Welcome to OKCThunderGround!

I’m not at all freaked out or devastated the Thunder are at the No. 6, No. 16, and the No. 18 spots in the upcoming draft.

If Sam Presti and his scouting staff do a good job this should be a solid haul for the Thunder.

Jokic the league’s MVP was a second round pick and the 41st player taken in his class. His teammate and the Nuggets’ second best player Jamaal Murray was the 7th player in his class.

Just in the Northwest Division alone the best players who have led these teams give proof how far there are good players to team build around.

Donovan Mithchell…13th player taken in his class.

SGA….11th player taken in his class.

Damian Lillard 6th and CJ McCollum 10th player in their respective draft classes.

Again…I wrote this earlier on Wednesday…Devin Booker, the hottest player in these playoffs currently along with Trae Young, was the 13th player taken in his class and his backcourt mate Cam Payne was the 14th player taken in his class.

Cade was the most interesting to me because of his size and versatility, but if Sam Presti does his job this should be a class of players who make the Thunder.

I wouldn’t bundle my three picks to move up. I’d do my job scouting and pick players who have the best potential of melding into Shai’s skill sets.

Then hopefully..Presti can make a trade perhaps to bring s stabilizing vet role player on board. Then trade Kemba Walker for a decent first round pick next summer.

I wouldn’t freak out is what I’m writing, but I wouldn’t tank next season either.

This next season is where I find out if Mark D can be a head coach of a relevant NBA team who isn’t being told to lose games.

Detroit and Houston won the night while the Oklahma City Thunder fell outside of the top five picks.

This can’t really be a surprise since 6th or 7th is where the odds said the Thunder would most likely up in the drafting order.

Shouldn’t have won that game at Boston or the late season game against I think it was the Clippers. Should have run the table at 0-25 and been totally shameless. But que sera.

Damian Lillard was the 6th pick in his draft class so I would say to Sam Presti and staff…earn your paychecks.

Devin Booker was the 13th player taken in his class. Giannis was the 15th player taken in his class. Kawhi was the 16th player taken in his class. Kevin Huerta was the 18th player in his draft class. All four of these dudes are still playing this season.

Sam Presti please show me the genius beyond Portland taking Greg Oden.

That’s all I have so far this morning.

I feel for Cade though. Detroit…holy shit. Maybe Cade can spur a rebirth of sorts in the city. Good luck, buddy.

The question is still the same for the Thunder at 6 as it was at 1…who will be available who fits the best with Shai?

If you would have taken Jalen Suggs at 3 then why wouldn’t you take Davion Mitchell at 6?

It’s lottery day and I would think a huge day for Sam Presti and the future of NBA hoops relevance in Oklahoma City.

On the positive side one can clearly see what is possible in this league with LeBron and Kevin Durant both on the backside of their careers. What both Atlanta and Phoenix have done in the last several years shows a franchise can become relevant with some luck, smart picks, and a few saavy trades.

For me as a fan of the Thunder…what I’m looking for is the best possible running mate to play alongside Shai Gilgeous Alexander who will become one of the team’s best two players in coming years.

OKC has their own pick, either the Houston or Miami pick, and now the Celtics pick in this draft.

The dream scenario for the Thunder would be 1 and 5. Not likely, but that would be the best scenario.

As we sit waiting for the lottery to unfold this is the way I would go…. 1 Cade, 2 Evan Mobley, 3 Jalen Suggs, 4 Kuminga, 5 Jalen Green and Davion Mitchelll as my sleeper pick.

I like Cade because of his vesatility and his team attitude and desire to win. Plus, his NBA ready body.

We have to see if Houston’s pick falls to No. 5 before we go deeper into this.

As we’re seeing in these playoffs there are excellent NBA players on the rosters of LA, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Milwaukee who were all drafted below the No. 10 spot in their respective draft classes.

So let’s see where OKC’s picks will be coming from and then look at what the Thunder can do with this draft to make the franchise relevant again.

It was cool and wet this morning so I had most of the day off. The day after Father’s Day and I was in a somewhat reflective mood.

And of all people I found myself thinking of Joe Mixon and his altercation with that white woman several years ago.

During the first year of the pandemic in August… I was standing in a line in front of two black women and a black man in a 7-11.

This drunk blonde heavy set woman walks up to me and says, ” I’m cutting in front of you because I should and I can.”

I didn’t say anything, but I did give her my ultimate ‘You piece of ignorant white trash stare’ and ignored her.

Then she got even closer to me and said it again. I dropped a few suggestions as to what she could do with herself and stayed somewhat contained.

The two black women then said to me, “Sir… you better get out of here.” We’ll take care of this.” And they did.

But I have to admit there was a second there I thought of Joe Mixon.

I was critical of Bob Stoops at first for how he handled Joe Mixon. But in the end Bob Stoops was exactly right in the manner in which he salvaged Joe Mixon’s life.

So this morning I’m in a 7-11 in another line buying some Dr. Pepper for my wife. I had three Dr. Peppers dangling in a plastic six pack holder and the total was like $2.95. I had a bunch of quarters in my pocket and was ten cents short or something.

