Welcome to OKC Thunder – In the news for Sunday, June 11 featuring topical daily news on your favorite team.
In the news today, pundits begin their speculation on Westbrook’s future, Kevin Durant’s loyalty is further examined and TI’s player reviews continue with Semaj Christon on deck.
Westbrook’s Future:
Expect plenty of trade Westbrook articles as Sam Presti prepares to offer him the Designated Veteran Extension. The dilemma will be whether this deal will hamstring OKC for years to come. Many analysts will suggest the Thunder have no chance of winning the title if Westbrook signs this contract. In fairness, this deal will leave the coffers relatively bare. But, this is to assume Presti has lost his ability to draft well and get the better of trades.
Sam Quinn of The Sports Post offers his take on the situation complete with a full salary outline. He also opines on Blake Griffin isn’t the answer nor is he financially feasible.
"There’s a much more interesting question surrounding this offseason for the Thunder. Sam Presti will present Russell Westbrook with a super max contract valued at $205 million over five years. If Westbrook signs it, the Thunder continue to build as is and likely try to seek out some shooting on the trade market. If he doesn’t?Well, the Thunder just lost Kevin Durant to free agency a year ago, and got a pretty meager return on James Harden when they dealt him. I highly doubt Oklahoma City could live with losing three generational talents in a six-year span without getting much in return. If Westbrook decides to test free agency, I’d say there’s a reasonable chance that the Thunder trade him before that happens."
KD’s Loyalty continues to take hits:
Sean Gregory of Sports Illustrated dives into loyalty comparing the current drama between President Trump and his former FBI Director James Comey with Kevin Durant abandoning the OKC Thunder for the Warriors super team.
"But darn if loyalty isn’t a touchy subject that riles everyone up.For Durant is sure under fire. He’s one of the more graceful, enticing players the NBA has ever seen, and an overall good guy—remember his touching 2014 MVP news conference, when he thanked his teammates and paid tribute to his mom while fighting back tears? Still, many fans and critics can’t forgive him for supposedly taking the easy way out, signing a free agent deal with Golden State, a team that had won a record 73 regular season games without him last season, and worse, had beaten his Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference finals. “That was tough for anybody, anybody’s that’s competitive, to watch,” Los Angeles Clipper coach Doc Rivers said in a recent interview. “He lost, and then he joined.”"
Semaj Christon season review:
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
Thunderous Intentions continues our season reviews for each of the 15 roster players. Semaj Christon is the currently featured player. Make sure to check them all.
"Semaj Christon may not ever amount to much in the NBA, but he sure will be remembered long after he leaves. That’s because Christon did what no one else could manage on April 9th.With Russell Westbrook in full on beastmode, none of his OKC Thunder teammates could hit a shot. After several wide open misses, Westbrook passed the ball to Christon who promptly buried his corner three. The resulting effect cemented Westbrook’s name in NBA history annuls and simultaneously inked Christon as the answer to a trivia question."
That’s if for OKC Thunder – In the news, June11. Enjoy your Sunday and see you back here tomorrow