Oklahoma City Thunder Archives - SportzBonanza SportzBonanza Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:32:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Thunder Ends Pelicans’ Season, Set to Play Timberwolves for Eight-Seed Playoff Spot https://sportzbonanza.com/thunder-ends-pelicans-season-set-to-play-timberwolves-for-eight-seed-playoff-spot/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 06:27:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=20783 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Oklahoma City Thunder in 2022The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 on Wednesday night, thereby bringing an end to the Pelicans’ season and winning them the opportunity to play for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points on the night, including 25 in the second half of the game to […]

The post Thunder Ends Pelicans’ Season, Set to Play Timberwolves for Eight-Seed Playoff Spot appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 on Wednesday night, thereby bringing an end to the Pelicans’ season and winning them the opportunity to play for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points on the night, including 25 in the second half of the game to help Oklahoma City complete their comeback after what was one of the worst first halves of any game statistically this season. Guard Josh Giddey finished just behind Gilgeous-Alexander on 31 points, adding 10 rebounds and nine assists as well.

“When your leader is not flustered and under control out there, it’s a spiral effect,” Giddey reflected after the game. “Guys see that and feed off it.”

Although the Pelicans were successful in their plan to minimize Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring opportunities, only allowing him to score seven points in the first half, Giddey explained that the Thunder was prepared for this outcome, working it into their own game plan. Instead of attempting to force his way into the game, Gilgeous-Alexander enabled his teammates to create other opportunities, finding his way into the game naturally once the opportunity arose.

Oklahoma City is set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

The post Thunder Ends Pelicans’ Season, Set to Play Timberwolves for Eight-Seed Playoff Spot appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Oklahoma Rookie Chet Holmgren to Miss 2022-23 Season With Foot Injury https://sportzbonanza.com/oklahoma-rookie-chet-holmgren-to-miss-2022-23-season-with-foot-injury/ Sun, 28 Aug 2022 06:04:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=19089 Chet Holmgren with Gonzaga in March 2022The Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is set to miss the entirety of the 2022-23 NFL season through injury, the team announced on Thursday. This comes after Holmgren suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot earlier this week. The 20-year-old player picked up the foot injury while attempting to guard LeBron James early […]

The post Oklahoma Rookie Chet Holmgren to Miss 2022-23 Season With Foot Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is set to miss the entirety of the 2022-23 NFL season through injury, the team announced on Thursday. This comes after Holmgren suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot earlier this week.

The 20-year-old player picked up the foot injury while attempting to guard LeBron James early on during the CrawsOver Pro-Am event. It is believed that Holmgren’s injury may have stemmed from slippery court issues.

“Certainly, we are disappointed for Chet, especially given the excitement he had about getting on the floor with his teammates this season. We know Chet has a long career ahead of him within our organization and the Oklahoma City community. One of the things that most impressed us during the process of selecting Chet was his determination and focus. We expect that same tenacity will carry him through this period of time as we work together and support him during his rehabilitation,” general manager Sam Presti said of the rookie.

According to Presti, Holmgren is to undergo foot surgery in the hopes of providing a long-term solution to the youngster so that one such injury does not resurface.

The post Oklahoma Rookie Chet Holmgren to Miss 2022-23 Season With Foot Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Nuggets Trade JaMychal Green to Oklahoma City Thunder https://sportzbonanza.com/nuggets-trade-jamychal-green-to-oklahoma-city-thunder/ Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:28:05 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=18428 JaMychal Green (right) defends Spurs' Manu GinobiliThe Denver Nuggets didn’t take long to start wheeling and dealing under new general manager Calvin Booth. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nuggets have shipped veteran JaMychal Green to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that also included a swap of picks. As part of the trade, the Thunder will also get a […]

The post Nuggets Trade JaMychal Green to Oklahoma City Thunder appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Denver Nuggets didn’t take long to start wheeling and dealing under new general manager Calvin Booth. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nuggets have shipped veteran JaMychal Green to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that also included a swap of picks.

As part of the trade, the Thunder will also get a protected first-round selection in 2027. On the other hand, Denver received no. 30 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and two future second-rounders.

Green has been playing in Denver for the past two seasons. He made 67 appearances in 2021-22, averaging 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

The value of this deal for the Nuggets isn’t just an extra selection in this year’s draft, and future second-round picks. By moving Green, they also get a salary-cap relief and save $20 million in salary and luxury tax. They also created an $8.2 million trade exception that they can use to make additions to their roster in the future.

