HoopsHype.com Rumors

The addition of Thabeet all but guarantees veteran center Nazr Mohammed will not return to the Thunder. If not, that paves the way for third-year center Cole Aldrich to step into the primary backup role behind starter Kendrick Perkins. Thabeet is expected to be the third-string center. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Cole Aldrich, Nazr Mohammed, Hasheem Thabeet 

Darnell Mayberry: Presti says Lazar Hayward, Reggie Jackson and Cole Aldrich will compete with the Thunder in the Orlando Summer League. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich, Summer League, Reggie Jackson, Lazar Hayward 

Susan Bible: Nick Collison says he wants Coach Brooks back. Says Cole Aldrich will be ready for more next season. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Nick Collison, Cole Aldrich, Scott Brooks 

Nick Collison: Today, the cycle continues. We make sure our rookies this season—Reggie Jackson and Ryan Reid—wear their pink Justin Bieber and "My Little Pony" backpacks and carry their oversized teddy bears on all road trips. Last year, Royal had Cole Aldrich's car filled to the roof with packing peanuts. He says he went easy on him—it could have been buttered popcorn. Kendrick Perkins says in Boston they made a rookie go out in a foot of snow and do 100 pushups in only his spandex shorts. GQ.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Cole Aldrich, Royal Ivey, Ryan Reid, Justin Bieber, Reggie Jackson 

Cole Aldrich: Guy asked me if I was Dolph Lundgren.. Geez do I really look like a 50 year old? Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich, Dolph Lundgren 

While the NBA lockout continues, Bloomington Jefferson grad Cole Aldrich of the Oklahoma City Thunder is completing a communications degree at alma mater Kansas. The 6- foot-11, 245-pounder, who turns 23 on Halloween, also has participated in a handful of unofficial Thunder workouts. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich 

Cole Aldrich: RIP Steve Jobs. An amazing techo junkie who changed the world. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich, Steve Jobs 

Despite the lockout, local interest in the Thunder has not waned. Collison and Aldrich both smiled when informed the Thunder had sold out of its full-season ticket allotment last week. “That's impressive,” Aldrich said. “That shows the loyalty that our fans have. Talking with people, even here (at KU), there are a lot of fans who just want to get the season started on time.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Nick Collison, Cole Aldrich 

Some viewed Mohammed's deal as a reflection of the organization's opinion of Aldrich. But there is no correlation between the two. Mohammed is a savvy veteran who provides leadership and experience in addition to underrated offensive and defensive ability. Aldrich, on the other hand, is a still-wet-behind- the-ears big man who is expected to blossom in due time. But the plan for Aldrich hasn't changed. Expect the rising second-year center out of Kansas to be in town for the foreseeable future. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich, Lockout 

The Oklahoma City Thunder has exercised contract options on five players Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today. 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. Sportando

Oklahoma City Thunder, Eric Maynor, Cole Aldrich, James Harden, Serge Ibaka 

The Oklahoma City Thunder have assigned center Cole Aldrich to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced the move Wednesday. Aldrich is to be in Tulsa in Time for Friday's game against the Dakota Wizards. USA Today

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich, D-League 

Cole Aldrich: At the same time, I had to watch as many of the festivities as I could. We had guys in the Rookie-Sophomore Game, dunk contest, three-point and skills competition and then the All-Star Game itself. It was fun just watching those guys and seeing them compete. I thought Serge did really well. I felt like he got jipped on the free throw dunk! That was a legit free throw dunk. I’d seen him practice one or two of those, but you never know on the big stage how things will go or if you have to switch it up. Just the two dunks he was able to showcase really said a lot. It was also really cool seeing him come out with the people and all the flags. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Dime

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich 

Cole Aldrich: Talked to my guy @Kevin Durant tonight. Talk about a great teammate. Dudes the best! Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Cole Aldrich 

Rookie center Cole Aldrich was not at Wednesday's game and is on his way to Austin to join the Tulsa 66ers tonight. (NBA teams do not officially announce assignments to the Developmental League until a player has arrived.) It will be Aldrich's second stint with the 66ers. Players are allowed three for the entire season. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich, D-League 

It looks like Thunder rookie Cole Aldrich has been recalled by the team. Aldrich tweeted Monday morning, “Airport. Heading to Chicago to get back with the fellahs.” DailyThunder.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich, D-League 

Colin Aldrich: Nick has some of the same history as me – he’s from Iowa, then Kansas and was in Seattle for a few years before landing back in the Midwest. I always find myself listening to him and picking his brain every day. That’s my goal every day at practice, to learn something new from Nick. And yes, the rumors are true: He is the sweatiest guy in the NBA. He needs a sweat catcher every time he runs up and down the court. Dime

Cole Aldrich 

Cole Aldrich didn’t purchase anything extravagant Thursday after signing his rookie contract with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. “Dinner,” the 21-year-old former Kansas University center said with a laugh. “Actually, I just moved into a new place in Edmond that I’m leasing. Other than that, I haven’t bought anything too crazy.” Lawrence Journal-World

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich 

Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has signed rookie Cole Aldrich. Aldrich averaged 11.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game during his junior campaign at the University of Kansas. The 6-11 center was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and First–Team All-Big 12 for the second consecutive season along with AP Third Team All-American as a junior. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Cole Aldrich, Sam Presti 

The signing of Royal Ivey last week put the Thunder at 16 contract players, one more than NBA rules permit teams to carry into the regular season. That means someone must go. Mo Peterson will be 33 next month but can still contribute on the court and has earned a reputation in his 10 seasons of carrying a first-class attitude away from it. Don't expect Peterson to be waived. Daequan Cook, 10 years younger than Peterson, provides much of the same assets and essentially is on a one-year trial run as a 3-point specialist in OKC. Cook figures to be on the opening-night roster as well. Since the Thunder's coaching staff and front office is pleased with the returning nine-man rotation, and No. 11 overall pick Cole Aldrich is entrenched in the long-term plans, that leaves Byron Mullens, D.J. White and Kyle Weaver as the most likely candidates to be on the outside looking in. Oklahoman

The Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired the draft rights to Cole Aldrich and veteran forward Morris Peterson from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for the rights to Craig Brackins and Quincy Poindexter. ESPN.com

New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Morris Peterson, Cole Aldrich