Tag: Steven Adams

Why trading Danilo Gallinari for Myles Turner makes sense for OKC

The Oklahoma City Thunder could benefit by trading Danilo Gallinari to the Indiana Pacers in return for Myles Turner.

It’s time to put up or shut up for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sunday, December 15 marks the start of when any player that signed a free-agent deal over the summer can finally be traded.

Since the Thunder have several players that fall into that category, it’s time for Sam Presti and company to decide if Oklahoma City is going to stay at the cusp of a postseason spot and hope they can play their way into the playoffs, or if OKC is going to go full rebuild, knowing that there’s a stable full of draft picks that can likely help in the future.

Oklahoma City has already let it be known that they are looking to trade Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, and Steven Adams, as reports are out there that the Thunder “made them available”.

While the consensus around the league remains that Chris Paul’s contract may prevent him from being traded, Gallinari remains an intriguing option for many teams.

One team that Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey believes would benefit by trading for Gallinari is the Indiana Pacers.

Calling him “one of this season’s most intriguing trade candidates”, Bailey suggests that the Pacers should send Myles Turner to Oklahoma City for Gallinari as Indiana “might have a higher ceiling with (Domantas) Sabonis playing alongside a playmaking 4”.

Danilo Gallinari is averaging 18.3 points with a 62.4 true shooting percentage in only 30.4 minutes per game. There are only 11 players in NBA history who have at least 500 three-point attempts and match his career marks for points per 75 possessions (19.2) and true shooting percentage (59.0). He’s in the top 100 all-time in career offensive box plus/minus.

Although Turner has gotten off to a less than ideal start, Bailey argues that Turner’s age and contract are what makes him an intriguing prospect for the Thunder.

The Pacers center is off to a slow start this season, posting a career low in win shares per 48 minutes, but he’s only 23 years old. He’s also on a reasonable contract ($18 million per year) through 2023. There could be much worse starts to a reboot than a core of Turner and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

On its face, the deal makes sense for the Thunder. Gallinari is in the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Thunder could trade him now, and get a young player that fits their long-term timeline or wait and risk losing him after the season and getting nothing in return.

Steven Adams super proud of his first-career charge

Adams recorded a double-double in Monday night’s win over the Jazz, but he’s most proud of taking the first charge of his seven-year career.

Most people are proud of themselves when they’ve accomplished something new.

Steven Adams is no different.

In Monday’s 104-90 win over the Utah Jazz, Adams had a career-defining moment: he took the first charge of his career.

The play happened with just under 6:30 to play the third quarter and the Thunder leading 64-57. With Adams guarding him, Rudy Gobert crossed over and started to drive towards the basket, lowering his shoulder into Adams’ chest as he went.

Adams hit the deck, the whistle blew, and the first charge Adams ever took was called.

Adams was immediately elated, smiling, fist-pumping and high-fiving his teammates on the bench.

He recorded another double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, but everyone on Monday paled in comparison to the charge.

After the game, Adams made it clear to reporters that taking his first charge in seven years was a headline-worthy event.

“However, did you guys see the charge?” Adams said. “That’s the first one of my career. I don’t usually brag, but it’s the first one of my career. Seven years. So, write about that please. Screen shot it. Whatever you guys got to do. Send it to me.”

Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman did note that Jazz head coach, Quin Snyder, did try to “steal the moment” by issuing a coach’s challenge. But the call was confirmed and no one can ever take that charge away from Steven Adams.

Report: Chris Paul and Steven Adams among players on the trading block

The rebuilding Thunder probably won’t hesitate to trade away some of their veterans. That includes both Chris Paul and Steven Adams, according to The Ringer.

In recent years, December 15 has become regarded as the unofficial beginning to NBA trade season, as that date is when players who signed free agency deals the preceding summer can be traded.

As the date approaches this season, Chris Paul, Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari have been made available, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.

The news should come as no surprise, as the three veteran players have remained productive in their own rights. Still, none of the three seem to fit with a rebuilding team, which Oklahoma City appears to be. That designation is a bit interesting, though, as the Thunder enter play on December 10 as the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

Not many would consider the club to be a championship contender, though, so it would make sense that Sam Presti would be open to moving the veterans out if he thought it would give him the means to rebuild the team around some of its younger pieces, including, perhaps, 21-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The following comes from O’Connor’s An Early Primer for NBA Trade Season:

The Thunder are just 11-12, but that’s good enough today for the 7-seed in the West. Despite their moderate success, plans haven’t changed; Paul, Danilo Gallinari, Steven Adams, and other veterans are all available, according to league sources…

The Thunder could be used as a facilitator to take on a salary in a multiple-team trade, or simply take back big salaries in return if it means receiving more assets. Cap space is scarce across the league, and teams are already looking to dump salaries to open space for the loaded 2021 free-agent class, headlined by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Over the years, if there’s one thing Presti has been—aside from stellar—it’s proactive. Although not all of his moves have worked out in his favor, the trades involving James Harden, Reggie Jackson, Serge Ibaka, Paul George and Russell Westbrook were each done somewhat proactively.