On the other hand, OKC was motivated to shed one of their many picks this year and push it further in the future. The Thunder was set to have three first-round selections in 2022 before making the Nuggets’ deal. They still held onto no. 2 and no. 12 picks.

JaMychal Green previously also played with the San Antonio Spurs, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Los Angeles Clippers. His best season as a pro came in 2017-18 in Grizzlies’ jersey, when he averaged 10.3 points, 8.4 boards, and 1.4 points per game.

The post Nuggets Trade JaMychal Green to Oklahoma City Thunder appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Celtics Trade All-Star Kemba Walker to OKC https://sportzbonanza.com/celtics-trade-all-star-kemba-walker-to-okc/ Sun, 20 Jun 2021 06:44:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16213 Kemba Walker with Charlotte Hornets in 2017According to multiple reports, the Boston Celtics are trading All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trade comes two years after the organization signed Walker to a $141 million max contract in free agency. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that besides Walker, the Celtics are also sending their 16th pick in the […]

The post Celtics Trade All-Star Kemba Walker to OKC appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

According to multiple reports, the Boston Celtics are trading All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trade comes two years after the organization signed Walker to a $141 million max contract in free agency.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that besides Walker, the Celtics are also sending their 16th pick in the 2021 NBA draft and a 2025 second-rounder to OKC. In exchange, Boston will receive veteran forward Al Horford, undrafted Moses Brown, and a second-round pick in 2023.

Walker was one of the most sought-after free agents in 2019, having made an All-Star team in three previous seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. The Celtics brought him in believing he could be the franchise’s next star, but things didn’t exactly work out that way.

While Walker had some good runs in Boston, he struggled to emerge as a leader and dealt with various injuries that kept him off the court for prolonged periods of time. He only played 43 regular-season games in 2020-21 while also having a limited impact in the postseason.

Trading Walker is the first move that former Celtics head coach and now president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has made in his new role. While surprising, the deal will give Boston a great deal of financial flexibility to build around their young talents Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It also brings back fan-favorite Horford, who could resume his role as a veteran leader in the locker room.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, on the other hand, continue to fill their chest of draft picks. They will now have three first-rounders in 2021 alone, owning selections from the Miami Heat, the Celtics, and their own. Altogether, OKC has 18 first-round picks in the next seven drafts.

The move to Oklahoma City might not be a bad one for Kemba Walker, as he will get to play a prominent role without the burden of expectations. The Thunder might resurrect his career in the same way they did with some other veterans like Chris Paul.

Walker is set to play his 11th season in the NBA in 2021-22. His career averages include 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

The post Celtics Trade All-Star Kemba Walker to OKC appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
OKC Thunder Trade Hamidou Diallo to Pistons for Svi Mykhailiuk and a Pick https://sportzbonanza.com/okc-thunder-trade-hamidou-diallo-to-pistons-for-svi-mykhailiuk-and-a-pick/ Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:17:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15876 Hamidou Diallo with OKC in 2021The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to add draft picks to their ever-growing collection. The latest is a 2027 second-round selection they got for guard Hamidou Diallo in a deal with Detroit Pistons. The Thunder announced the move over the weekend, adding that they also received forward Sviatoslav “Svi” Mykhailiuk as part of the trade. Diallo […]

The post OKC Thunder Trade Hamidou Diallo to Pistons for Svi Mykhailiuk and a Pick appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to add draft picks to their ever-growing collection. The latest is a 2027 second-round selection they got for guard Hamidou Diallo in a deal with Detroit Pistons.

The Thunder announced the move over the weekend, adding that they also received forward Sviatoslav “Svi” Mykhailiuk as part of the trade.

Diallo has enjoyed a productive campaign in 2020-21, averaging a career-high 11.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Still, OKC is stacked on the position so it made sense for them to flip him for more assets, especially since he will be a restricted free agent next offseason.

Mykhailiuk, on the other hand, fits better in terms of needs for the Thunder. He is considered to be an athletic swingman and could be an asset for the OKC down the stretch. In 36 games this season, the 23-year-old Ukrainian averaged 6.9 points and 2.1 rebounds.

The deal works for the Pistons as well, as they believe Diallo can become an important player for them in the future. Diallo will be welcomed in Detroit by general manager Troy Weaver, who previously worked in OKC’s front office.

