Oklahoma City Thunder Trade Rumors

Russell Westbrook agrees to 5-year contract extension with Oklahoma City Thunder
January 19
The Oklahoman
 
"Russell Westbrook has been locked up. The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed its All-Star point guard to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday. Details of the deal were not released, per team policy. But according to Yahoo! Sports, which first reported the deal, Westbrook will earn $80 million over five years, the maximum number of years for which he could have re-signed. The deal, which will go into effect next season, would keep Westbrook in Oklahoma City through the 2016-17 season."
Bobcats acquire B.J. Mullens
December 19
Charlotte Observer
 
"The Charlotte Bobcats are acquiring 7-footer B.J. Mullens from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Bobcats are giving up a second-round pick in 2013 and are receiving cash considerations. Mullens, who played one year at Ohio State before turning pro, has played sparingly the past two seasons with the Thunder. He averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds."
Guard Daequan Cook agrees to two-year extension
December 10
The Oklahoman
 
"Restricted free agent guard Daequan Cook on Friday agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Thunder. The deal, worth $6.5 million, will keep the sharpshooter in Oklahoma City through the 2012-13 season. Cook did not participate in the start of practice Friday while waiting for the deal to be finalized by the league office. But he will join the team Saturday after the contract was approved late Friday night. Cook's agent, Mike Conley Sr., in a telephone interview with The Oklahoman called the continued relationship a good fit. "He always wanted to come back, but it had to make sense for him," Conley Sr. said. "They were able to do that, and he's looking forward to the year." The"
Nate Robinson not returning to Thunder
December 9
The Oklahoman
 
"On the day before players could show up for the start of training camps, the Oklahoma City Thunder officially lost its first body in part because of lingering effects caused by the NBA lockout. On Friday afternoon, we'll discover how many more camp casualties the Thunder must add to its count. Guard Nate Robinson became the first victim. The explosive 5-foot-9 reserve will not report to camp and could soon part ways with the team. Thunder general manager Sam Presti and Robinson's agent, Aaron Goodwin, mutually agreed it would be best for Robinson to remain in his native Seattle rather than join the team. Robinson, who was acquired in the midseason trade that sent Jeff Green and Nenad"
Sam Presti begins talks with Russell Westbrook's agent
December 1
The Oklahoman
 
"On the first day that NBA front office executives were allowed to resume communication with player agents, Thunder general manager Sam Presti began preliminary discussions with Russell Westbrook's agents on a contact extension. Westbrook is now eligible to receive an extension to his rookie scale contract after playing three seasons. A potential deal cannot be signed until Dec. 9, when the free-agent signing period officially begins. But a new deal would not take effect until the 2012-13 season. "We made calls to all kinds of (representatives of) free agents, as well as our own players to touch base and talk about whatever issues we need to cover with each player respectively," Presti said"
Russell Westbrook's contract questions focus on how much and how long
November 27
The Oklahoman
 
"The last time we saw Russell Westbrook, he was standing almost front and center at the final National Basketball Players Association news conference. Sporting a red hooded sweatshirt with a black backpack strapped to his shoulders, the Oklahoma City Thunder's point guard, at times, appeared solemn and slightly confused as he flanked union chief Billy Hunter while he delivered the news that would further delay Westbrook's long-term security. The next time we see Westbrook, he could be just days away from finally being signing a long-term deal that secures him as the Thunder's second significant linchpin. With the NBA lockout set to be lifted, and the league now just days away from ratifying"
Kevin Durant reportedly in talks with German team
November 18
The Oklahoman
 
"Thunder star Kevin Durant is in ongoing talks with a German team to play for them during the NBA lockout, his agent told ESPN.com. Agent Aaron Goodwin said talks with BBC Bayreuth are "ongoing," but he contradicted a media report that said the deal is in the final staGes."
OKC Thunder's Serge Ibaka signs deal to play in Spain during NBA lockout
October 25
The Oklahoman
 
