OKC Thunder in the news: Irving demands, Wall signs and Westbrook waits

Welcome to OKC Thunder – In the news for Saturday, July 22, featuring topical daily news on your favorite team and the NBA.

OKC Thunder in the news  for July 22 continues to focus on Russell Westbrook’s extension and team roster additions..

Prior to jumping into the news, let’s take a moment to discuss the mic drop heard round the Twitterverse. Kyrie Irving shocked the entire NBA with news he’s demanding a trade. Brian Windhorst broke the story and suggests this situation has been bubbling for well over a year.

Irving is said to be keen on joining the Spurs or Bulls (until Butler was traded) with Minnesota and potentially the Knicks a player. The latter may be more a desire of the Mecca than Irvings however. And, short of Cleveland landing both Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis it’s likely there wouldn’t be sufficient assets to make the deal work. Suffice to say the art of the Process may be headed to Cleveland sooner than later.

Russell Westbrook’s extension more than dollars and cents:

Some have stated the 2017 offseason has provided more action than this Spring’s playoffs. Adding relevance to that argument was perhaps the deepest draft since 2003. Multiple trades and copious free agent player movement followed. The latter witnessing an onslaught of Eastern All-Stars heading West at historic rates. And, for the first time in history four players hit the summer with the opportunity to collect the newly formed super max contracts. Stephen Curry and James Harden got their deals resolved early. On Friday, John Wall joined the party. This leaves one super star remaining on the eligible list –Russell Westbrook.

All indications are Westbrook will stay, but his decision isn’t solely based on dollars and cents. Beyond the specifics of the super max deal there are two key additional factors.  As Westbrook demonstrated throughout this past season winning is his primary driving force.  Therefore, it stands to reason winning a title ranks atop his list.  Yet, in order to hoist the elusive Larry O’Brien trophy a cohesive squad is essential.  If last July taught Thunder fans anything the overall composition and fit is a major determining factor.  When Durant departed pundits assumed it was due to tension between him and Westbrook. But, as Brayden Baine of Sir Charles In Charge points out, it was far more likely to do with fit and roster talent.

"Some were saying that it was because of frustrations Durant had with the front office about not getting the right tools around him to win a championship. Others were saying that he left because he didn’t want to play with Westbrook anymore. While there is a possibility that both of those reports are true, I only believe one of them."

Westbrook’s past season erased misconceptions:

Further, Baine’s article speaks to the previous misconception Westbrook’s on-court demeanor and media dislike represented his true persona.

"The way people view Westbrook is the result of the national media. Everybody always hears about his interviews and press conferences and how “disrespectful” he can be to reporters and how “mean” he can be. But if you look around the league and in other sports, it’s not just him. Believe it or not, a lot of people don’t like being questioned about everything they do on and off the court so maybe sometimes athletes get a little frustrated and express their feelings about it. It’s not a bad thing.That kind of stuff led to this reputation … nobody likes him and doesn’t want to play with him because he is always angry. I believe that during this past season, we got a good understanding of what people really think of him."

OKC Thunder sign Dakari Johnson to 2-year guaranteed deal:

While Thunder Nation awaits Westbrook’s decision, Sam Presti continues to comprise the 2017-18 roster. A key addition came via the signing of Dakari Johnson with both Tony Heim and I diving into the options this deal could represents. Heim specifically outlines Johnson’s assets in his must read offering:

"That’s the bet Oklahoma City is taking with Johnson. The center’s post moves are already much more advanced than Adams, and he’s show the propensity to bring the ball up the court when he grabs a long rebound. Johnson’s defense in the post isn’t going to impact the game like Adams but he’s also not a negative on that end either.Dakari still has hours of work to put in to crack the Thunder’s rotation. But 2 years at slightly over $2 million? You won’t get a better deal for a player that could potentially crack the rotation"

My offering looked at the youngsters growth, and what options he affords Presti:

"There will always be rumors and speculation revolving around Enes Kanter’s future with the OKC Thunder. Kanter represents the teams most tradeable reserve asset But, conversely is beloved among his teammates and within Oklahoma City. Ultimately, Johnson provides GM Sam Presti with the leverage he needs if and when the time arises to move Kanter.Clearly, his continual growth led to the contract. Furthermore, at 21, the center offers a tangible asset who can grow within the current roster.  Dakari Johnson represents the perfect role model for hard consistent effort. And for that, Johnson can now add dream maker to his bio because he channeled them into his reality."

OKC Thunder sign Yannis Morin:

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In what could become the OKC Thunder’s first 2-way contract Sam Presti added center Yannis Morin. Coincidentally, that’s 2 centers signed in the last few days. The French man played in Orlando with the clubs Summer League team. His stats were pedestrian at best and he’s 23. So, it’s hard to imagine Morin will play a key role. Rather, it’s more likely the brain trust saw something in him they want to take a closer look at in training camp which is likely why  he’s on a non-guaranteed contract.  Erik Horne of OK News offers the details:

"The 23-year-old Morin (6-foot-11, 210 pounds), played on the Thunder’s summer league team in Orlando, averaging 2.2 points and 4.0 rebounds in five games. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game for Cholet Basket of the LNB Pro A league of France in 2014-15.Morin will be a training camp invite on a non-guaranteed contract. With the Thunder’s roster currently at 16 players (including unsigned rookie Terrance Ferguson), it’s likely Morin could play for the G-League Oklahoma City Blue this season."

That wraps up OKC Thunder In the News for July 22. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Remember to  heck back with TI tomorrow for the latest news on your favorite team.