Diallo was initially drafted in the NBA by the Brooklyn Nets with the No. 45 pick in 2018 but got traded to the Thunder on draft night. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion in 2019.

The post OKC Thunder Trade Hamidou Diallo to Pistons for Svi Mykhailiuk and a Pick appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Steven Adams Signs Two-Year, $35 Million Deal with New Orleans Pelicans https://sportzbonanza.com/steven-adams-signs-two-year-35-million-deal-with-new-orleans-pelicans/ Fri, 27 Nov 2020 05:08:36 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14906 Steven Adams in 2017After acquiring big man Steven Adams in a trade, the New Orleans Pelicans have worked out a contract extension with him worth $35 million over two years. The Pelicans are adding a veteran to their young core who will look to team up with explosive second-year star Zion Williamson to give the Pelicans a dominant […]

The post Steven Adams Signs Two-Year, $35 Million Deal with New Orleans Pelicans appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

After acquiring big man Steven Adams in a trade, the New Orleans Pelicans have worked out a contract extension with him worth $35 million over two years.

The Pelicans are adding a veteran to their young core who will look to team up with explosive second-year star Zion Williamson to give the Pelicans a dominant frontcourt duo.

In order to get Adams, the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks agreed to an expanded trade scenario that sent Jrue Holiday to the Bucks. The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder were also involved in the trade, with Adams coming over from Oklahoma City to New Orleans in the blockbuster deal.

The Pelicans have a young core of Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball. Adams will provide a veteran presence to the team in hopes of becoming a playoff contender this year.

Adams is an excellent interior defender and averaged 9.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game last season. On the other side of the court, he averaged a solid 10.9 points per game.

Adams’s role will surely be a more defensive one, defending the opponent’s best big man in an effort to free up Williamson so that he can be a dominant scorer.

The post Steven Adams Signs Two-Year, $35 Million Deal with New Orleans Pelicans appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
OKC Sends Danny Green to 76ers for Al Horford and Picks https://sportzbonanza.com/okc-sends-danny-green-to-76ers-for-al-horford-and-picks/ Mon, 23 Nov 2020 05:19:06 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14864 Danny Green playing for Toronto Raptors in 2019Oklahoma City Thunder has been meticulously flipping players for draft picks for the past year, and it appears it doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon. The team’s most recent business was trading Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson to Philadelphia 76ers and acquiring two picks and forward Al Horford. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the picks […]

The post OKC Sends Danny Green to 76ers for Al Horford and Picks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

Oklahoma City Thunder has been meticulously flipping players for draft picks for the past year, and it appears it doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon. The team’s most recent business was trading Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson to Philadelphia 76ers and acquiring two picks and forward Al Horford.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the picks that OKC received are first-rounder in 2025 with “light protection” and No.34 pick in 2020 NBA Draft, which Philly used to draft French point guard Theo Maledon.

The impressive thing about this deal is that OKC acquired Danny Green alongside another draft pick just a few days ago in a trade that saw them sending Dennis Schroder to Los Angeles Lakers. If they continue to follow the pattern, Thunder will turn Horford into more picks soon.  

After this last deal, Thunder is set to have impressive 15 first-round picks throughout 2026 alongside multiple swap-pick options with Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets, among other teams. This number will only increase moving forward, as the organization has several more “tradable” players on their rebuilding roster.

This deal works out well for Philly as well, considering that they received a proven shooter in Green while getting away from Al Horford’s big deal.

The 76ers signed Horford to a four-year, $109 million contract last summer, but the 34-year-old was largely unproductive during his time in Philadelphia. He averaged 11.9 points, lowest since his sophomore season in NBA, and was even benched on several occasions due to his inability to share the floor with Philly’s star center Joel Embiid.

The post OKC Sends Danny Green to 76ers for Al Horford and Picks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Suns, Thunder Agree to Blockbuster Chris Paul Trade https://sportzbonanza.com/suns-thunder-agree-to-blockbuster-chris-paul-trade/ Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14831 Chris Paul with the USA Basketball TeamThe Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a blockbuster deal on Tuesday which will see future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul move west. The teams agreed to a mega-deal which will see Chris Paul move from the Thunder along with F Abdel Nader to the Suns in exchange for Kelly Oubre […]

The post Suns, Thunder Agree to Blockbuster Chris Paul Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a blockbuster deal on Tuesday which will see future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul move west.