"Serge Ibaka has signed a contract to play in Spain during the NBA lockout. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward becomes the team's third player to opt to play overseas during the NBA's labor dispute, which is now costing the league regular season games. Ibaka signed a two-month contract with Spanish power Real Madrid, his agent Andy Miller has confirmed to The Oklahoman. The Spanish web site Marca.com first reported the deal Tuesday morning. According to the report, Ibaka's contract will pay him the equivalent of $140,000 per month."
Thunder players planning voluntary workouts
September 27
The Oklahoman
 
"Bargaining sessions between the NBA and the players' union are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in New York, but Thunder players already have a contingency plan if no progress is made concerning the league's lockout. Pending significant progress in the new collective bargaining agreement, Thunder players will gather next week in Lexington, Ky., for their second voluntary minicamp session in the last three weeks. Two weeks ago, 10 players on the Thunder roster met for four days in Austin, Texas, on the campus of the University of Texas. That camp was set up by reserve point guard Royal Ivey, who is on the verge of earning his bachelor's degree from UT this fall."
OKC Thunder's Kevin Durant undecided on signing overseas deal
September 25
The Oklahoman
 
"Kevin Durant still hasn't decided whether he'll sign a deal to play overseas. The unpredictability of the NBA lockout has disrupted the Thunder star's decision-making process. Saturday, though, Durant was firm in what he wants to do. "Stay here," Durant, the reigning two-time scoring champ, told The Oklahoman on Saturday while promoting his upcoming film "Switch." But, again, that's now. "That could change tomorrow," Durant added. "That could change in the next hour.""
NBA wants 3rd round in draft
September 7
SheridanHoops.com
 
"After an overnight flight connecting through Helsinki, Finland, I bumped into a scout for the Denver Nuggets near the tourist information booth at the quaint little airport here where the second round of EuroBasket is taking place. Whether he knows it or not, he may be here scouting future third-round draft picks. That's right: Third round. SheridanHoops.com has learned that NBA owners have proposed adding a third round to the annual draft, a proposal that the players' union has countered by offering an array of changes to the draft that would help address the owners' desire for more competitive balance."
NBA Lockout Update: Sides are closer than they're saying
September 6
SheridanHoops.com
 
"Here's the dirty little secret about the NBA lockout, despite what both sides — the owners and the players — would have you believe: They are a lot closer to a settlement than most people realize. I know this because I talk regularly with a bunch of important people who tell me important things, and I am going to explain why I believe a settlement will be reached that will not only save the season, but also enable the NBA to have an "all is forgiven" honeymoon period (similar to what the NFL just experienced following its labor settlement) in which the frenzy of free agents signings, trades, training camps and exhibition games will make everyone forget all of the doomsday talk they've been"
Thunder's Kevin Durant working on deal to star in film
August 22
The Oklahoman
 
"Kevin Durant is ready for his close up. The Oklahoma City Thunder star is on the verge of finalizing a deal to star in a major Warner Bros. film, The Oklahoman has learned. The film, which has a basketball subplot, has not yet been named, but it's scheduled to go into production in mid-September, according to sources. Filming location for the feature-length picture has been narrowed to Oklahoma City and Baton Rouge, La. Neither Durant nor his representatives could be reached for comment. The film, however, will mark the biggest off-the-court venture Durant has undertaken in his four-year pro basketball career. It also will solidify Durant's growing status as a superstar. The film's"
Report: Kevin Durant's agent in talks with CSKA Moscow
August 18
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"Remember how the head of the EuroLeague said the elite teams of Europe were not going to get in the "rent an NBA star" game, that they needed stable rosters? (To be fair, I had heard similar noises from some agents.) You can pretty much throw that out the window. Kevin Durant's agent is in talks with Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow, according to a report on the Russian Web site championat.com (via HoopsHype). He reportedly would make a $1 million a month salary and of course would have an opt-out to return to the Thunder should the lockout end."
Next bargaining session coming early September?
August 17
CBSSports.com
 
"It took 46 days for the NBA and its players' union after the lockout began July 1. It didn't go all that well. Rhetoric from both sides ramped up, lawsuits started flying around and most importantly, there wasn't any movement towards the middle. Then David Stern accused the union of cancelling a meeting last week with the union responding that Billy Hunter had been told Stern wasn't going to be available for two weeks. So as you can tell, this is all going just super. But they're finally going to try again sometime in early September, according to Newsday. At this point, the union will host an executive meeting in New York at the end of August. The anticipation is the union and league"
David Stern: NBA to look at contraction
August 15
CBSSports.com
 
