Kevin Durant skips for joy on learning his game is going to Oklahoma

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Maybe it was the okey dokey, but Seattle had to let them go.

The agreement ends a contentious relationship that culminated in a recent six-day federal trial over terms of the team’s KeyArena lease. The judge was scheduled to rule Wednesday afternoon.

The settlement calls for Sonics owner Clay Bennett and his Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay as much as $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the lease. The team’s name and colors will be staying in Seattle.

“We made it,” Bennett said after stepping to an Oklahoma City podium featuring the NBA logo and the letters OKC. “The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season.”

source

New owner wins over old owner.

It’s a victory for Bennett, who purchased the Sonics in 2006 from Starbucks Corp. Chairman Howard Schultz for $350 million, and will take the franchise to his hometown. Bennett faced harsh criticism in Seattle for his efforts in trying to build a new arena as a replacement for KeyArena, and the presumption he wanted to move the franchise all along.

Hey, the Seattle SuperSonics have stunk in recent history. Now they have a new city, new arena, new owner, and one of the best young players in Kevin Durant.

Let’s go Okie City Sonics!

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Post from: NBA Obsessed

High flying Derrick Rose holds the keys to the draft mania, but where is the basketball?

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This is going to be one crazy draft.

First let’s set the table. The Western Conference finished as tight in the standings as a conference could. There were barely any games separating first place from 9th place. What does that mean? Wheeling and dealing will take place, because each team that finished behind the Lakers and Kobe Bryant thinks it will just take one solid deal to move them up to first.

In the Eastern Conference, Orlando, Miami, Chicago, and especially Detroit are also ready to deal.

Just to add to the mess, this draft is loaded with point guards and other than Rose and Beasley; it just seems to have a lot of equal appearing players.

How about we just pick out a few scenarios from the mock draft by Chad Ford at ESPN.com.

Miami Heat #2

Go no farther than the Miami Heat at the number 2 pick.

We continue to hear that the Heat will probably trade the No. 2 pick if Rose is off the board. The latest talk has the Sonics and Heat discussing a swap that would send the No. 2 pick and Mark Blount to Seattle for Chris Wilcox and the No. 4 pick. The move would give the Heat a huge amount of cap space in the summer of 2009. (Wilcox is in the last year of his contract, while Blount has two years and $16 million remaining.)

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Seattle seems to be in everyone’s plans. With the number 4 pick and so many needs, they could pull off all kinds of deals.

Memphis Grizzlies go cheap

The Memphis Grizzlies at the number 5 pick are also looking to wheel and deal, but for a different reason.

Even stronger are rumors that the Grizzlies are talking to a number of teams, including the Knicks, Blazers and Suns, about deals that would send the No. 5 pick to whomever is willing to take Brian Cardinal’s awful contract (two years, $13 million left). The latest buzz has the Knicks talking to Memphis about a deal that would send David Lee and the expiring contract of Malik Rose to Memphis for No. 5 and Cardinal.

In other words, it sounds like GM Chris Wallace is, once again, being pushed by ownership to cut payroll.

Milwaukee Bucks get tough

It is going to be real fun following the Bucks up in Milwaukee. Think about the combination of tough former Michigan State University All American point guard, current NBA assist record holding, and former Chicago tough guy coach Scott Skiles with former Detroit advisor to Joe Dumars, now turnaround expert John Hammond. These are two guys that believe in toughness and have shown that before.

Alexander is a high-energy forward who impressed GM John Hammond and new coach Scott Skiles with his toughness and grit. That’s exactly what the Bucks are going for right now. Hammond wants to change the culture in Milwaukee, and Alexander has that capability. He also fits a need. The Bucks will be shopping Bobby Simmons (along with just about everyone else) hard this summer.

If Joe Alexander is what they say he is then he is going to love being a Buck.

Cleveland LeBron’s seek age insurance

At number 19 the Cavaliers are talking about Georgetown 7′2″ Center Roy Hibbert. LeBron James desperately needs players around him and Coach Mike Brown would love the big guy for his defense and shot blocking. Cleveland has to be concerned with an aging Ilgauskas and an aging Ben Wallace. It would be a great pick, but LeBron still needs points from other players inside.

Detroit Pistons look to surprise

Finally, how about my Pistons. Chad has them taking 6′6″ Bill Walker and they might, but most of us expect some kind of deal from Joe Dumars. There are just too many teams looking to move up or down for Joe D to miss this opportunity. Even though Boston showed you can win with old guys, it is time for the pot to be stirred on the Pistons, they need to get younger. Bill Walker would not provide a whole lot to the team and most likely would be included in any trade.

Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince are two likely candidates. Rip Hamilton could go if they replace him with a scorer.

This draft is all mixed up.

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Post from: NBA Obsessed

 Your humble author disagrees, but not for the reason you are thinking.  Wait, how can anyone know what you are thinking?

 Oden has to be the number one pick, because the two players were rated so close, but Centers are just hard to find and true Centers are even harder to find and Greg Oden is a true Center.

 Still you could not go wrong by picking either player (except this year with Oden being injured).

 Now what about that changing the game stuff?

Well, get this, the Supersonics (and isn’t that the perfect team name for Durant to play for) have decided to play Durant at shooting guard.

The second overall pick in June’s draft was on the outside looking in during the first practice of his NBA life. He was a shooting guard.

It seemed to fit.

“It’s the same system we ran at Texas, so I’m comfortable in it,” Durant said with a smile.

For now, he’s in the same “2″ spot that All-Star Ray Allen held in Seattle from 2003 until he was traded to Boston for Szczerbiak, Delonte West and fifth overall choice Jeff Green, moments after the Sonics drafted Durant.  source

Is Kevin Durant the next Magic?

Remember Magic Johnson coming into the league and playing point guard at 6′ 9″ tall and everyone said that wouldn’t work?  Ok, maybe you don’t remember, but your gallivanting author does remember and it did change the game.

“In my opinion, that’s where he’s best suited right now,” said new Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo, who Tuesday ran his first practice as an NBA head man since Golden State fired him in 1999. “Because of the way he shoots the ball, the way he handles the ball, and the fact that he is not as physical right now as he’s going to be before he’s done.

“He’s like — he’s not like Magic Johnson at all — but he’s like Magic in that you can play him probably any of four positions, if not five. Playing the 2, he’s not going to get beat up, box to box, the whole game.”

vs. MSU

Kevin Durant played against my Michigan State Spartans last year while he was at Texas.  Our star freshman, Ramar Morgan, guarded  Durant and did a great job.

 All in all, Morgan was great in that game and MSU pulled out the victory, but Kevin showed moves that only a small man should be able to make and he showed range on his shot  that was beyond 3 point land. 

Kevin did it all with an ease that showed what a star that he can be.

How will you guard Kevin Durant?

Ramar was a 6′6″ fast, strong, live body freshman that excels in defense.  Ramar did a great job, but he didn’t stop Kevin.

If your shooting guard is only 6′ 5″, what is he going to do?  If your shooting guard is 6′ 9″, will he be quick enough?  Probably not.

Yes, Kevin Durant will change the NBA game!

 NBA Basketball Fan Question  Have you had a chance to see Kevin Durant play?

Post from: NBA Obsessed