The teams agreed to a mega-deal which will see Chris Paul move from the Thunder along with F Abdel Nader to the Suns in exchange for Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick.

This move is a clear sign that the Suns are looking to contend in the 2020-21 season and that they have real ambitions to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.

Phoenix acquires one of the best point guards in the league who, at the age of 34 averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 assists per game along with excellent efficiency.

The Thunder, on the other hand, will look to retool and rebuild for the future with the package that they acquired in the deal. Oubre and the 2022 first-round pick are the biggest pieces in the deal, with the Thunder acquiring one of the league’s bright young talents. Oubre averaged 18.7 points per game last season.

Rubio looks set to fill in for Paul as the team’s starting point guard, while Ty Jerome and Jalen Lecque are young players who saw minimal playing time for Phoenix last year.

This trade should have a huge impact in the Western Conference race and could signal the Suns’ return to playoff and title contention.

The post Suns, Thunder Agree to Blockbuster Chris Paul Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Oklahoma City Thunder Part Ways with Coach Billy Donovan https://sportzbonanza.com/oklahoma-city-thunder-part-ways-with-coach-billy-donovan/ Thu, 10 Sep 2020 05:05:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=13650 The Oklahoma City Thunder has announced that coach Billy Donovan will not be returning next season after leading the team for five seasons. Donovan had a record of 243-157 as the coach of Oklahoma City, a team that overachieved this year, almost making it to the second round of the NBA playoffs. They lost 4-3 […]

The post Oklahoma City Thunder Part Ways with Coach Billy Donovan appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Oklahoma City Thunder has announced that coach Billy Donovan will not be returning next season after leading the team for five seasons.

Donovan had a record of 243-157 as the coach of Oklahoma City, a team that overachieved this year, almost making it to the second round of the NBA playoffs.

They lost 4-3 in a best-of-seven series against the Houston Rockets in the first round.

Donovan led the team to the playoffs in each of his five seasons and was a finalist for the NBA Coach of the Year award this year, which all points to him probably becoming a very attractive solution for other NBA teams that are currently looking to hire a new coach.

According to Donovan and the team, his departure was a mutual decision, with Thunder general manager Sam Presti saying that Oklahoma City couldn’t give Donovan the assurances about his future with the team that he wanted.

Before joining Oklahoma City, Donovan was the coach at the University of Florida, where he won two national championships and took the team to four Final Four appearances in 19 seasons of coaching.

In his first year as the coach of the Thunder, Donovan went to the Western Conference Finals with a team that was carried at the time by superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They ended up squandering a 3-1 series lead to the Golden State Warriors that year and have not been back to the Conference Finals since.

Expectations for Oklahoma City were very low in 2019 after the team traded Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul and traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers.

However, the Paul-led Thunder team went 44-28 and nearly beat the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.

The post Oklahoma City Thunder Part Ways with Coach Billy Donovan appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Carmelo Anthony Now 15th on NBA’s All-Time Scoring List https://sportzbonanza.com/carmelo-anthony-now-15th-on-nbas-all-time-scoring-list/ Tue, 11 Aug 2020 05:17:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=13119 Carmelo Anthony with the US Men's basketball team in 2016.Carmelo Anthony has officially passed Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Carmelo is now 15th all-time, right behind Spurs star Tim Duncan. Anthony has now scored 26,411 points since joining the league as the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, a legendary draft in which Anthony, Lebron James, […]

The post Carmelo Anthony Now 15th on NBA’s All-Time Scoring List appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

Carmelo Anthony has officially passed Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Carmelo is now 15th all-time, right behind Spurs star Tim Duncan.

Anthony has now scored 26,411 points since joining the league as the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, a legendary draft in which Anthony, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh were all taken in the top five.

Anthony is currently playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, who are making a push to qualify for the 2020 playoffs. The 36-year-old player was originally drafted by the Denver Nuggets and has played for the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets.

He led the NBA in scoring in 2012-2013 with the Knicks and has averaged 23.6 points per game during his career. Anthony is also a six-time All-NBA selection and 10-time All-Star. And even though he hasn’t won a championship, his scoring prowess should be enough to cement his status as a future Hall-of-Famer.

