HoopsHype.com Rumors

In an innovative and historic hiring, the Oklahoma City Thunder have reached agreement with Serbian Darko Rajakovic to coach the franchise's Development League affiliate in Tulsa, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Rajakovic's hiring with the Tulsa 66ers is still pending his completion of the immigration process, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, D-League, Darko Rajakovic 

Rajakovic, 33, is the first European to be hired as a head coach for an NBDL or NBA franchise. Thunder general manager Sam Presti has had a long relationship with Rajakovic, including a working partnership that began when Presti was an assistant GM with the San Antonio Spurs. Presti targeted Rajakovic for the Thunder's minor-league position out of a strong belief in Rajakovic's ability to develop the franchise's young players who'll spend time there, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, D-League, Darko Rajakovic 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Kevin Ollie could've been on front office or coaching fast track in the NBA. Upon retirement, Sam Presti badly wanted to keep Ollie in OKC. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Coaching, Sam Presti, Kevin Ollie, NCAA 

Royce Young: Sam Presti talking about his first meeting with Serge Ibaka: "He couldn't really speak English ... He spoke to me through his eyes." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, Serge Ibaka 

With the Serge Ibaka signed, all the attention is now on that big beard and how many dollar signs are going to fit inside of it. But for Sam Presti, all his attention turns to something else: His wedding. That’s right, Ibaka’s extension got done on Presti’s wedding day. “I’m very much looking forward to getting off this conference call, no offense, and moving on to the second half of the day,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say there’s not a fear of commitment on my end of the phone.” DailyThunder.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, James Harden, Serge Ibaka 

Chris Mannix: NBA commish David Stern sitting at center court, alongside Thunder owner Clay Bennett and GM Sam Presti Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, David Stern, Clay Bennett 

Dallas' Mark Cuban is one owner who has made his feelings known that NBA teams are simply subsidizing the Olympics without receiving any control or profit. Nonetheless, Presti had only good things to say on Saturday about the status quo. "I think it's really helpful for them to play under different circumstances; it only rounds them out as players and makes them better," said Presti, who also saw Durant and Westbrook win gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. "What we observed from the World Championship was just the mental endurance that it takes to go through an international competition and the training camp that leads up to it in medal-round play just to get there. "Just the level of mental endurance that Kevin and Russell have been exposed to and conditioned themselves to, I think has really helped us in our playoff series. That's a real benefit. I think Serge's experiences with the national team, again just being in different situations and adjusting to different styles of play, I only makes him a more well-rounded player. And James now is also getting that level of experience. I really feel like we've benefited from all of the exposures that the players have been given, and I think they're all very grateful for the opportunity too. It's fun to watch them in these situations." SI.com

Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, FIBA, Sam Presti, Mark Cuban, Olympics 

"He's a guy that has quickness at his size and fits in with his length and versatility," said Thunder general manager Sam Presti. "And what we've seen at this point is someone who has been excellent in terms of coming in and showing that he is a willing and active learner." NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, Perry Jones 

While the focus as of Sunday will be on free-agent NBA players, the Oklahoma City Thunder are still hoping to keep their coach, Scott Brooks, from entering the same waters. As of Friday, the only certainty is that for the tale of the Thunder's feel-good rise to continue, general manager Sam Presti and agent Warren LeGarie have to find a middle ground. Soon. "We're not close," a source familiar with the negotiations said, "and the clock is ticking." ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Coaching, Sam Presti, Scott Brooks 

The crux of the problem is that Brooks, based on the team's accomplishments, has been vastly underpaid the last two seasons, making $1.9 million and $2.1 million. The Thunder originally offered him a three-year extension worth between $11 million and $12 million before the season and, in light of this year's success, increased the offer to roughly four years for $16 million. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Coaching, Sam Presti, Scott Brooks 

The Oklahoma City Thunder have added a fourth year to a contract extension offer to coach Scott Brooks, but the two sides still have significant differences on salary, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Brooks’ contract expires on Saturday, and he could immediately become a candidate for the Portland Trail Blazers , sources said. Thunder GM Sam Presti and Brooks’ agent, Warren LeGarie, have had conversations this week, but there is still a gap between the sides. Yahoo! Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Sam Presti, Scott Brooks 

The chances of a playoff team getting Beal are slim, but Finals runner-up Oklahoma City has invested quality time figuring out a way to get up high enough to land Beal. Beal told ESPN/ESPN.com Wednesday that Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti told him during an interview in Chicago that he was interested in trying to move up to draft him. The Thunder's first-round pick currently isn't until No. 28. "He told me he was going to decide what they're going to do and considered getting up there," said Beal. Beal said Denver, which picks at No. 20, also made a similar statement. ESPN.com

Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Trade, Sam Presti, Bradley Beal 

Presti has seriously considered finding a way to get to Beal. A number of sources said that Presti spent three days in Gainesville during the lockout watching the Gators practice, a fact that Beal confirmed Wednesday. A source also said that Florida coach Billy Donovan met with Presti in Dallas when he took his two nephews to the Oklahoma City-Dallas first-round playoff series in May. Presti and Donovan have had multiple conversations on the phone about Beal, as well. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Trade, Sam Presti, Bradley Beal 

Sam Presti: "I wouldn't say we're looking to move our draft pick." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Sam Presti 

Extending Harden is probably the first order of business and by the way he spoke Saturday, it doesn’t seem to be a concern. “I’m just leaving it up to my agent and Sam,” Harden said. “They’ll do a pretty good job of working it out. I’m focused on several other things right now. But when the time is [right], they’ll figure it out and it’ll be done.” DailyThunder.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, James Harden 

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks says he hopes to meet with team chairman Clay Bennett and general manager Sam Presti in "the next couple of days" to discuss a new contract. Brooks pointed out Saturday that no one has had down time since training camp started in early December, following the lockout that condensed the season. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Coaching, Sam Presti, Scott Brooks, Clay Bennett 

Darnell Mayberry: Presti: "As we have said consistently, Scott is an integral part of the Thunder, and his contributions have been critical to the success... Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Coaching, Sam Presti, Scott Brooks 

Darnell Mayberry: "and growth of our players and team. We have great respect for Scott and are confident he is the right person for the Thunder... Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Coaching, Sam Presti, Scott Brooks 

Darnell Mayberry: "We are hopeful he will be the coach of the Thunder for years to come." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Coaching, Sam Presti, Scott Brooks 

John Hollinger: That's Sam Presti and Clay Bennett in the tunnel greeting all the OKC players. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, Clay Bennett