Friday Bolts: 7.7.17
The Paul George trade became official yesterday. Sam Presti: “We are fortunate to have an incredibly unique player wear the Thunder Blue and know he will help us as we continue to build the legacy of the Thunder in real time.”
George will wear number 13 in OKC: “Paul George will wear No. 13 for the Thunder. Said Thunder GM Sam Presti, ‘We are excited to welcome Paul George to the Thunder family and the Oklahoma City community. ‘”
Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard says the trade was best for the franchise: “We feel very strongly about the potential Victor and Domantas bring to our team and what they mean for the future of the franchise,” Pritchard said. “Both are highly competitive, highly skilled, and both are winners. That is why both were lottery picks. That is why we sought them out to be part of this deal.”
Brad Botkin (CBS Sports) on how OKC is back in contention: “Yet here are the Thunder, barely more than a year after Durant’s departure, again ready to launch a two-superstar attack on the NBA with the addition of Paul George next to Russell Westbrook. Indeed, it has been a home run offseason for OKC, which also added Patrick Patterson on a three-year, $16.4 million bargain before re-signing Andre Roberson to a three-year, $30 million deal Wednesday.”
Erik Horne on how this free agency is a window into Enes Kanter’s market: “The NBA is trending small at the expense of the traditional big man. It’s not that Kanter isn’t effective. He was one of the most efficient offensive threats in the NBA last season, averaging 24.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per 36 minutes. But teams aren’t in a hurry to spend on bigs this offseason.”
Kevin McHale is a big fan of Patrick Patterson: “After you’ve been with him for a while, you go, ‘This cat wants to win. This dude wants to win,’” McHale, now a Turner NBA analyst, said in a phone interview Thursday. “Believe me, in our league, those dudes are getting more rare and more rare.”
KD (jokingly) takes credit for Andre Roberson’s new contract: “Should I take full credit for Fly Dre getting paid? Probably not, but I will anyway. You’re welcome dre.”
Jordan Heck (Sporting News) says OKC could have the best defense in basketball: “OKC was already in the top 10 for defensive rating last season, and that was before adding George and Patterson. The Thunder have now become one of the biggest winners this offseason, with a much-improved roster from last year.”
Rudy Gay agreed to sign with the Spurs: “Athletic veteran forward Rudy Gay has signed a two-year, $17.2 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports. Per TNT’s David Aldridge, Gay’s contract accounts for the team’s mid-level exception.”
ESPN’s running list of every free agency signing: You know the drill.
Have a safe weekend.