Anthony has proven to be an excellent addition to Portland’s roster this season, where he has become a strong veteran leader and an excellent and reliable third scoring option next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

The post Carmelo Anthony Now 15th on NBA’s All-Time Scoring List appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> Oklahoma City Thunder Archives - SportzBonanza SportzBonanza Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:32:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Thunder Ends Pelicans’ Season, Set to Play Timberwolves for Eight-Seed Playoff Spot https://sportzbonanza.com/thunder-ends-pelicans-season-set-to-play-timberwolves-for-eight-seed-playoff-spot/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 06:27:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=20783 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Oklahoma City Thunder in 2022The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 on Wednesday night, thereby bringing an end to the Pelicans’ season and winning them the opportunity to play for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points on the night, including 25 in the second half of the game to […]

The post Thunder Ends Pelicans’ Season, Set to Play Timberwolves for Eight-Seed Playoff Spot appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 on Wednesday night, thereby bringing an end to the Pelicans’ season and winning them the opportunity to play for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points on the night, including 25 in the second half of the game to help Oklahoma City complete their comeback after what was one of the worst first halves of any game statistically this season. Guard Josh Giddey finished just behind Gilgeous-Alexander on 31 points, adding 10 rebounds and nine assists as well.

“When your leader is not flustered and under control out there, it’s a spiral effect,” Giddey reflected after the game. “Guys see that and feed off it.”

Although the Pelicans were successful in their plan to minimize Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring opportunities, only allowing him to score seven points in the first half, Giddey explained that the Thunder was prepared for this outcome, working it into their own game plan. Instead of attempting to force his way into the game, Gilgeous-Alexander enabled his teammates to create other opportunities, finding his way into the game naturally once the opportunity arose.

Oklahoma City is set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

The post Thunder Ends Pelicans’ Season, Set to Play Timberwolves for Eight-Seed Playoff Spot appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Oklahoma Rookie Chet Holmgren to Miss 2022-23 Season With Foot Injury https://sportzbonanza.com/oklahoma-rookie-chet-holmgren-to-miss-2022-23-season-with-foot-injury/ Sun, 28 Aug 2022 06:04:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=19089 Chet Holmgren with Gonzaga in March 2022The Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is set to miss the entirety of the 2022-23 NFL season through injury, the team announced on Thursday. This comes after Holmgren suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot earlier this week. The 20-year-old player picked up the foot injury while attempting to guard LeBron James early […]

The post Oklahoma Rookie Chet Holmgren to Miss 2022-23 Season With Foot Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is set to miss the entirety of the 2022-23 NFL season through injury, the team announced on Thursday. This comes after Holmgren suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot earlier this week.

The 20-year-old player picked up the foot injury while attempting to guard LeBron James early on during the CrawsOver Pro-Am event. It is believed that Holmgren’s injury may have stemmed from slippery court issues.

“Certainly, we are disappointed for Chet, especially given the excitement he had about getting on the floor with his teammates this season. We know Chet has a long career ahead of him within our organization and the Oklahoma City community. One of the things that most impressed us during the process of selecting Chet was his determination and focus. We expect that same tenacity will carry him through this period of time as we work together and support him during his rehabilitation,” general manager Sam Presti said of the rookie.

According to Presti, Holmgren is to undergo foot surgery in the hopes of providing a long-term solution to the youngster so that one such injury does not resurface.

The post Oklahoma Rookie Chet Holmgren to Miss 2022-23 Season With Foot Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Nuggets Trade JaMychal Green to Oklahoma City Thunder https://sportzbonanza.com/nuggets-trade-jamychal-green-to-oklahoma-city-thunder/ Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:28:05 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=18428 JaMychal Green (right) defends Spurs' Manu GinobiliThe Denver Nuggets didn’t take long to start wheeling and dealing under new general manager Calvin Booth. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nuggets have shipped veteran JaMychal Green to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that also included a swap of picks. As part of the trade, the Thunder will also get a […]

The post Nuggets Trade JaMychal Green to Oklahoma City Thunder appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Denver Nuggets didn’t take long to start wheeling and dealing under new general manager Calvin Booth. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nuggets have shipped veteran JaMychal Green to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal that also included a swap of picks.

As part of the trade, the Thunder will also get a protected first-round selection in 2027. On the other hand, Denver received no. 30 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and two future second-rounders.

Green has been playing in Denver for the past two seasons. He made 67 appearances in 2021-22, averaging 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

The value of this deal for the Nuggets isn’t just an extra selection in this year’s draft, and future second-round picks. By moving Green, they also get a salary-cap relief and save $20 million in salary and luxury tax. They also created an $8.2 million trade exception that they can use to make additions to their roster in the future.

