Good morning. Let’s basketball.
The Thunder want to see Angry Russell Westbrook, too
Good morning. We have that and more in Wednesday’s NBA newsletter.
STANDING TALL: Paul Flannery is in Las Vegas to catch up with Team USA before the Olympics. His piece on Paul George’s drive to return to the scene of his gruesome leg injury two years ago and his refusal to give up his Olympic dream is wonderful.
WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE: It appears the Thunder are more focused on playing the season out with a jilted Russell Westbrook than trying to protect themselves from his potential exit. If it means we get a high profile Kevin Durant Returns To OKC TV game, I’m all for it. This would be quite different from LeBron’s first return to Cleveland in 2010 -- less a stew of rage and complete talent mismatch, more a mano a mano y mano y mano y mano y mano battle.
SLIM PICKINGS: The top seven free agents remaining. And here’s our free agent tracker.
THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO: On Cristiano Felicio, the surprise star of Chicago’s champion Summer League team. (Also, a first-team All-Name candidate.)
PODCAST TIME: The Limited Upside crew with Tim Cato on whether Summer League means anything. Don’t ask Denzel Valentine that question.
THAT MAKES 20,000 OF US: DeMarcus Cousins says he doesn’t understand the Kings’ draft. (They picked two more 7-footers in the first round, including a raw teenager in the lottery.)
OOF: The Republican National Convention is in Cleveland. During the traditional states’ roll call vote, a Florida delegate bragged about LeBron’s championships with Miami.
WE’RE GOING TO PLAY FAST: Don Nelson on the coach-copying-coach tradition and the origins of small ball.
MEET MING: Yao Ming’s reflection on his rookie year in Houston is really warm and sweet. Stevie Franchise comes off like a real dude.
I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING TODAY: A hero cut and uploaded eight hours of Jason Williams highlights.
Be excellent to each other.
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Nike hides other branding in Team USA photos
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