"The NBA currently has thirty teams, but the league's commissioner, David Stern, seems open to the possibility that that number of franchises could shrink in the future. Speaking on an ESPN.com podcast, Stern stated that there is some interest in contraction from both the league and players sides and that the subject will be picked up after the current Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations are completed. "[Contraction] is not a subect that we're against," Stern said. "In fact, when you talk about revenue sharing, a number of teams have said that if you have a team that is perpetually going to be a recipient, aren't you better off with the ability to buy them in? Because between the"
Kevin Durant sets Oct. 1 deadline for potential overseas decision
August 15
Washington Post
 
"When he walked into the sweltering high school gym in Northeast Washington on Saturday, Kevin Durant was wearing a plain white T-shirt, basketball shorts, flip-flops and his trademark backpack strapped on his shoulders. Fans inside didn't swarm him or swoon as the two-time NBA all-star quietly breezed across the court to shake hands and then crack some jokes with Jeff Green, the former Georgetown star and Durant's former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate. Durant signed every autograph, posed for every picture, and smiled at every kid that approached him after he finished scoring 44 points and handed out the game-winning assist in a Goodman League victory at Spingarn High School, where NBA"
Durant joining Deron Williams in Turkey?
August 10
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Turkish team Besiktas doesn't want to just settle for having New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams on its roster and Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant in conversations on a possible deal. ESPN reports that the Turkish team is "in the early stages of contract negotiations" with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant."
There's smoke… and fire in talk of Durant joining Turkish team Besiktas
August 10
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"Oh, no. Not another "NBA Player rumored to be considering playing overseas" post. These are all the same. That Turkish team Besiktas keeps saying it's talking to players and then nothing happens, players won't even confirm they had the talks. It's all a bunch of… oh, wait. Agent Aaron Goodwin told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that he has met with officials from Turkish club Besiktas and has likewise begun exploring opportunities for Durant in Spain and Russia. Goodwin added that playing in China is not something Durant is considering at this time. "The Turkish option is very intriguing," Goodwin said. "We're looking at other countries as well. Kevin hasn't agreed to play anywhere yet, but"
Agent: Kevin Durant in negotiations
August 10
ESPN.com
 
"Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant is in the early stages of contract negotiations with the same Turkish team that has signed Deron Williams and has been pursuing Kobe Bryant, according to Durant's agent. Agent Aaron Goodwin told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that he has met with officials from Turkish club Besiktas and has likewise begun exploring opportunities for Durant in Spain and Russia. Goodwin added that playing in China is not something Durant is considering at this time. "The Turkish option is very intriguing," Goodwin said. "We're looking at other countries as well. Kevin hasn't agreed to play anywhere yet, but we're looking for the best fit.""
Kobe, Durant Rose well paid for Philippines pickup game
July 25
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"You make any money this weekend? Kobe Bryant did. So did Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and the rest of the NBA players who went to the Philippines for a couple of exhibition games over the weekend where they beat some local teams. In a story about players being serious looking overseas, Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated dropped this knowledge. Star-studded exhibition games like the two taking place in the Philippines this weekend are proving to be quite profitable as well, with one source with knowledge of the deals saying the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Chicago's Derrick Rose are being paid more than $400,000 apiece for their weekend of work (reminder: tax-free)."
Report: Kevin Durant's agent exploring overseas options
July 12
The Oklahoman
 
"Would Kevin Durant consider playing overseas? The agent for the Oklahoma City Thunder's biggest star says his client can't rule it out if the NBA's labor dispute leads to a prolonged lockout. According to a report by SI.com, Aaron Goodwin is exploring playing opportunities overseas for Durant, the NBA's reign two-time scoring champion. "If the opportunity presents itself and the lockout persists, he's going to have to consider it just as other players are considering it," Goodwin told SI.com. "Kevin has shown some interest to know what the situation is and we'll reach out to the players' association and make sure that they're aligned with the guys in case they do take an offer. But I think"
OKC Thunder signs Nazr Mohammed to contract extension
June 30
The Oklahoman
 
