HoopsHype.com Rumors

Etan Thomas: Kevin Durant, combined with Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook, will form a Big Three that is just as good if not better than any Big Three in the league. Green, in my opinion, is underappreciated and is an integral part of the Thunder success. He doesn’t complain about shots, or touches, or lack of accolades or praise. He just goes out there and does his job. He is too quick for most power forwards and too strong for most small forwards. HoopsHype

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, Etan Thomas 

Etan Thomas: Westbrook, who was criticized for leaving UCLA early, has turned into one of the premier point guards in the league. He’s lightning quick, explosive, can pick up full court, works hard and also remains humble. He worked with assistant coach Maurice Cheeks every day, and took criticism very well. Coach Cheeks didn’t sugar coat anything with him. They all fall in line with Kevin Durant remaining humble and if they stay grounded (which I believe they will) sky’s the limit HoopsHype

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Etan Thomas 

Etan Thomas: The fans are amazing. Like nothing, I have ever seen before. We had great fans in DC, don’t get me wrong. But the Oklahoma City fans gave the entire team a standing ovation for about 20 minutes after the playoff loss to the Lakers. I never heard anyone boo us no matter how bad we played. They were with us win lose or draw. In good times and bad times, it was really similar to a college atmosphere. I felt like I was back at Syracuse, although the Carrier Dome is one of a kind. The team fed off of that energy and it gave us a boost out there. The guys talked about it all the time and appreciated the support. I think a lot of times, the fans can make a bad situation worse by the way they react. HoopsHype

Oklahoma City Thunder, Etan Thomas 

Etan Thomas: But the way that Sam Presti runs the Oklahoma City Thunder pays off in dividends. He is honest, straight-forward, holds everyone to a certain standard of discipline, and keeps his word. Any player can tell you that this isn’t always the case with GMs. After the season, Sam Presti told me that he appreciated how professionally I treated a tough situation and would speak highly of me to other GMs. Throughout this free agency period, GM after GM, coach after coach informed me that he did indeed give me a ringing endorsement. Honestly, when Presti told me he would do that for me, I took those words with a grain of salt. HoopsHype

Oklahoma City Thunder, Etan Thomas 

Etan Thomas: Nothing against him or any other GM, but GMs say a lot of things and sometimes (I won’t say most of the time) the things they say aren’t exactly… Hmmm… How can I say this… The truth. Any player will attest to this. They’ll look you in your eyes and tell you that you are in their plans and a part of their future, then as you are driving home you’ll hear on the radio that they are looking to trade you. Ask any player how many GMs swore to them when they were coming out in the draft that they wouldn’t go past their draft number, and if they were on the board when their draft number came up they would surely, without a doubt pick them. And as they watched their name pass team after team that made them the same promise, they experienced their “Welcome to the NBA ” moment. Ask how many players have been approached by a team when their contract is up and convinced to take a small deal now just until they can get under the salary cap, or “Free up some money when X player’s contract comes off the books” or “We just can’t pay you right now, but be patient and we will take care of you next year, we promise”, only to see those empty promises fall by the waste side when the time came for them to keep their word. HoopsHype

Oklahoma City Thunder, Etan Thomas 

The Atlanta Hawks have signed free agent center Etan Thomas, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed. “We’re excited to add a player of Etan’s caliber to our roster,” said Hawks head coach Larry Drew. “He provides additional veteran leadership, physicality and toughness to our club, especially on the glass and the defensive side of the ball. We also add another versatile and multi-positional player to our frontcourt.” NBA.com

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Larry Drew, Etan Thomas 

Hawks have signed free agent center Etan Thomas. Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Etan Thomas 

Jorge Sierra: Etan Thomas' manager Carlisle Sealy confirms the 6-foot-10 will take physicals for the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Etan Thomas 

Jorge Sierra: Pending results of physicals, Thomas will be signing Friday morning at the latest. Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Etan Thomas 

The Hawks are expected to sign free agent center Etan Thomas within the next few days. The one-year deal would be worth the ninth-year vet’s minimum of $1.2 million, though the league would reimburse the Hawks for any amount above $854,389. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Etan Thomas 

Jorge Sierra at HoopsHype.com reports the Hawks are close to signing free agent center Etan Thomas. Hawks assistant general manager Dave Pendergraft confirmed the team had Thomas in for a workout but said Thomas is one of a handful of free agents the Hawks are considering. “He’s on a very, very short list,” Pendergraft said. “We were pleased with the workout.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Dave Pendergraft, Etan Thomas 

Pendergraft declined to comment on the other candidates for Atlanta’s 13th roster spot. But he said the team likes its options and is “not in a leftover situation” in its search for another center. “We are very satisfied with who we’ve got under contract and we are looking to see who can accentuate that other position,” Pendergraft said. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Dave Pendergraft, Etan Thomas 

Free agent big man Etan Thomas is close to signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, one source told HoopsHype. HoopsHype

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Etan Thomas