I said to the cashier, ” I don’t have a credit card on me. I’ll go get you another ten cents from my truck.”

So I’m out in my truck grabbing a dime or a quarter and this young black man about the age of my son has my three Dr. Peppers in one hand and my money in his other hand.

He then says, “Sir, I went ahead and paid for it—here’s your money. Have breakfast on me.”

This kid was articulate and obviously very much in charge of his life.

I said, “This is incredibly thoughtful of you. But I have plenty of money.”

He says, “You look like a good father. Please do it as a favor to me.”

So I said, ” McDonald’s is across the the street. I’m going to go get the Big Boy Breakfast.

He smiled.

I asked, ” What’s your name, young man?’

He said, “Antonio”.

I said, ” If you’d said Barack… I was going to shit all over myself.”

He laughed politely and headed towards his car.

So I end the conversation by saying, “Antonio, your parents raised a heck of a young man. Thank you for the breakfast. I’m going to write about you on my blog tonight. Maybe you could run for the U.S Senate in Oklahoma some time before I leave this earth.”

He says, “Why not POTUS?”.

“Have a nice day, kid.”

So there.

Marshall Tucker Band is coming to Oklahoma City on September 17th. I know where I’ll be. The basketball has been so serious of late I need to play a song.

Son called me yesterday from Denver and informed me Little Robert is now running up all three stories in their house and then sneaking away with his own milk bottle bottle going back down to the film room to dance to Baby Shark.

Little Robert scheduled to begin first ski academy class in November in Loveland.

Good night. Embrace Tuesday and slay it. Hate to tell you all you Trump Proud Boy Patriots..but this is what a president looks like.

A great night for the Atlanta Hawks as they casually defeated the Sixers on the road in a Game 7 which seemed like no big deal.

That’s what impressed me the most. That being… as a young team they expected to win this game on the road.

Trae Young and Kevin Huerta were both superb at clutch time. And of course former Thunder forward Danilo Galinari made the game’s biggest play on a transition two which in effect sealed the game.

The city of Atlanta thanks you Sam Presti for making sure Gallo became a Hawk and could live in a city which isn’t run by a group of Trump racist dullards. When I look at Gallo I think of when Pau Gasol couldn’t come to play with Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka because of Oklahoma’s Proud Boy redneck culture.

It was so sad watching Doc Rivers in the post game presser trying to avoid throwing Ben Simmons under the bus. It made me hurt for both of them.

I’m to this day amazed Presti didn’t have Ben Simmons on the same teams with Andre and Steven. I love both Andre and Steven, but in basketball…being able to shoot the ball somewhat is a deal.

The Process just was exposed. You don’t pay the second highest salary on your payroll to a player who can’t shoot the ball.

Kevin Huerta…there’s another example of a player being drafted around No. 19 or so and becoming a very nice NBA player who can shoot a basketball.

Presti will never take any heat from the local scribes in Oklahoma. As in never. Tramel and Royce Young will insulate him to maintain off the record status.

I’d last one day with a Thunder press credetial.

As in… one day.

Like Pacino in a courtroom.

Have a nice day on this cool rainy Monday which was much needed balm for my old ass.

Draft some guys who can shoot the rock, Sam Presti.

This is me below being removed from my first and last OKC presser after asking several pointed questions in regards to some of the team’s personnel decisions.

Just a great basketball game. Kevin played 53 minutes and scored 48 points while. Giannis played 50 minutes and scored 40 points. Probably an instant classic of sorts as the Bucks prevailed 115-111 in overtime on the road in a Game 7.

Giannis went 8-14 from the free throw line and maybe crossed a line of sorts in this game as far as winning a ring.

Neither star got much from their respective benches. Brooklyn got nary a point from their bench while the Bucks got nine points from their non-starters.

Milwaukee was the better team in the end with the additions of Jrue Holiday and PJ Tucker.

We now have Milwaukee, the LA Clippers, the Phoenix Suns, and the winner of Philly versus Atlanta in our Final Four.

This should be fun and an interesting departure with some new teams and new stars showing their stuff to the basketball world.

Tough exit for Kevin Durant, but he played every minute and gave what he had. He just didn’t get enough help which is ironic.

But as an NBA fan….I’m excited to see which star and which team fills the LeBron lane.

Another great night for the Sam Presti claim to fame as the best AAA affiliate in the NBA.

The Clippers without Kawhi Leonard stunned the NBA world by coming back from a 25 point second half deficit to win their second round series and advance to play the Phoenix Suns in the conference finals.

Thus, in the West we’ll have the Chris Paul-Cam Payne Suns taking on the Paul George-Reggie Jackson Clippers.

For all of us who have ever dissed Reggie Jackson it’s a day of reckoning as I thought he was the Clips’ MVP in this game even with Terrance Mann scoring 39 points.

So in the West…we’ll have two teams laden with Sam Presti all over their competitive makeup. While in the East if the Nets can win Game 7 tonight at home we’ll have the Durant-Hardenp-Green trifecta.

Three of the Final Four teams could have Oklahoma City DNA all over their post season relevance this June.