"Nazr Mohammed is coming back to Oklahoma City. The veteran center has agreed to a one-year extension with the Thunder that will keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent on Friday. Terms of the deal were not immediately known. But according to a report by Yahoo! Sports, the contract is for $3.75 million. It makes Mohammed, who backed up starter Kendrick Perkins last year, a relatively inexpensive but reliable option off the bench. Mohammed made $6,883,800 last season, and the reported value of his new deal is slightly more than $2 million above the minimum salary for a player with 10-plus years of service. Both Mohammed, a 13-year veteran, and Thunder management had expressed their"
It only gets harder for owners, players; owners expected to push for $45 million hard cap
June 30
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Mike Monroe
"The NBA's Board of Governors met Tuesday in Dallas and heard a report on collective bargaining from Spurs owner Peter Holt, chairman of its labor relations committee. The league wouldn't reveal if the board officially authorized locking out the players once the clock strikes midnight Thursday, the end of the collective bargaining agreement that's been in place since 2005, but it doesn't matter. As commissioner David Stern has warned already, such a vote is a mere formality and can be conducted by any means at any time. The first lockout authorization via text message may be mere hours away. Holt's committee will meet with the negotiating committee of the National Basketball Player's"
Thunder signs Nazr Mohammed to contract extension
June 29
The Oklahoman
 
"The Oklahoma City Thunder has agreed to a contract extension with center Nazr Mohammed, effectively keeping the 13-year veteran from becoming an unrestricted free agent on Friday. Terms of the deal, which could be announced as early as Tuesday, were not immediately known. But the extension is for one year. As a player with 10-plus years of NBA service, Mohammed's is entitled to a minimum contract of $1,399,507. Mohammed earned $6,883,800 this season. Both Mohammed and Thunder management had expressed their desire to get a new deal done. "We are pleased to be able to keep Nazr in the Thunder family," Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in statement announcing the deal. "He is a valuable"
OKC Thunder exercise contract options on 5 players
June 29
The Oklahoman
 
"The Oklahoma City Thunder has exercised contract options on five players. The Thunder exercised its fourth-year options on guard James Harden, forward Serge Ibaka, guard Eric Maynor and center Byron Mullens, as well as its third-year option on center Cole Aldrich. Harden, who was selected third overall by the Thunder in the 2009 NBA Draft, averaged 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in his second season. Harden appeared in all 82 games for the Thunder and was selected to the 2011 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam Sophomore Team. Ibaka, the 24th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, appeared in all 82 games (44 starts) for the Thunder during the 2010-11 season. The"
Thunder makes Daequan Cook a restricted free agent
June 28
The Oklahoman
 
"The Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday extended Daequan Cook a qualifying offer, which officially makes the sharpshooting guard a restricted free agent this summer. The team had until June 30 to exercise the option. By doing so, the Thunder now has the right to match any contract offer Cook might receive from another team this summer. Cook, entering his fifth season out of Ohio State, on numerous occasions has voiced his desire to return to the Thunder next season. The feeling is believed to be mutual on the part of the organization. In 43 games, Cook averaged 5.6 points while connecting on a career-high 42.2 percent of his 3-point attempts in just 13.9 minutes per game. Cook's perimeter"
Thunder selects Boston College guard Reggie Jackson with No. 24 pick
June 24
The Oklahoman
 
"This is what the NBA Draft becomes when you're no longer in the lottery. Home runs are replaced by singles and bunts. Slam dunks are replaced by chest passes and charges. With the 24th overall pick Thursday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder came away with Reggie Jackson, a 6-3 guard out of Boston College. It's a selection that has everything to do with tomorrow rather than today. Jackson, who averaged 18.2 points, 4.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals as a junior with the Eagles, also isn't a player who will threaten to take anyone else's spot. One report early Thursday morning claimed the Thunder was seeking to package reserve point guard Eric Maynor to move into the top 15 for a shot"
Sam Presti, Thunder might opt for some draft-day maneuvering
June 23
The Oklahoman
 
