Thunder Rumors & News

Bleacher Report "A couple of decades ago, the amount of money NBA teams now guarantees to their players would've been unimaginable. This summer, Nikola Jokic signed a five-year, $264 million extension which is the biggest in league history. By the end of this deal, his career earnings will be..." September 24

Clutch Points "The Boston Celtics announced Thursday that Udoka has been suspended for the entire 2022-23 season for “violations of team protocols.” Keep in mind that he just led the franchise to the 2022 NBA Finals in his first season as head coach. Udoka was involved in an..." September 23

The Athletic "The NBA is (almost) back. Over the next week, teams across the league will hold their individual media days with training camp and the preseason to follow. Safe to say, there are a lot of looming questions entering training camp. Has your team addressed all it needed to..." September 23

The Score "Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti is calling for patience ahead of another rebuilding season for his team. "I don't think anybody would say that we're not a work in progress,"Presti said at a press conference Thursday. "At the same..." September 23

Fadeaway World "The NBA is in a pretty interesting place right now. As the older generation of NBA greats begins to fade, a new cast of characters is taking up the mantle and slowly edging out the same guys they grew up admiring. The result has been a rapidly-changing league that has destabilized the..." September 23

The Athletic "It’s no secret NBA commissioner Adam Silver has made lowering the NBA Draft age minimum from 19 to 18 a clear priority. He’s brought it up many times over the years and firmly believes the NBA should allow 18-year-olds to enter the draft. “I’m on..." September 23

Clutch Points "The Miami Heat finished last season with the best record in the Eastern Conference at 53-29, no small feat in a conference that has shaped up to be extremely competitive. They also came terribly close to making it back to the NBA Finals, just falling short to the eventual runner-up..." September 22

Bleacher Report "NBA training camps open everywhere over the next week, with plenty of players looking to secure their spots in opening lineups. With so many big names changing teams this offseason (Donovan Mitchell, Dejounte Murray, Rudy Gobert, Jalen Brunson, Christian Wood, Collin Sexton, Jerami..." September 22

Clutch Points "The Charlotte Hornets did not make any major move in the 2022 offseason. Outside of adding Dennis Smith Jr. and re-signing Cody Martin, not much has changed on their roster. The rest of the league seems like they are improving drastically. The Boston Celtics added Malcolm Brogdon. The Cleveland..." September 22

Bleacher Report "For NBA teams fortunate enough to find themselves in the championship race, a little greed can be a good thing. The margin for error at the Association's apex is either wafer-thin or simply nonexistent. Teams must be over-prepared for anything the basketball gods throw their way,..." September 21

Clutch Points "In the 2020-21 NBA season, Tom Thibodeau led the New York Knicks to the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. In the 2021-22 season, though, the Knicks couldn’t replicate that magic, finishing 37-45 and 11th in the Eastern Conference. Heading into Year 3 of the “Tibs”..." September 21

CBS Sports "The only constant in the modern NBA is change. Players get better. They get worse. They change teams. They retire. The Boston Celtics were below .500 more than halfway through last season and came two wins short of a championship. There is no such thing as a status quo in..." September 21

USA Today "The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Wednesday that star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suffered a Grade 2 left MCL sprain that will cost him at least the first two weeks of training camp, which is set to begin next week. The Thunder will re-evaluate Gilgeous-Alexander in two weeks...." September 21

Bleacher Report "While the summer trade period has died down as we approach training camp, it's never too early to explore what deals may take place during the 2022-23 regular season. After we watched All-Stars such as Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Dejounte Murray switch teams this offseason,..." September 20

NBA Analysis "Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t waste much time getting back into the gym this offseason. After his Bucks were eliminated in the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, Antetokounmpo was quickly back at work, preparing to play for Greece in..." September 20

Bleacher Report "The basketball world is buzzing as the 2022-23 NBA campaign creeps closer. The defending champion Golden State Warriors sit atop the throne, but their list of challengers is as daunting as it is long. The Boston Celtics regrouped from their Finals loss and added Malcolm Brogdon. The..." September 20

