"We all know Melo is a great player, but I don't think one player has ever won a championship in this league," Kenyon Martin told HOOPSWORLD. "He's a great player, but it's all about us playing together right now. That's what we're trying to do."

"We're just going out and playing basketball," he continued. "Everyone here knows how to play and we're competing every single night. When you compete, you put yourself in position to win. It's just playing basketball. Once you know how to play this game the right way, you can really fit into any system."

The Celtics have agreed to send Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder in exchange for a package built around Jeff Green. Green and Perkins will both be free agents this offseason, while the former will be restricted. Nenad Krstic and Nate Robinson will also be included in the deal.Boston will also receive the 2012 first round pick of the Clippers from Oklahoma City.

"I was talking to my teammate and he decided he wanted to put his 2 cents into it. I'm a quiet guy, a laid-back guy, but I'm not going to let nobody talk trash to me. He's on a good team now, so he thinks he can talk a little bit," Durant said. "There's a lot of fake tough guys in this league and he's one of them," Durant added.

The rumors about Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace coming to Cleveland died as quickly as they started. The Bobcats are indeed interested in moving Wallace's contract, but they wanted a first-round pick from the Cavaliers in return, according to a league source. That's not happening. The Cavs are trying to acquire first-round picks, not trade them away — and certainly not on a 10-year veteran like Wallace.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Nothing against Gerald Wallace but he wasn’t a fit for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After all, the Cavaliers need to tear this thing down and start over. This means one thing: fire sale. All veterans must be dealt for draft picks, expiring contracts, and blue-chip prospects.

Acquiring a veteran with a contract – Wallace is owed $22 million over the next two years – is wrong. It’s a distraction. It’s a quick fix. And Cleveland would be making a move for the sake of making a move.

Instead, owner Dan Gilbert needs one thing: patience. This means holding off on typing a Net-letter to fans when things turn out poorly. This also means trusting the people he hired, bottoming out, and building for the future -exactly like Executive Sam Presti did with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Quick fixes like Wallace and his big ticket aren’t the long-term answer.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Earlier this week, Kevin Love had 20 points and 20 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers. Last night, he became the first player in 28 years to tally over 30 points and 30 rebounds.

There are many explanations for Love’s fine play of late: he has always had talent; he’s finally healthy; he’s no longer sharing the frontcourt with Al Jefferson; he’s taken another step in year three.

Of course, conspiracy theorists believe Love has stepped up his play so other teams will call the Minnesota Timberwolves and inquire about his availability.

Perhaps there’s truth in all of these.

However, there’s no disputing winning a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey had a positive influence on Love.

Love is fitter, more confident, and understands his place in the game. The same can be said for Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, who also benefited from representing stars-and-stripes.

Hopefully, other players take note of Love and Westbrook’s improved play and are more open to suiting up for their country.

Click the videos below to watch highlights of Love’s historic game and hear his comments on notching 30 and 30. 

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Coupled with the stiff resistance that the Thunder offered the Lakers last spring, the coming of age of both of these players bodes well for the immediate and long-range success of the Oklahoma City Thunder ... That leaves Dallas and Oklahoma City as the Lakers' only viable competition.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: No doubt about it, the Oklahoma City Thunder is on the rise.

The upstart franchise pushed the world champion Los Angeles Lakers in the 2010 Western Conference Quarter-Finals. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City’s best players, have represented USA well at the FIBA World Championships.   

So the student, the Thunder, is learning. However, they aren’t ready to challenge the master in 2011, the Lakers. After all, the purple and gold has improved, too.
 
For instance, Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol have spent this summer getting healthy; a leaner, meaner Ron Artest will have another year in the triple-post; and Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and Theo Ratliff will bring consistency to the second-unit.

The Lakers are primed for a three-peat. In 2011, the Thunder won’t be ready to stop them.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Call Quick Call: The great ones play defense.

Michael. Kobe. Tim Duncan. They all got stops, both individually and collectively.

On Sunday, we may have witnessed young Kevin Durant take another step towards greatness when he blocked Rudy Fernandez’s last second shot attempt to preserve Team USA’s 86-85 win over Spain.

After all, Durant is already a top-five player for the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder. And like the young Thunder, he took significant steps on defense in 2009-10.

If he continues to evolve on both ends of the floor, the lanky swing could soon be the NBA’s premier player.

Watch the highlights of Team USA’s 86-85 victory over Spain to win the Global Community Cup. And get at us with thoughts on Durant’s block and continued development into a great player. 

--Oly Sandor.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: The headline says it all -Greece and Serbia in a bench-clearing, chair throwing brawl.

And somewhere, Commissioner David Stern is breathing a sigh of relief that this donnybrook occured outside of NBA confines and on FIBA turf.

After all, how many games would Corporal Stern give Oklahoma City Thunder post Nenad Krstic for making like a WWE manager and hitting the Greeks with a chair?   