Although Paul is the most accomplished of the mentioned players, he remains the most difficult to move because he stands to earn almost $86 million next season and the following. He could obviously help a team win, but not many clubs are believed to be clamoring to add that kind of salary to their books because Paul will be 37 years old by the time his current deal ends.

As December 15 approaches, however, one should certainly expect that Presti will be working the phones. Traditionally, he hasn’t been afraid to roll the dice, and with O’Connor’s report, it appears that this season will be no exception should the opportunity present itself.

Steven Adams’ pass the unsung hero of OKC’s win over Minnesota

With 1.1 seconds left in regulation, Adams threw a perfect pass to Dennis Schröder who tied the game with a buzzer-beating layup.

Let’s be honest here. Dennis Schröder did an incredible job getting a last-second layup off in time to beat the buzzer.

Chris Paul did his part in pointing out Jordan Bell’s untucked jersey that got the delay of game technical assessed, which in turn, allowed the sequence of events to unfold the way that they did: with Danilo Gallinari making the technical free-throw to bring the Thunder within a point before Karl-Anthony Towns accidentally made the second of two free-throws, which gave Oklahoma City the opportunity to take the ball out of bounds.

But all that would have been useless if not for the ridiculous inbounds pass made by Steven Adams.

With no timeouts, Adams ran out of bounds, set his feet, and launched the ball with perfect precision into the hands of Schröder.

Social media reacted accordingly.

The duo said after the game that they had been talking about a last-second scenario prior to Towns’ made free-throw.

“We had a couple of times before where I just lose my man and I tried to sprint as fast as I can,” said Schröder. “And he made a (expletive) of a pass.”

Nick Gallo pointed out that Adams can be seen practicing those long baseball-style passes frequently at practice.

“Those situations do arise, and honestly mate, all it is I can’t do a good technique pass, so I resort to a baseball pass,” said Adams. “It worked out well, mate, it worked out well.”

Oklahoma City went on to win 139-127 in overtime, so for the Thunder, it did indeed work out well.

Oklahoma City wins wild one in OT over Timberwolves

Dennis Schröder made a layup as time expired to send the Thunder and the Timberwolves into overtime tied at 121.

It took a hail Mary pass, a buzzer-beating layup, and overtime but the Thunder emerged victorious from their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday with a 139-127 victory.

The bizarre ending inside Chesapeake Energy Arena started like this: Oklahoma City trailed 121-119 with one second remaining in regulation when the Thunder fouled Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns missed the first of two free throws, but Minnesota was assessed a technical foul when Jordan Bell checked into the game in between shots because he didn’t have his shirt tucked in.

Danilo Gallinari made his technical free throw, cutting the Timberwolves’ lead to one.

Towns then made the second of his free throws, but despite putting Minnesota up two, the make allowed OKC to take the ball out of bounds.

Adams then threw a pass the length of the court to Dennis Schröder, who beat the buzzer with a layup to send the game into overtime.

He was so excited, he included the security guard on the sidelines in his celebratory hugs.

Schröder told reporters after the game that he and Adams had been communicating about a potential final play prior to Towns’ second free throw.

“I missed a wide-open layup to tie the game first. Everybody came to me and was like, ‘you’re going to make up for it”, he said. “Karl Towns wanted to miss that free throw, he didn’t miss. He (Steven Adams) took it out, and I mean, I had to make up for it. After that, I don’t know what happened, I blacked out a little bit.”

Oklahoma City outscored the Timberwolves 17-5 in overtime to earn the victory.

Chris Paul scored a season-high 30. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been in somewhat of a slump as of late, had 29. Schröder, Adams, and Gallinari all made of the bulk of the rest of the scoring with 25, 22, and 21 respectively.

With the win, the Thunder split their two-game homestand and improve to 9-12 on the season.

Oklahoma City will head on the road where they will take on Portland on Sunday.

OKC looks to split homestand with win over Timberwolves

The Thunder will try and bounce back from Wednesday night’s 107-100 loss Indiana when they face Minnesota for the first time this season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to split a two-game homestand on Friday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The last time out, OKC dropped a 107-100 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Steven Adams led the Thunder in the game with 20 points. Three other players were in double-figures.

Adams has gotten off to a hot start in each of the Thunder’s last three games. He’s scored a combined 28 first-quarter points in two wins over the Pelicans and Wednesday night’s loss to Indiana. Against the Pacers, Adams scored 10 of his 20 in the first quarter, finishing the night 8-8 from the floor and 4-4 from the free-throw line.