On the other hand, OKC was motivated to shed one of their many picks this year and push it further in the future. The Thunder was set to have three first-round selections in 2022 before making the Nuggets’ deal. They still held onto no. 2 and no. 12 picks.

JaMychal Green previously also played with the San Antonio Spurs, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Los Angeles Clippers. His best season as a pro came in 2017-18 in Grizzlies’ jersey, when he averaged 10.3 points, 8.4 boards, and 1.4 points per game.

The post Nuggets Trade JaMychal Green to Oklahoma City Thunder appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Celtics Trade All-Star Kemba Walker to OKC https://sportzbonanza.com/celtics-trade-all-star-kemba-walker-to-okc/ Sun, 20 Jun 2021 06:44:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16213 Kemba Walker with Charlotte Hornets in 2017According to multiple reports, the Boston Celtics are trading All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trade comes two years after the organization signed Walker to a $141 million max contract in free agency. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that besides Walker, the Celtics are also sending their 16th pick in the […]

The post Celtics Trade All-Star Kemba Walker to OKC appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

According to multiple reports, the Boston Celtics are trading All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trade comes two years after the organization signed Walker to a $141 million max contract in free agency.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that besides Walker, the Celtics are also sending their 16th pick in the 2021 NBA draft and a 2025 second-rounder to OKC. In exchange, Boston will receive veteran forward Al Horford, undrafted Moses Brown, and a second-round pick in 2023.

Walker was one of the most sought-after free agents in 2019, having made an All-Star team in three previous seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. The Celtics brought him in believing he could be the franchise’s next star, but things didn’t exactly work out that way.

While Walker had some good runs in Boston, he struggled to emerge as a leader and dealt with various injuries that kept him off the court for prolonged periods of time. He only played 43 regular-season games in 2020-21 while also having a limited impact in the postseason.

Trading Walker is the first move that former Celtics head coach and now president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has made in his new role. While surprising, the deal will give Boston a great deal of financial flexibility to build around their young talents Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It also brings back fan-favorite Horford, who could resume his role as a veteran leader in the locker room.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, on the other hand, continue to fill their chest of draft picks. They will now have three first-rounders in 2021 alone, owning selections from the Miami Heat, the Celtics, and their own. Altogether, OKC has 18 first-round picks in the next seven drafts.

The move to Oklahoma City might not be a bad one for Kemba Walker, as he will get to play a prominent role without the burden of expectations. The Thunder might resurrect his career in the same way they did with some other veterans like Chris Paul.

Walker is set to play his 11th season in the NBA in 2021-22. His career averages include 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

The post Celtics Trade All-Star Kemba Walker to OKC appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
OKC Thunder Trade Hamidou Diallo to Pistons for Svi Mykhailiuk and a Pick https://sportzbonanza.com/okc-thunder-trade-hamidou-diallo-to-pistons-for-svi-mykhailiuk-and-a-pick/ Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:17:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15876 Hamidou Diallo with OKC in 2021The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to add draft picks to their ever-growing collection. The latest is a 2027 second-round selection they got for guard Hamidou Diallo in a deal with Detroit Pistons. The Thunder announced the move over the weekend, adding that they also received forward Sviatoslav “Svi” Mykhailiuk as part of the trade. Diallo […]

The post OKC Thunder Trade Hamidou Diallo to Pistons for Svi Mykhailiuk and a Pick appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to add draft picks to their ever-growing collection. The latest is a 2027 second-round selection they got for guard Hamidou Diallo in a deal with Detroit Pistons.

The Thunder announced the move over the weekend, adding that they also received forward Sviatoslav “Svi” Mykhailiuk as part of the trade.

Diallo has enjoyed a productive campaign in 2020-21, averaging a career-high 11.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Still, OKC is stacked on the position so it made sense for them to flip him for more assets, especially since he will be a restricted free agent next offseason.

Mykhailiuk, on the other hand, fits better in terms of needs for the Thunder. He is considered to be an athletic swingman and could be an asset for the OKC down the stretch. In 36 games this season, the 23-year-old Ukrainian averaged 6.9 points and 2.1 rebounds.

The deal works for the Pistons as well, as they believe Diallo can become an important player for them in the future. Diallo will be welcomed in Detroit by general manager Troy Weaver, who previously worked in OKC’s front office.