"The NBA Draft is Thursday, but to a certain extent it will be just like any other day for Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti. "In this business, there's never really a period in time when you're not thinking on how to improve because we're all competitive," Presti said. "It's something we prepare for throughout the year. Every team looks at it as an opportunity to improve, but every year draft day is different." OKC owns the No. 24 selection, but the Thunder might opt to do some maneuvering. As Presti said during his exit interview last month, his team likely will have an opportunity to maybe "move up, move back, move out." Just 34 years old, Presti already has participated"
Could Duke's Kyle Singler be a perfect fit for the Thunder?
June 23
The Oklahoman
 
"Who is Kyle Singler? Is he the perfect player for the Thunder to select with the 24th overall pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft? Or is he just another smoke screen, the latest in a long line of prospects that prognosticators have fallen for before general manager Sam Presti suckered them with a pump fake and went in another direction? We're finally just a few hours from finding out. But of all the players over the past four drafts who have widely been pegged to get plucked by the Thunder franchise, Singler, the 6-9 forward from Duke, might just be the most accurate projection since Kevin Durant was the no-brainer second overall choice in 2007. If we've learned anything over the years when"
Trade bait: Thunder has options for Thursday's draft
June 21
The Oklahoman
 
"While NBA teams go fishing for new talent during Thursday night's draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder might be tempted to cut bait. This week's draft looks like it will be an uneventful evening for the Thunder, whose lone pick comes at No. 24 overall. General manager Sam Presti has had some notable fishing expeditions on draft night, but will he opt to sit back and watch Thursday? Owning a late pick in a weak draft is not an enviable position. As usual, Presti is tight-lipped on what might transpire. He is wearing his poker face and has no tell. Trading the No. 24 pick for a selection (or two) in a future draft is one option, as are a draft-and-stash, trading the pick and player(s) for a"
Thunder is in perfect position to snag a sleeper
June 20
The Oklahoman
 
"No surefire stars are believed to be in this year's NBA Draft. But one thing every draft has is sleepers. And the Thunder is in prime position to potentially get a good one. With the 24th overall pick, Oklahoma City can possibly come away with the steal of the draft Thursday night. The mid-to-late 20s has historically been a hotbed for players that fall through the cracks before ultimately carving out solid careers. Each of the past 10 drafts has yielded players in that range who have become valuable role players, elite scorers and even All-Stars. Can the Thunder find that next gem? That's the biggest challenge facing the franchise in this year's draft. But the beauty of picking 24th is"
Will Thunder take draft-and-stash approach again?
June 19
The Oklahoman
 
"There's a good chance that when the 2011 NBA Draft concludes Thursday night you won't be able to pronounce the name of the Oklahoma City Thunder's first-round selection. There's an even better chance you won't see that player in a Thunder uniform next season. This year's draft is shaping up to feature a heavy dose of international prospects, and when the Thunder picks at No. 24 it's highly possible the franchise employs the draft-and-stash approach, allowing whatever player it picks to continue developing overseas rather than immediately coming to the NBA. "These guys are the ultimate draft-and-stash guys," said ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla of the Thunder. "I think this is the perfect year"
Daequan Cook has 'gut feeling' he'll stay with the OKC Thunder
June 16
The Oklahoman
 
"Daequan Cook's agent says he's fielded calls from several teams interested in the restricted free agent. But the Oklahoma City reserve guard said he wants to stay with the Thunder. "That's where I want to be," Cook told the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News on Tuesday. "That's where I fit in. My gut feeling right now is that's where I'm going to end up. I had a great season there. I helped out a lot. (They like) my habits, becoming not just a better player on the court, but better off the court. It all starts there." Cook, who was in his hometown this week for his annual basketball camp, averaged 5.6 points and 14 minutes last season for the Thunder. Though he played in only 43 regular-season"
What Could Pick No. 24 Get The Thunder?
June 2
The Oklahoman
 
"Many Thunder fans are probably still recovering from a post-playoff hangover. But the NBA Draft is now just three weeks away, and if we've learned anything about the Thunder on draft night it's that it is a team liable to do anything. No one knows whether the Thunder will select a player, trade up, trade down or trade out. Add to that, fewer fans seem to be paying attention this year. A deep playoff run and first-round positioning that inspires widespread yawning have taken away from the intrigue of the Thunder's draft. Perhaps there is a growing awareness that whatever prospect the Thunder plucks won't make an immediate impact. Heck, he might not even make the team. That's what having a"
Kansas' Josh Selby, TU's Justin Hurtt have pre-draft workouts with Thunder
June 2
The Oklahoman
 