Bleacher Report "The NBA's eligible draft age has been debated since it was increased to 19 in 2005. For the past 17 years, fans have wondered if the league would ever return to a model where high school stars could enter the draft at 18 years old. Now, that "if" looks far more..." September 20

NBA Analysis "Everyone is a critic. It is, without question, easier to identify problems from a distance than it is to solve them when you have the power to. Often, this is the dynamic between an NBA team and its fans. Everyone knows what they think they’d do if they were the general..." September 20

CBS Sports "The NBA and the NBPA are reportedly in advanced talks, and expected to soon approve, lowering the draft eligibility age from 19 to 18 years old as soon as 2024. The move, which could be agreed upon as soon as this week as part of ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, would..." September 20

Arizona Sports "With a roster built to win now, the Phoenix Suns remain active in efforts to improve their title odds before training camp begins on Sept. 26. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Monday that the Suns are expected to be percolating in trade negotiations, many centered around..." September 20

Larry Brown Sports "Though the San Antonio Spurs already traded All-Star Dejounte Murray earlier this summer, the sell-off may only intensify from here. Veteran Spurs writer LJ Ellis reports Monday that center Jakob Poeltl and guard Josh Richardson are two players who have commonly been..." September 20

Bleacher Report "With the Donovan Mitchell deal in the rearview, the 2022 offseason feels like it's pretty much wrapped up. Sure, we might still see a Russell Westbrook trade or some more unloading by the Utah Jazz, but for the most part, teams are settled and preparing for the start of training..." September 19

The Score "The NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) are expected to agree to lower the draft-age eligibility from 19 to 18 as they negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania. The two sides are also reportedly expected to..." September 19

Bleacher Report "The top of the NBA is loaded with talented and title-hopeful squads, as a number of teams could realistically take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy next summer. So, how can we tell the contenders from the pretenders? Looking at the last 10 NBA champions, a few things stand..." September 19

NBA.com "Spain dominated the EuroBasket tournament, finishing with an 8-1 record after defeating France in the final to capture its first gold medal since 2015 and 4th all-time. Spain, who placed first in Group A play earlier in the tournament, was led by the Hernangomez brothers. Toronto Raptors big..." September 19

Sportsnaut "There is no weak link on Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue’s roster — almost everyone on the floor can knock down a three and guard their man. However, some may provide greater impact skillsets, and others could be more complementary and flexible around star forwards..." September 17

NBA Analysis "The Charlotte Hornets looked to be one of the up-and-coming teams in the NBA. They increased their win total by 10 games this past season, going 43-39. Despite that, James Borrego was fired but Kenny Atkinson was going to take over as head coach, an excellent fit for a young roster..." September 17

ESPN "The NBA's two biggest offseason questions -- the futures of Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell -- have been answered. But while the Brooklyn Nets seem on track to run it back with their current core intact, the drama at Barclays Center is far from..." September 16

Bleacher Report "Rookies should be extra motivated to make strong impressions during their first NBA training camps. It's an opportunity to show coaches the work they've put in since the draft, and how they can add value to the 2022-23 rotation or long-term roster. Depending on the..." September 15

Sportsnaut "The NBA and the National Basketball Referees Association entered into a seven-year collective bargaining agreement, the two sides announced Thursday. The seven-year agreement will begin with the 2022-23 season and run through the 2028-29 campaign. The sides said it would not announce..." September 15

Bleacher Report "NBA free agency can be just as exciting as the Association's games themselves. If not moreso. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of all the wheeling and dealing, and analysts attempt to stay on top of everything with real-time reactions to the..." September 15

NBA Analysis "The 2022 NBA offseason was a roller coaster ride for the Brooklyn Nets. There were plenty of ups and downs but heading into training camp in a few weeks, they have to be feeling good. Despite some contentious times, they will have a roster good enough to compete for a..." September 15

Bleacher Report "Free-agent NBA guard Dennis Schroder is reportedly turning heads and helping his chances of landing another contract thanks to his performance at the EuroBasket tournament. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Schroder is generating "rising buzz" with his play for..." September 14

