HoopsHype.com Rumors

“We think Perk has a lot of value to our team,” Presti said. “He's a member of a team that won 60 games and helped us to our third division title in three years. I don't know that we can discount that. I'm sure he'd like to have had a better postseason. But I'm sure that's pretty universal for the whole group. And we accept that.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kendrick Perkins, Sam Presti 

Darnell Mayberry: Sam Presti on the amnesty clause: "We just haven't considered using the provision...We think Perk has a lot of value to our team." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kendrick Perkins, Sam Presti 

Royce Young: Presti called Westbrook and Durant the "caretakers of the organization" and "drivers of our culture." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Sam Presti, Russell Westbrook 

Royce Young: Presti said Russell Westbrook should have a full recovery and be the same player, in terms of health, he was prior to the injury. Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

Royce Young: Presti: "Jeremy [Lamb] is somebody we feel really good about. He's definitely going to be a contributor to our team in the near future." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, Jeremy Lamb 

Darnell Mayberry: Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones, Daniel Orton, DeAndre Liggins and, if they let him play, Reggie Jackson all will compete at summer league. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, Summer League, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, Reggie Jackson, DeAndre Liggins 

Darnell Mayberry: OKC also could have the 12th overall pick, the 29th and the 32nd pick in this year's draft. Unlikely OKC will select & bring in all three... Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Trade 

Darnell Mayberry: But the potential 12th pick (via Toronto) is likely to be one OKC keeps & brings in, putting that player on the summer league squad as well. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Trade 

Chris Tomasson: LeBron on OKC: “You can’t replace Russell Westbrook. He’s an Olympian and if he continues on the path he’s on he’s a future Hall of Famer." Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook 

Two names being tossed around NBA circles at the league’s annual draft combine are Kevin Pritchard, currently the general manager of the Indiana Pacers and Troy Weaver, the vice-president and assistant general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Toronto Star

Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Kevin Pritchard, Bryan Colangelo, Troy Weaver, Tim Leiweke 

But after Kevin Durant provided a level-headed and mature response, filled with perspective and void of hyperbole, his answer seemed to almost sell short his competitive spirit. “Nothing’s ever a wasted year for me. It’s basketball,” Durant said. “I’ve grown so much as a man since the beginning of the season. I’ve grown so much as a leader. Nothing is ever wasted. Of course the ultimate goal in this league is to win a championship. But I’m never going to say I wasted a year. I’m blessed to even wake up and do something I love every day. So it’s never wasted. We take that for granted a lot. But that’s something I’m not going to do. I enjoy playing this game. I enjoy playing for this city, my teammates. So every day I get to see those guys and go through some tough times and laugh and argue it’s never wasted. I’m just blessed to be here. And I’m never going to take it for granted.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Following his response, Durant was then asked what he would say to possible critics who might hear his outlook and question his competitive fire. “I don’t give a damn. I’m going to be who I’m going to be,” Durant said. “I’m not Kobe Bryant. I’m not Michael Jordan. I’m not LeBron James. I’m not Magic Johnson. I’m me. I’m not going to ever compromise myself, my integrity and what I believe in for winning some basketball games and winning a championship. That’s just not I how I was brought up. I’m always going to fight for this game I love. I’m going to claw until the last buzzer sounds. And if that’s after a championship then of course I’ll be happy. I’m not satisfied just being in this league and losing. I’m going to work as hard as I can to try to get to that mountaintop. I enjoy playing the game. I enjoy being here. But I’m never going to come out to the media and say we wasted a year because we lost a championship. Like I said, I don’t have to be Kobe Bryant.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Kevin Durant leads all NBA players in career commercial appearances with 63 at last count, according to standings calculated by HoopsHype. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is second with 42 and Miami's LeBron James is third with 39. In team rankings, OKC ranks third with 88 total commercials, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers with 125 and the Miami Heat with 91. Russell Westbrook is second among Thunder players with 11 commercials, followed by Serge Ibaka (six), Nick Collison, Kendrick Perkins and Thabo Sefolosha (two each), Kevin Martin and Reggie Jackson (one each). Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin, Serge Ibaka, Thabo Sefolosha, Reggie Jackson, Commercials 

Royce Young: Perk: "Russ do one thing that stands out to me. He gives everybody swag. He gives everybody swagger to Coach Brooks to KD to myself." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kendrick Perkins, Russell Westbrook 

Darnell Mayberry: Kendrick Perkins on the amnesty possibility: "I'm pretty sure I'll be back next year." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kendrick Perkins 

Royce Young: Kevin Martin: "This is a place I'd love to be ... I'm going to have some options out there so I'm going to see how the process plays out." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Kevin Martin 

Royce Young: Derek Fisher: "I definitely would love to play again next season ... I would enjoy the opportunity to come back." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Derek Fisher 

Royce Young: KD: "I think last night after the game, I don't normally drink Gatorade, but I think I drank four or five Gatorades after the game." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant 

Royce Young: KD: "I love Kevin Martin. I love everything he stands for ... I would love for him to do whatever he feels is right for himself." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Kevin Martin 

Royce Young: Russ said he talked to Derrick Rose a couple days after his injury. Said Rose told him to "take his time" and "listen to his body." Twitter @dailythunder

Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derrick Rose, Injuries, Russell Westbrook