4D here. I got to be honest with you guys. I love the summer league. Last year’s summer league was very special to me. Due to a lack of national coverage, the summer league was the first time I seen Durant and Green team up. Last summer Westbrook showed off his potential as he blew by the competition and was named first team (even above Derrick Rose). The best part was those generic jerseys with Oklahoma City on the front. The first game is at 4PM CDT tomorrow, don’t forget to watch!
Summer league tidbits | NewsOK.com
Thunder shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha was named to the all-summer league first team in 2007 in Orlando.
Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Interest in Millsap may be dwindling
And if the Thunder really aren't serious about making an offer, and Millsap doesn't want to accept a multi-year deal starting at anything less than $7 million, his only option might be to play next season for Utah's $1.03 million qualifying offer, then become an unrestricted free agent in 2010.
Twelve Thunder players to watch in the summer league | NewsOK.com
DeVon Hardin: One of the players offered in the rescinded Tyson Chandler trade, the 6-foot-11 post player has an opportunity to make an impression during summer leagues after playing overseas last season.
Hedo Turkoglu's decision has reshaped the NBA's free-agent market - ESPN
The Thunder will be value players rather than big-game hunters, looking for opportunistic deals between now and the trade deadline. A year from now, they could have as much as $20 million in cap space, two lottery picks (theirs and Phoenix's) in a strong draft, and one of the league's best young rosters. About the only way to screw it up would be to force a big contract into the picture this summer, and with the team already selling out every game, they don't see any need to rush it.
Summer league rules | NewsOK.com
NBA summer leagues use different rules than regular-season games. The most unusual rule is players are allowed 10 fouls. Portland center Greg Oden fouled out in his summer league debut in 2007.
Summer only starting point for Oklahoma City Thunder | NewsOK.com
Only one NBA team is participating in two summer leagues — the Oklahoma City Thunder. For good reason. More basketball means more opportunities for general manager Sam Presti and the coaching staff to finalize their training camp roster.
NBA Sunday: All Eyes on Utah - Basketball News & NBA Rumors - HOOPSWORLD
Fine, Oklahoma City. We get it, but if you don't want to pay $11 million a season on Millsap, why not at least take a sniff at $9 per season with David Lee? To be truthful, those players don't exactly seem like bottom of the barrel signings, and either one would give the Thunder the sort of rebounding and toughness in the post they really, really need. Do they think Chris Bosh is happening next summer? Unless the answer is "yes," there's absolutely no reason not to go after one of these two power forwards right now. Both would help, and both are young enough to grow with the fantastic core already in place there.
Artest: Lakers need to be 'hoodalized'? - Sports Rumors - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
During a recent interview on ESPN, newly signed Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest(notes) said the team needed to be "hoodalized.''
Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Paul Millsap valuable but not a franchise changer
Millsap is a fine player but not a perennial All-Star. And he's certainly not a franchise player. He's a relentless, tough, no-nonsense guy. He gathers up the ball from off the floor, the rim, the glass and the loading docks, if necessary, and keeps it in play. There's not a team in the league that wouldn't want him.
David Lee, Paul Millsap may change teams in NBA free agency - Scott Howard-Cooper - SI.com
Paul Millsap, Jazz: Utah got forced into a corner Tuesday, when power forward Carlos Boozer reversed his previous stand and decided to not become a free agent, and center Mehmet Okur also stayed in his contract. The decision on the three big men evaporated into the unwanted position of the decision on one, a call that doesn't allow the Jazz to let Boozer walk and retain Millsap with a smaller price tag. The Jazz did not want to go into the luxury tax, but keeping Millsap, on their own or by matching an offer sheet, will push them far over the line and require a trade at some point to dump salary. (Any takers for Andrei Kirilenko with two years and $34.3 million remaining? Anyone?) Outsiders negotiating with Millsap will hope to turn Utah's precarious financial situation into an opening.
Jazz turns down Rockets trade offer | Truth&Rumors | FanNation
The Jazz, it's been learned and confirmed, engaged in recent trade talk with the Houston Rockets about a possible deal that would have brought seven-time NBA All-Star swingman Tracy McGrady to Utah for small forward Andrei Kirilenko. The Jazz, however, have no current desire to make the trade -- for reasons including, but not necessarily limited to, McGrady's health situation and contract status
Former Midwest City, OU standout De'Angelo Alexander back in spotlight | NewsOK.com
"It has always been my dream to have an opportunity to play in my hometown, even before they had a team. I was thinking two steps ahead," Alexander said.
Free Agent Watch Day 5 - Basketball News & NBA Rumors - HOOPSWORLD
Utah free agent Paul Millsap should be very worried if Lee's price drops. An undersized power forward known for his toughness and interior presence, Millsap was seen as a cost-effective alternative to Lee this offseason.
2009 Celtics Summer League Team Preview | Sports of Boston
Swift is the most interesting prospect on the list. He’s a huge center who’s yet to prove himself in the NBA. Due to injuries, Swift has managed to only play 97 games in four NBA seasons. Still, with his relative youth, 23 years old, and shot blocking skills, Swift could become a player similar to Denver’s Chris Anderson at a third of the price. It also helps that Danny Ainge has a huge man-crush on the guy and wanted to draft him the year he drafted Al Jefferson.
Summer jobs for bench riders - The Boston Globe
The Celtics’ team for the Orlando Summer League, which begins play against the Utah Jazz tomorrow, will provide a test to measure the progress of J.R. Giddens, Gabe Pruitt, and Bill Walker. None of the three figured into the Celtics’ plans last season, and they faded beyond obscurity in the playoffs as coach Doc Rivers went with an eight-man rotation.
As a special pre-summer league treat, here are some youtube videos of a few of our roster members. Enjoy!
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