Update: Krstic was arrested and released by Greek police for 'an infraction against the law of sports violence'. I didn't know there were laws to 'sports violence', but apparently there is, and Krstic went 'against' them.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe in the comment box below.   

For the NBA's youngest scoring champion, Kevin Durant has displayed some kind of maturity. With Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and the rest of the Beijing Olympic team taking the summer off, USA Basketball's roster is wide open for next month's world championships in Turkey. championships.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: He will be the leader for USA Basketball at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Three years into his NBA career, Kevin Durant has impressed. He has helped the Oklahoma City Thunder become the team to watch. He has become an elite player. And he has handled himself with class.

However, the global spotlight will be unlike anything he has ever faced.

The international game is different than the NBA. Other national teams have played together for years, establishing chemistry, while the Americans are making do with a summer training camp.

And stars and stripes are undermanned, with every player on the gold medal winning squad from China passing on Turkey. That's right: No Kobe, LeBron, 'D-Wade', 'Melo, Chris Bosh, or even twelfth man Carlos Boozer.

The entire Redeem Team is out. They all said thanks, but no thanks. 

Whether by default or not, Durant is The Man. He and his teammates will face a significant challenge.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.   

Kevin Durant has agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Thunder, according to his official Twitter page. The terms of the deal are unclear, but the Thunder`s star can`t sign the deal until Thursday when the NBA`s moratorium is lifted.

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HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: There was no celebrity pitch. There was no rock star tour. There was no discussion of filming a documentary. And there were no demands for a superstar teammate.

Once again, the Oklahoma City Thunder and their superstar Kevin Durant hit exactly the right note, quietly agreeing to terms Wednesday on what will surely be a maximum extension.

While Durant broke the news on twitter, he was, as usual, gracious, honest, and appreciative.

Kevin Durant: Exstension for 5 more years wit the #thunder.... God Is Great, me and my family came a long way...I love yall man forreal, this a blessing!

How novel?

An NBA superstar actually acknowledging he’s blessed, and not treating the negotiating process like an opportunity to manipulate fans.

To be fair, the three-man was not an unrestricted free agent, so he had significantly less leverage than the big names in this year’s free agent class.

Still, at 21, Durant may be the youngest of the NBA’s elite; however, the maturity with which he handled the process is something the current crop of greats - like Chris Bosh – can learn from.

If the small market Thunder can keep his supporting cast together, they should be rewarded with playoff success.

Let’s hope so. Right now, Durant is hard not to cheer for.

--O.Sandor

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

Sam Presti, who yesterday celebrated a third anniversary as Sonic/Thunder GM, making him a rising free agent according to my records, claims he's perfectly happy in Oklahoma. However, a Northwest source claims he interviewed in Seattle (home of Portland owner Paul Allen) for the Blazers' job. Oh, that's right, the job's taken. Kevin Pritchard owns one year on his contract but he and everyone else (I do believe the Post had it months ago,) believe he'll be fired immediately after the draft.

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HoopsVibe's Quick Call: Where there's a little smoke, there's bound to be a ‘blazing’ fire, right?

Well, change will surely be burning through the Portland Trail Blazers' front office. Here's what we know:

1) GM Kevin Pritchard has been on the hot seat for months. He allegedly doesn't gel with longtime coach Nate McMillan. And there's a feeling he lacks the experience to turn the Blazers into a contender. 

2) Pritchard is heading into the final year of his deal. An extension does not seem to be forthcoming and owner Paul Allen probably doesn’t want a lame-duck executive.

3) As the New York Post is reporting, Pritchard’s dismissal is probably imminent.

4) Oklahoma City Thunder executive Sam Presti is highly sought after.

5) When asked if he had interest in the Blazers’ gig, the former San Antonio Spurs whiz kid shot down this rumor.  

6) Presti has assembled the NBA’s best young team in Oklahoma City, so it’s unlikely he’d bolt with Kevin Durant and company heading into their prime.

7) Allen, the man behind Microsoft, has far greater resources than Clay Bennett and the small market Thunder.

Conclusion: Allen is looking to stabilize Portland’s front office, especially with news of another scandal in his organization. He wants Presti. And he’s phoned friends around the league for information about the Thunder’s architect.

It seems Presti is content in Oklahoma City, though. He has full control of basketball operations. He clicks with owner Clay Bennett. And his organization is poised to benefit from him drafting wisely.

There is one wildcard: money. Allen has too much of it, while Bennett and his partners were hit by the economic downturn. Still, Presti - unless he receives a massive offer he can't refuse - isn’t heading anywhere.   

Is Presti leaving Oklahoma City for Portland? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts.

"I enjoy the challenge," Bryant said of checking Westbrook. "He's been playing sensational, and if we're going to be eliminated I don't want to go into the summer thinking I could've done something about it, so i accepted the challenge." 

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"We were playing Michael (expletive) Jordan tonight, the way he was getting the whistle," Garnett said in a post-game news conference. "Durant damn near shot more free throws than our whole team. That's the game." 

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