OKC Thunder in the news – Durant snake, Payne future in flux

Welcome to OKC Thunder in the news for Monday September 4, featuring topical news on your favorite team.

Appropriately this installment of OKC Thunder in the news has a labor type focus to it. Specifically TI looks at stories of former players, newly acquired stars and one who appropriately enough may not be working soon.

Durant may succumb to snake tattoo:

The two symbols synonymous with the shade Kevin Durant took from disappointed fans over his departure were the cupcake and snakes. The funny thing about Durant is his seeming Jekyl and Hyde public relations persona. After spending months telling anyone who would listen he and Westbrook never stopped being friends.

Apparently, not speaking to the MVP doesn’t mean the two aren’t still besties. Shortly after his most recent recorded delivery of this message his new KD Red Velvet Nike’s launched. In the promotional material his shoes are pictured surrounded by cupcakes, some with bites out of them. All Thunder fans (and Russell Westbrook specifically) know this is a shot at Durant’s former team.

Consequently, it seems Durant is going full bore and opting to play homage to the other symbol associated with his defection – the snake.  Hence KD is suggesting he’ll symbolize the copious snake emoji’s he is tweeted via a tattoo of one on his arm.

Konata Edwards of Dime Magazine elaborates:

"During an appearance on First We Feast’s Hot Ones, Durant explained his frustration with people who call out his game on social media, and how he might try to respond to people online by getting a tattoo.“I just hate the basketball takes about my game,” Durant said. “That’s what gets me the most. You tell me I can’t shoot, or I can’t post up, or I can’t pass, or I can’t rebound well, or I don’t defend well … you say that, I go off. Not go off, but I’ll definitely try to make you feel stupid. I get the snake (emoji) comments so many times, I might just tattoo one of those on my arm.”"

Stephenson warns he has no friends on court:

Unlike Durant who’ll have to face his former team four times next season Paul George will just have to play his Pacers twice. Since Indiana is an Eastern team George will only play once at Banker’s Life  Fieldhouse. When he does (December 13) he can expect to the gears from some fans. Since Thunder Nation can understand the Pacers remorse we’ll likely afford them some empathy.

Yet, the interesting development is Lance Stephenson is already warning George not to expect a warm welcome from him personally.  Brian Josephs of Bleacher Report interviewed Stephenson, though the pairs discussion is primarily about music. Lance doesn’t get too shady  simply stating his opponents are precisely that.  In fairness however, George’s former teammate can’t say much since he left Indy when he became a free agent. Where the true shade (and gem of the interview) comes is when Lance outs Paul George has recorded a couple songs. The shade comes courtesy of Stephenson opining ” players don’t release their recordings (wait for it) … because they’re scared of the feedback.

Here’s the questions and answers portion which mention George:

"B/R: Is there anybody in the NBA who raps but hasn’t put anything out yet?LS: Paul George got a couple of songs in the studio at his house. Victor Oladipo just put out a song, but he does R&B. He’s singing like Keith Sweat or something. There’s a lot of guys that rap, but they just don’t want to do it. They’re scared of the feedback.B/R: And when he hits the court, are you coming after him?LS: You can’t ask me that. When I’m on the court, I got no friends. I want to go after everybody. It don’t matter who you are, I’m going after you. B/R: Including Paul George?LS: Paul, like I said, that’s my brother, but when it comes to the court, I ain’t got no friends. After the game, we could go out to eat."

George will see Stephenson the first time October 25. Perhaps PG might want to invest in some ear plugs to avoid the breezy Stephenson.

Payne may be on unemployment line:

Appropriately tying into Labor Day there is big news out of Chicago. Cameron Payne who was the key asset going to the Bulls as part of the OKC trade deadline deal may be out of a job. For sure he’ll be sidelined for the next several months as he’s suffered yet another Jones fracture to the same foot. But, the reason he may be unemployed is because the Bulls brass now believe Payne may not have the ilk required to be NBA worthy.

TI covered the item here and offered our opinion. In essence if the Bulls release Payne it means all 3 players OKC sent over in the trade could potentially be gone.  The most shocking part of this news is how the Bulls brass is speaking about Payne’s ability after gushing about him post trade:

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

(this quote is courtesy of Joe Cowley’s Chicago Sun Times article:

"“We knew the second practice [after he was acquired] that he couldn’t play at [an NBA] level,’’ the source said. “The only reason it took two practices was because we thought maybe it was nerves in the first one. “Any [Bulls] coach who says differently is lying. . . . We got ‘Garred’ on that one.’’The source was referring to general manager Gar Forman,"

That’s a fairly shocking admission from the Bulls given Payne was considered the key asset linked to the trade. Then again, the Jimmy Butler trade with the Timberwolves netted Chicago Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine. Furthermore, the Bulls deepest rotation position is the backcourt.

I guess if Cam wants to come back and do pregame dance routines with Westbrook, OKC Thunder fans and Russ would welcome him.

That wraps up OKC Thunder in the news Labor Day edition. Enjoy and be sure to make Thunderous Intentions a part of your daily fix.