And then to make things even better…Sam Presti unloaded Big Al Horford’s contract to the Celtics for Kemba Walker’s equally horrible contract and extracted Boston’s first round pick in this upcoming draft as well.

It was a vintage Sam Presti Day and I’m certain David Stern has a smile on his face in hoops heaven.

The oppressive humidity has somewhate quelled my blogging this past week. But I did watch the the OU womens’ softball, the Avs’ and Bruins’ defensive collapses…and of course former Thunder guards Chris Paul and Cam Payne advance to the Western Conference Finals.

Phoenix vs. Brooklyn would seem just about right as the Thunder question their own sustainability a week from now with the lottery order being announced.

Who would have thought you could have taken Jeff Green, KD, and Harden and made a run? Who would have thought you could take an aging CP3 and Cam Payne and make a run?

Congrats to Jeff Green on his career high post season game tonight as the Nets have a 3-2 lead in their Eastern semis with the Milwaukee Bucks.

I just don’t see how Giannis wins a ring as the primary closer since he can’t make free throws. That just seems flawed to me.

Anyway…congrats to all the former Thunder players on the cusp of making the NBA Finals.

And throw in the fact Blake Griffin of all people has found a basketball safety net with Kevin as well. Maybe the Proud Boy hater racists in Oklahoma would give KD some credit if he wins this title without Steph and Klay.

Life can sure be funny as it unwinds before us.

Phoenix vs. Brooklyn would tug at all of my heart strings.Sam Presti just loves to make trades. Oh, boy.

Of the eight teams now left in the NBA Playoffs…. I would say at this point I’d probably like to see the Phoenix Suns vs. the Brooklyn Nets in the Finals.

It would combine former AAA Oklahoma City players on both teams and it would be an obvious heart tug story for coach Monty Williams who’s life changed so tragically back in the 2016 season as an assistant for the Thunder.

And who wouldn’t want Chris Paul at the least to make the NBA Finals for a first time in his career?

An interesting coaching matchup for certain with Monty Williams versus Steve Nash.

Plus the Phoenix fans in my view have been the most ardent so far in these playoffs with their support of their basketball team.

Plus…there’s the Kevin Durant story. It would be nice to see Kevin Durant move on completely away from the narrative his career took when he left OKC for Golden State.

I hope most basketball fans in Oklahoma City can let go of that exit and appreciate Kevin Duarnt for what he’s truly been since he entered the league. That being…probably the second best player behind LeBron James.

Which brings us to this question given the fact for the second time in the last three seasons LeBron struggled healthwise at the back of a season.

At the conclusion of these NBA Playoff who will assume the mantle of the current best player in the game?

LeBron, Kevin, Kawhi or perhaps Jokic?

I know that with this parity with these eight teams it’s going to be fun watching the NBA being reshaped somewhat for the next generation of players.

This was a pretty cool moment for Patti Gasso’s team which was on the brink of elimination on Sunday. There’s nothing like seeing the ball leave the park at a critical moment. You know how I love that Joe Carter Jr. moment and how it shaped me as a man.

This is Kenzie Hansen with an insurance two run homer as the Sooners survived Odicci Alexander and the James Madison Dukes with a 6-3 win on Sunday.

Tiare Jennings actually had the game winner with an RBI double before Hansen went yard.

Given it was a rough week-end for the Colorado Avs as it was very tough sledding in Vegas. That just goes to show how important the fans are in getting a team rolling. The Bubble was long gone in Vegas and it won’t at the park in Oklahoma City today either.

If the Sooners can win this afternoon they will make the Finals of the CWS against the winner of the Florida State vs. Alabama game.

To me…the womens’ softball tournament is more fun than the mens’ baseball tournament because the games are so fast…kind of like hockey and basketball. When you have equally talented teams the game moves and is pretty fun to watch. Two of my friends have daughters who played college ball so that’s helped nurture me as a fan of the game.

Little Aubrey Jackson’s grandfather will be getting her a glove to play third base for certain. Little Robert…a hockey stick.

If James Madison wasn’t playing OU today…I’d be rooting for them. It’s quite a story…an unseeded team on the cusp of making the WCWS Finals. Kind of like Steph Curry when he took little Davidson to the Final Four.

If James Madison were playing Alabama today… I’d be at the park screaming for Odicci and her mates like a maniac.

You know..what we could have though is an Alabama vs. OU final with OU as the home team instead of playing the SEC in their Sugar Bowl venue. Of course..last time that happened in 2014—the Sooners pistol whipped the Tide 45-31 before Saban went high octane with his own spread offense.

Could be a harbinger of sorts as we get into next college football season with the Sooners’ being ESPN’s No. 1 rated team heading into next fall.

BTW…I’m going to rank OU’s current top ten players sometime later this month. OU is loaded back like in the early days of Switzer ‘almost’.

Anyway…Odicci—I love your story. If you beat OU today on their field with all those crazy fans you’ll have done what Steph didn’t do at Davidson.

Good luck, kid. I mean that. This is why we play sports and why we compete as humans.

Damn…I almost want you to beat OU today. Almost.