"Tulsa shooting guard Justin Hurtt was among five players who reportedly had a pre-draft workout session with the Oklahoma City Thunder at the team's practice facility Wednesday. According to TheHoopsReport.com, joining Hurtt were Florida forward Alex Tyus, Illinois forward Mike Davis, Michigan State guard Durrell Summers and Stanford guard Jeremy Green. Illinois forward Jereme Richmond was scheduled to participate, but he did not. "On Wednesday I will be going to Oklahoma City for a workout and hope to prove that I am the best athlete in the draft," Tyus wrote in his diary for TheHoopsReport. Kansas guard Josh Selby, Duke guard Nolan Smith, Butler forward Matt Howard, Texas guard Cory"
Nazr Mohammed wants to return to Thunder
June 2
The Oklahoman
 
"Thunder center Nazr Mohammed wants to return to Oklahoma City next season. Mohammed, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, expressed his desire to return by posting a series of messages on his Twitter account Monday. "For all the OKC fans asking me about my free agency … My goal is to come back to OKC next season. I hope everything works out," Mohammed wrote."
Thunder could retain entire roster
May 31
The Oklahoman
 columnist John Rohde
"It is very possible the Thunder retains all 15 players on the roster, which would mean re-signing Nazr Mohammed and Daequan Cook. It's also possible [GM Sam Presti] could deal Nate Robinson, Byron Mullens and not re-sign Nazr and/or Cook. The whole free agent thing is goofy because there is no CBA and no one can do anything until one is in place. The most intriguing free agent to me might be Carl Landry, but Nawlins presumably will hang onto him any way possible."
No contest: Russell Westbrook's good outweighs Russell Westbrook's bad
May 21
The Oklahoman
 
"Whatever magical equation you use to rate an NBA player's worth, the good far outweighs the bad when it comes to point guard Russell Westbrook. Yet as the spotlight zooms in a little tighter each day on the Oklahoma City Thunder, national media continue to portray that the bad far outweighs the good. The latest case-in-point came Thursday night when Westbrook never left the bench in the fourth quarter of Game 2 at Dallas. In the process, a 106-100 road victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals somehow got lost, almost ignored. Who won the game inexplicably became the second-most important story. Westbrook not playing somehow mattered more. "The series is tied 1-1,"
Lines being drawn for another NBA lockout
May 19
Portland Tribune
 columnist Kerry Eggers
"As the calendar moves closer to the June 30 expiration of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, one thing is growing more clear. "There will definitely be a lockout," says agent Steve Kauffman, who for years represented players but now has coaches as his clients. "The question is whether there will be (regular-season) games missed." "A lockout is going to happen," says Frank Brickowski, one of six regional representatives for the NBA Players Association. "After that, you draw a series of lines. "You draw a line at training camp. You draw a line at the start of the preseason. You draw a line at the start of the regular season. And at some point, the final line is, do we lose the"
With time slipping away, N.B.A. and players plan to meet
May 18
New York Times
 
"The N.B.A. and the players union are meeting with greater frequency as time dwindles for reaching a new labor agreement and avoiding the league's first lockout since 1998. Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver spoke Tuesday before the N.B.A. lottery. In vague terms, Stern described progress in collective bargaining sessions with Billy Hunter, the union's executive director. The labor agreement expires June 30, after a season in which the N.B.A. has recorded substantially higher television ratings. Silver said that a bargaining session would take place next month during the N.B.A. finals at the site of the Western Conference winner — either Oklahoma City or Dallas."
Raymond Felton added to list of injured Nuggets?
April 16
The Oklahoman
 