NBA Analysis "As the NBA continuously evolves, no player type evolves with it more than the big man.  For a long time, the NBA’s centers were expected to patrol the paint, and seldom step outside of it. That was true on both ends of the floor. They were supposed to score inside, and they..." September 14

Bleacher Report "From trades that didn't quite go as planned to those that have severely hurt a franchise, every NBA team has made moves it regrets. The last three seasons have been no exception, as even successful organizations like the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors have made some..." September 14

Hot New Hip Hop "Ja Morant is one of the best young players in the entire NBA. If you have been following the Memphis Grizzlies, then you know that this kid will likely go down as the best player to ever grace the franchise. In the coming years, he has a chance to take this team to the NBA Finals, and for..." September 14

Bleacher Report "As much as NBA players might want to live in the moment—never getting too high or too low is one of the Association's biggest keys of survival—front offices can't afford to think that way. These decision-makers must always have at least one eye on the future. Now,..." September 14

NBA Analysis "Things have been quiet on the NBA trade market since the Utah Jazz completed the Donovan Mitchell blockbuster with the Cleveland Cavaliers a few weeks ago. However, with training camp just weeks away, things could heat up sooner than later as Utah look to unload a few more of their veteran..." September 13

Bleacher Report "While most of the NBA's offseason has wrapped up with training camps just weeks away, several quality veterans remain available as free agents. Go back five years, and the list would be exceptional. Unfortunately, time has gotten the best of these former All-Stars. Most franchises..." September 13

Bleacher Report "With the Donovan Mitchell trade in the rearview and potential Russell Westbrook deals seemingly stalled out, it feels safe to assume the offseason is, more or less, done. And with training camps right around the corner, teams are likely thinking about who their starting fives will..." September 13

Bleacher Report "The Donovan Mitchell trade would make a perfectly fine ending to a wild 2022 offseason. After a weeks-long stalemate between the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks, he's now a Cleveland Cavalier, the Jazz rebuild is officially on and the Knicks are leaking their disappointment in the whole..." September 12

ESPN "Who's next for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 and beyond? On Saturday, the Hall will welcome 13 inductees, including two former NBA players chosen through the typical finalist process: Manu Ginobili and Tim Hardaway. (Lou Hudson, the third NBA..." September 10

Bleacher Report "The NBA's best players aren't always the 10 who take the floor to open a contest. Ever since legendary Boston Celtics skipper Red Auerbach recognized a need for further firepower off the bench, sixth men have carved their own path as energizers, microwave scorers and..." September 10

Bleacher Report "Talking about the modern NBA typically involves marveling over the absurd skill sets possessed by today's players. What we probably don't discuss enough, though, is the way coaches have ascended to a similarly sky-high plane. Case in point: George Karl, who's..." September 10

Fadeaway World "The NBA has become a billionaire business over the years, with more fans turning their heads to the association, growing globally and reaching new markets thanks to their stars, the spectacularity of games and more. This has helped the league grow in recent years, becoming one of the richest..." September 10

Fadeaway World "Any game is constantly changing and evolving. There is perhaps nothing in this world that stays the same. However, certain fundamental aspects have to remain. Basketball has not been immune to changes. The addition of the three-point line, the 3-second rule, and the decision to stop..." September 10

The Athletic "Nikola Jokic is a Hall of Famer. Well, technically, not yet. But he will be. (Wait a minute, Rob, this sounds familiar. <<clicks link>> Are you intentionally copying your lede from last year? I mean…) Well, I do try to borrow from the..." September 10

NBA Analysis "As the NBA evolves, the types of players that tend to thrive in the league evolve with it.  For a long time, scorers dominated the NBA. If could generate your own basket, chances are, you had a shot at stardom in the NBA. That’s still true in 2022, but the league has moved..." September 09

Bleacher Report "The NBA reportedly has outlined a plan for the in-season tournament that could be implemented as soon as the 2023-24 season. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, cup games will be played through November with the top eight teams advancing to the single-elimination..." September 09

Hoops Rumors "5:08pm: According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, there is a 10% limit on how much the salary cap can increase from this season to next due to the “financial hardship” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, so $136MM is the maximum possible cap for the 2023/24..." September 09