Tuesday Bolts: 5.16.17

All-NBA teams to be announced Thursday: The All-NBA First, Second and Third teams will be announced this Thursday (May 18). In addition, the NBA awards finalists will be announced Friday.

USA Today has OKC taking SG/SF Terrance Ferguson at 21 in their latest mock draft: “Ferguson brings to mind Terrence Ross in that he could win a dunk contest or 3-point contest but has major holes in his game otherwise. Which contest would he try first? ‘That’s tough,’ he said at the combine. ‘I feel like I can with both. That’s how my head is right now. I feel like I can win both. But, I’m going to take the three-point contest first.”’

More on Terrance Ferguson: Ferguson is a 6’7″ swingman originally from Tulsa. He was a McDonald’s All-American and committed to both Alabama and Arizona before skipping college altogether to play professionally in Australia. Playing for the Adelaide 36ers, he averaged 4.6 PPG and 1.2 RPG in 15.2 minutes per contest.

Erik Horne on bringing back Taj Gibson: “Gibson will likely be the Thunder’s best option in free agency. The Thunder will be over the projected $101 million salary cap when July 1 hits and teams can begin offering free agents. One advantage the Thunder has is that it can exceed the salary cap to re-sign Gibson.”

Tramel’s report card for Gibson: “Gibson came off the bench his first seven games with OKC. But then he joined the starting lineup and formed an excellent unit. The lineup of Gibson, Steven Adams, Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson and Victor Oladipo played 208 minutes together and outscored opponents 467-419. That’s a plus-11.1 points per 48 minutes.”

Odds & Ends

Coach Pop destroyed Zaza Pachulia yesterday.

Russell Westbrook approved of the Zaza slander.

Moses Malone Jr. is suing James Harden for orchestrating a robbery against him: “Malone, the son of Hall of Famer and former Rockets center Moses Malone, was beaten and robbed of $15,000 to $50,000 in jewelry at a Houston strip club in June. Malone’s suit alleges that Harden paid the robbers $20,000 to attack him after Harden became upset over Malone’s Facebook post about Harden’s basketball camp.”

Boston eliminated the Wizards in last night’s Game 7. Kelly Olynyk went nuclear: “Olynyk scored 12 of his career-playoff-high 26 points over a three-and-a-half-minute stretch of the fourth quarter as the Celtics emerged with a 115-105 triumph over the Washington Wizards in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.”

The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight at 7PM CT on ESPN.

The Ringer’s 2017 NBA Draft guide: “A comprehensive look at our top 60 prospects as rated by our three draftniks, Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, and Danny Chau. This is the place to learn exactly why NBA teams covet Markelle Fultz, where various NCAA standouts will land in the draft, and the “Ringer’s 1 Reason” that makes each player NBA-worthy. Study up on the prospects’ strengths, weaknesses, stats, and comparisons, and be the guru of your draft party on June 22.”

Jersey ads are coming: