OKC Thunder In the news: Blake Griffin still on OKC radar, Adams inspiration to local Kiwi team
Welcome to OKC Thunder – In the news for Friday, June 16 featuring topical daily news on your favorite team.
With the new champions crowned the OKC Thunder along with the rest of the NBA have their sights firmly set on two dates. Six days from now on June 22 the 2017 NBA draft occurs. And, the real excitement happens exactly two weeks from now at midnight when the NBA free agency moratorium tips off. Given another upsurge in team salaries due to the big TV funding pouring in, it’s sure to be another active July 1.
Bake Griffin apparently remains on Thunders radar:
Despite being relatively hampered by their current salary constraints, the OKC Thunder just can’t seem to bury the impossible logistics involved in a certain Oklahoman being on the team’s radar.
One of the main architects behind the formulation of the current super team Golden State Warriors was “The Logo” Jerry West. So, with news he’ll be joining the LA Clippers there was bound to be rampant speculation on what his immediate effect would be on the squad. Surely, he offers a positive presence as he joins the Clippers brain trust. That said, West’s tenure begins during an active and tenuous offseason. This due to the fact several core members will be entering free agency. Among those unquestionably the two key cogs are Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
Given OKC’ Thuder’s salary constraints Blake Griffin had long been considered a non-option. That was until LA Times scribe Broderick Turner reopened the proverbial can of worms.
"Griffin can sign a five-year deal worth $175 million with L.A., or sign a four-year deal worth $130 million with another team. The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder are two teams that will make a bid for Griffin, according to several executives."
Adams presence a factor for home town team:
Steven Adams is in full on offseason work out mode as he preps to improve his game over the summer. Back home his presence on site in Kilbirnie, New Zealand has been a boost for his Saints. Adams is pushing the team by joining some practices and also helping them improve by getting them to communicate on defense. Excerpts from Liam Hyslop’s Stuff.co nz article speaks to the effect Adams is having on the squad.
"The Wellington Saints’ final four preparations have been given an intensity boost by the presence of Steven Adams this week….The 23-year-old Kiwi is one of the NBA’s premier centres, but that didn’t stop him mixing it up with the Saints at training. It turned what was meant to be a light day of training for coach Kevin Braswell’s side into one of their more intense practise runs of the season. They went so hard on Monday with Steve in I had to tune it back today,” Braswell said after leading the team through a light session.Braswell said defence would be key to both the semifinal and final, should they make it, with Adams helping out in that regard on Monday. “One of the things in the States that they really put pressure on kids to do is talk and at 23 he’s been over there so long that he gets it.“So defensively he had guys in here who we wouldn’t call the greatest defenders every day, but they looked like they were the best defenders ever just because of the communication [from Steve].”"
Draft Prospect previews roll on:
More from Thunderous Intentions
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- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
In preparation for the the 2017 NBA Draft, Thunderous Intentions keeps you in the know with the Draft Prospect Series. To wit, Nick Delahanty previews D.J. Wilson he Michigan power forward.
"For each NBA Draft prospect, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer provides ceiling comparisons for each player. O’Connor lists Tayshaun Prince, Lamar Odom and Perry Jones III as ceiling comparisons for Wilson.Due to each their length and ability offensively, you can see why O’Connor compares Wilson to these three players. Thunder fans remember Perry Jones III, as the 2012 first round pick spent his three NBA seasons in Oklahoma City. Prince and Odom both developed into successful NBA players, as they were quality role players that understood what they had to do to help their team win. Both had the ability to score the basketball, but developed their overall games to impact the game in numerous ways."
Catch the entire series featuring the top 60 plus prospects with reviews on each and their potential fit with the OKC Thunder.
That’s if for OKC Thunder – In the news, June16. Thanks for kick starting your Friday with us, see you back here tomorrow