Diallo was initially drafted in the NBA by the Brooklyn Nets with the No. 45 pick in 2018 but got traded to the Thunder on draft night. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion in 2019.

The post OKC Thunder Trade Hamidou Diallo to Pistons for Svi Mykhailiuk and a Pick appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Steven Adams Signs Two-Year, $35 Million Deal with New Orleans Pelicans https://sportzbonanza.com/steven-adams-signs-two-year-35-million-deal-with-new-orleans-pelicans/ Fri, 27 Nov 2020 05:08:36 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14906 Steven Adams in 2017After acquiring big man Steven Adams in a trade, the New Orleans Pelicans have worked out a contract extension with him worth $35 million over two years. The Pelicans are adding a veteran to their young core who will look to team up with explosive second-year star Zion Williamson to give the Pelicans a dominant […]

The post Steven Adams Signs Two-Year, $35 Million Deal with New Orleans Pelicans appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

After acquiring big man Steven Adams in a trade, the New Orleans Pelicans have worked out a contract extension with him worth $35 million over two years.

The Pelicans are adding a veteran to their young core who will look to team up with explosive second-year star Zion Williamson to give the Pelicans a dominant frontcourt duo.

In order to get Adams, the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks agreed to an expanded trade scenario that sent Jrue Holiday to the Bucks. The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder were also involved in the trade, with Adams coming over from Oklahoma City to New Orleans in the blockbuster deal.

The Pelicans have a young core of Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball. Adams will provide a veteran presence to the team in hopes of becoming a playoff contender this year.

Adams is an excellent interior defender and averaged 9.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game last season. On the other side of the court, he averaged a solid 10.9 points per game.

Adams’s role will surely be a more defensive one, defending the opponent’s best big man in an effort to free up Williamson so that he can be a dominant scorer.

The post Steven Adams Signs Two-Year, $35 Million Deal with New Orleans Pelicans appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
OKC Sends Danny Green to 76ers for Al Horford and Picks https://sportzbonanza.com/okc-sends-danny-green-to-76ers-for-al-horford-and-picks/ Mon, 23 Nov 2020 05:19:06 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14864 Danny Green playing for Toronto Raptors in 2019Oklahoma City Thunder has been meticulously flipping players for draft picks for the past year, and it appears it doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon. The team’s most recent business was trading Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson to Philadelphia 76ers and acquiring two picks and forward Al Horford. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the picks […]

The post OKC Sends Danny Green to 76ers for Al Horford and Picks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

Oklahoma City Thunder has been meticulously flipping players for draft picks for the past year, and it appears it doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon. The team’s most recent business was trading Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson to Philadelphia 76ers and acquiring two picks and forward Al Horford.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the picks that OKC received are first-rounder in 2025 with “light protection” and No.34 pick in 2020 NBA Draft, which Philly used to draft French point guard Theo Maledon.

The impressive thing about this deal is that OKC acquired Danny Green alongside another draft pick just a few days ago in a trade that saw them sending Dennis Schroder to Los Angeles Lakers. If they continue to follow the pattern, Thunder will turn Horford into more picks soon.  

After this last deal, Thunder is set to have impressive 15 first-round picks throughout 2026 alongside multiple swap-pick options with Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets, among other teams. This number will only increase moving forward, as the organization has several more “tradable” players on their rebuilding roster.

This deal works out well for Philly as well, considering that they received a proven shooter in Green while getting away from Al Horford’s big deal.

The 76ers signed Horford to a four-year, $109 million contract last summer, but the 34-year-old was largely unproductive during his time in Philadelphia. He averaged 11.9 points, lowest since his sophomore season in NBA, and was even benched on several occasions due to his inability to share the floor with Philly’s star center Joel Embiid.

The post OKC Sends Danny Green to 76ers for Al Horford and Picks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Suns, Thunder Agree to Blockbuster Chris Paul Trade https://sportzbonanza.com/suns-thunder-agree-to-blockbuster-chris-paul-trade/ Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14831 Chris Paul with the USA Basketball TeamThe Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a blockbuster deal on Tuesday which will see future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul move west. The teams agreed to a mega-deal which will see Chris Paul move from the Thunder along with F Abdel Nader to the Suns in exchange for Kelly Oubre […]

The post Suns, Thunder Agree to Blockbuster Chris Paul Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a blockbuster deal on Tuesday which will see future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul move west.