"The Denver Nuggets' injury list might have grown during Friday's practice when reserve guard Raymond Felton was said to have twisted an ankle. The severity of the injury was not known. Felton did not meet with reporters afterward. The Nuggets continue to limp their way into the opening round of the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The best-of-seven series begins Sunday at 8:30 p.m. inside Oklahoma City Arena. Depending on his status, Felton could join a healthy list of unhealthy teammates: * Starting point guard Ty Lawson sprained his left ankle in Wednesday's regular-season finale and did not practice Friday, but said he expects to start Game 1. * Starting guard Arron Afflalo"
Rivers reveals he vetoed one Perkins trade proposal, but ultimately backed decision that 'hurt a lot'
March 18
ESPN.com
 
"Like most of us, Kendrick Perkins never saw it coming. Three weeks ago, he was a Boston Celtic, going through the morning shootaround at the Pepsi Center in Denver. There was a game that night against the Nuggets, although the injured Perkins was going to be a spectator, having injured his knee two nights earlier at Golden State. Perkins, of course, never made it back to the Pepsi Center for the game that night. After the shootaround, his agent, Bob Myers, called and told him of the possibility of a deal. Perkins had no clue. "I was pretty surprised,'' Perkins told ESPNBoston.com via telephone. "I had no idea. I talked to Doc [Rivers] and he said he wasn't pushing it, that he was trying to"
Thunder signs Kendrick Perkins to extension
March 2
The Oklahoman
 
"When Kendrick Perkins arrived bright and early to the Oklahoma City Thunder's training facility for his first day of practice with his new team last Saturday, he was shocked to see Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook had beaten him there. The Thunder's All-Star duo was already on the court putting in work. Perkins knew right then this is where he wanted to be. And on Monday night, four days after he was acquired from Boston, Perkins committed to cementing himself as the franchise's cornerstone center, agreeing to a four-year extension that will keep him with the Thunder through the 2014-15 season. The exact terms of the deal are unclear. But for the second time this season, the Thunder"
Contract issue at the center of the Kendrick Perkins deal
February 25
Boston Globe
 
"For a few final moments, he was one of the guys. Kendrick Perkins walked through the tunnel at Pepsi Center yesterday morning to participate in his final function as a Celtic. It appeared to be a normal shootaround as Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen walked onto the court having a passionate conversation that induced a couple of four-letter words from Garnett. It was time for business. But Perkins, as it turns out, is no longer a part of the Celtics' business. Team president Danny Ainge executed a stunning deal yesterday that sent Perkins — one of the team's most popular players and hardest workers — along with Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City for former Celtics draft pick"
Sources: Celts get Thunder's Jeff Green
February 24
ESPN.com
 
"Just before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Boston Celtics agreed to ship center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for swingman Jeff Green and big man Nenad Krstic, two league sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford on Thursday. Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Wednesday that Perkins is out at least a week after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee."
Battier returning to Memphis for Thabeet
February 24
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Houston Rockets have traded Shane Battier to the Memphis Grizzlies for former No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet and a first-round draft choice, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Battier was drafted by the Grizzlies with the No. 6 pick in 2001 and spent his first five seasons there. Memphis traded him to the Rockets for Stromile Swift and the draft rights to Rudy Gay(notes) before the 2006-07 season."
Celtics trade Perkins to Thunder for Green
February 24
The Oklahoman
 
"The Thunder has traded Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic to the Boston Celtics for center Kendrick Perkins, according to multiple reports. Perkins could supply the interior defense the Thunder has lacked. Perkins, Green and Krstic all are in the final years of their contracts, so the trade could prove to be for 2011 playoff purposes only. Some reports say Celtic backup point guard Nate Robinson is also part of the deal."
Jeff Green to Denver for Nene? Could a Carmelo deal to the Lakers open the door?
February 9
The Oklahoman
 
"When he's not coordinating our coverage of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State sports — and dealing with photo assignments, credential requests and a million other details — The Oklahoman's assistant sports editor Ryan Sharp is developing quite an obsession with the NBA. I know this because I sit right across from him, which is where I was today when ESPN reported the Los Angeles Lakers are exploring a trade with Denver for Carmelo Anthony. Which prompted Ryan to ask, "Could this clear the way for the Nuggets to trade Nene to the Thunder for Jeff Green?" Great question. Important question. Check the logic: The Nuggets would likely ask for Lakers 24-year-old center Andrew Bynum. The Nuggets would"