...

Thunder journal: Kevin Durant explains the value of a locker room voice like Nazr Mohammed | News OK

[Urbanized]

That says it all. Again, veteran leadership that has been lacking since he and others left. From Kevin Durant's own mouth.

[dankrutka]

That says it all. Again, veteran leadership that has been lacking since he and others left. From Kevin Durant's own mouth.

Wait. Where in the quote above does it say leadership has been missing? It just says that Nazr was a good leader, not that there's a been a void of leadership, right?

[Laramie]

Dion Waiters' brother passes.

Waiters family is no stranger to death; 4 hours after Dion was born his grandmother died.

Fox29 in Philadelphia
has reported that Dion's brother was murdered. He was among six people murdered in the city on Tuesday.

Dion Waiters' Little Brother Passes Away - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

Wish to bestow our condolences to Dion, his mother & father (Monique & Dion Waiters) and family.

Oklahoma City Thunder Nation.

[Urbanized]

Come on, Dan. You are trying to twist this into something that it is not, which is not at all like your normal posting. I never said that there is ZERO leadership. Only that it obviously has not been there in the way it used to be, which is precisely why they signed Nazr. Durant CLEARLY states this; that it was something that had been missing since the departure of Mohammed and others:

..."It was something I always thought about when he left and all the other guys left. Just going through a tough time and he was always a guy to lean on, someone you could talk to about anything. Like a big brother.”

A team doesn't have to be completely devoid of leadership to still really, REALLY need more of it. The Thunder obviously needed more of it, and KD doesn't shy away from saying so.

[dankrutka]

I'm really not trying to twist anything. I may have missed that second bolded sentence though. And I don't disagree at all that the Thunder may need some form of leadership. I just think it's overly speculative to assume KD is not a leader, which others besides you posted.

Anyway, glad to have Nazr back. He's easy to like.

[Jersey Boss]

Dan, what is your belief on why the Thunder would give up their last roster spot to a guy who has not played in a year and a half? He might be easy to like but c'mon its about winning a championship and this is not a move to get there.