The teams agreed to a mega-deal which will see Chris Paul move from the Thunder along with F Abdel Nader to the Suns in exchange for Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick.

This move is a clear sign that the Suns are looking to contend in the 2020-21 season and that they have real ambitions to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.

Phoenix acquires one of the best point guards in the league who, at the age of 34 averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 assists per game along with excellent efficiency.

The Thunder, on the other hand, will look to retool and rebuild for the future with the package that they acquired in the deal. Oubre and the 2022 first-round pick are the biggest pieces in the deal, with the Thunder acquiring one of the league’s bright young talents. Oubre averaged 18.7 points per game last season.

Rubio looks set to fill in for Paul as the team’s starting point guard, while Ty Jerome and Jalen Lecque are young players who saw minimal playing time for Phoenix last year.

This trade should have a huge impact in the Western Conference race and could signal the Suns’ return to playoff and title contention.

The post Suns, Thunder Agree to Blockbuster Chris Paul Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Oklahoma City Thunder Part Ways with Coach Billy Donovan https://sportzbonanza.com/oklahoma-city-thunder-part-ways-with-coach-billy-donovan/ Thu, 10 Sep 2020 05:05:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=13650 The Oklahoma City Thunder has announced that coach Billy Donovan will not be returning next season after leading the team for five seasons. Donovan had a record of 243-157 as the coach of Oklahoma City, a team that overachieved this year, almost making it to the second round of the NBA playoffs. They lost 4-3 […]

The post Oklahoma City Thunder Part Ways with Coach Billy Donovan appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

The Oklahoma City Thunder has announced that coach Billy Donovan will not be returning next season after leading the team for five seasons.

Donovan had a record of 243-157 as the coach of Oklahoma City, a team that overachieved this year, almost making it to the second round of the NBA playoffs.

They lost 4-3 in a best-of-seven series against the Houston Rockets in the first round.

Donovan led the team to the playoffs in each of his five seasons and was a finalist for the NBA Coach of the Year award this year, which all points to him probably becoming a very attractive solution for other NBA teams that are currently looking to hire a new coach.

According to Donovan and the team, his departure was a mutual decision, with Thunder general manager Sam Presti saying that Oklahoma City couldn’t give Donovan the assurances about his future with the team that he wanted.

Before joining Oklahoma City, Donovan was the coach at the University of Florida, where he won two national championships and took the team to four Final Four appearances in 19 seasons of coaching.

In his first year as the coach of the Thunder, Donovan went to the Western Conference Finals with a team that was carried at the time by superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They ended up squandering a 3-1 series lead to the Golden State Warriors that year and have not been back to the Conference Finals since.

Expectations for Oklahoma City were very low in 2019 after the team traded Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul and traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers.

However, the Paul-led Thunder team went 44-28 and nearly beat the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.

The post Oklahoma City Thunder Part Ways with Coach Billy Donovan appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>
Carmelo Anthony Now 15th on NBA’s All-Time Scoring List https://sportzbonanza.com/carmelo-anthony-now-15th-on-nbas-all-time-scoring-list/ Tue, 11 Aug 2020 05:17:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=13119 Carmelo Anthony with the US Men's basketball team in 2016.Carmelo Anthony has officially passed Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Carmelo is now 15th all-time, right behind Spurs star Tim Duncan. Anthony has now scored 26,411 points since joining the league as the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, a legendary draft in which Anthony, Lebron James, […]

The post Carmelo Anthony Now 15th on NBA’s All-Time Scoring List appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>

Carmelo Anthony has officially passed Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Carmelo is now 15th all-time, right behind Spurs star Tim Duncan.

Anthony has now scored 26,411 points since joining the league as the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, a legendary draft in which Anthony, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh were all taken in the top five.

Anthony is currently playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, who are making a push to qualify for the 2020 playoffs. The 36-year-old player was originally drafted by the Denver Nuggets and has played for the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets.

He led the NBA in scoring in 2012-2013 with the Knicks and has averaged 23.6 points per game during his career. Anthony is also a six-time All-NBA selection and 10-time All-Star. And even though he hasn’t won a championship, his scoring prowess should be enough to cement his status as a future Hall-of-Famer.

Anthony has proven to be an excellent addition to Portland’s roster this season, where he has become a strong veteran leader and an excellent and reliable third scoring option next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

The post Carmelo Anthony Now 15th on NBA’s All-Time Scoring List appeared first on SportzBonanza.

]]>