According to ESPN, Billy Donovan thinks Adams is looking closer to 100% after missing time earlier this season with a knee injury.

“I think he looks more athletic,” Donovan said. “He looks more lively, he looks more springy, he’s running better. I think everything for him looks a lot better.”

That will be particularly important against Minnesota as Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging a career-high 25.9 points to go along with 12.3 rebounds per game.

Although they’ve lost two in a row and six of their last nine, Minnesota has played well on the road this season.

The Timberwolves are 7-3 away from home but are coming off a 121-114 loss at Dallas.

Tip-off Friday night is at 7 p.m. CT.

Three takeaways from Oklahoma City’s 107-100 loss to Pacers

Steven Adams had another strong start, OKC dropped another close game, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to struggle from the field.

Oklahoma City fell at home on Wednesday night to the Indianapolis Pacers by a score of 107-100.

Three takeaways from the loss:

Steven Adams got off to another strong start 

Much like he did in the two previous games against the New Orleans Pelicans, Adams got off to a hot start.

He scored the Thunder’s first four points and eight for their first 11.

Twelve of his team-high 20 points came in the first quarter, and he finished the night a perfect 8-8 from the field and 4-4 from the free-throw line.

It’s the second time in his career that he’s been perfect from the floor with eight or more field goals.

Another close game, but another close loss

Oklahoma City looked to have turned the corner at the end of last week and through the weekend when they were finally able to pull out two close wins over the Pelicans by a combined eight points.

The Thunder led Indianapolis 50-49 at the half and were within a point of the Pacers five different times throughout the fourth quarter without being able to tie the game or pull ahead.

Eight of the Thunder’s 12 losses this year have come by seven points or less.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to struggle 

Although Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points in the loss to the Pacers, he shot only 7-of-19 from the floor.

That comes on the heels of poor shooting performances against the Pelicans where he shot a combined 9-of-30 in two wins over New Orleans.

SGA’s hot start has cooled off considerably, though it is certainly too soon to call it a sophomore slump.

Donovan: ‘We couldn’t get a clean stop’ in loss to Indianapolis

Oklahoma City got within a point of the Pacers five times during the fourth quarter but couldn’t come up with a defensive stop in the loss.

Typically this season, it’s been the third quarter that has let the Thunder down.

Friday night, it was the fourth.

Oklahoma City was outscored by the Pacers 28-22 in the final quarter as Indianapolis edged OKC 107-100.

Once again, Billy Donovan thought his guys competed. But he told the media after the game that breakdowns in offensive rebounding were what hurt the Thunder the most.

“I thought late we got hurt on offensive rebounds where we came over and helped. To me, it was those putbacks, fouls … we could never really get a clean stop coming down the stretch. And then some of those putbacks put us behind the eight ball.”

Oklahoma City lost the battle on the boards, 39-37, with the Pacers grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to the Thunder’s eight.

Steven Adams was responsible for five of the team’s offensive rebounds, a bright spot on the glass for OKC on Wednesday night.

“I think he’s kind of getting back to where he normally was,” Donovan said. “I think now he’s playing closer to the guy that everyone is accustomed to seeing.”

Adams also led the Thunder in scoring with 20 points.

Oklahoma City returns to action Friday night against the Timberwolves. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CT as OKC caps off a two-game homestand.

Oklahoma City drops close contest to Pacers 107-100

The Thunder were led by Steven Adams with 20 points but OKC failed to win three consecutive games for the first time this season.

It was a much closer game than the one that the two teams played in November, but the result between the Pacers and Oklahoma City was ultimately the same.

The Thunder dropped their home contest to Indianapolis 107-100 inside Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday night, failing in their bid for the team’s first three-game winning streak this season.

As has been the case for many of their games this season, the Thunder were close to a win but couldn’t pull it out at the end.

A three-point OKC lead after the first quarter lead was a 50-49 advantage at the half.

For the second straight game, Oklahoma City played a solid third quarter, although they were outscored 30-28 as the Pacers took a 79-78 lead into the fourth.

The Thunder were within a point five different times in the final frame, but each time Indianapolis answered with a bucket.

Steven Adams led the way for Oklahoma City with 20 points while grabbing nine rebounds.

Danilo Gallinari and Dennis Schröder both scored 18 while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 16.

Gallo hit a career-high four 3-pointers in the third quarter alone.

With the loss, the Thunder drop to 8-12 on the season.

Oklahoma City is back in action on Friday when they host the Timberwolves at 7 p.m. CT.

Steven Adams and his ‘really weird’ sense of fashion

Whether wearing bright orange flip flops with his face on them, camouflage hats or going barefoot in public, Adams is uniquely himself.

The rise of fashion in the NBA is something that has been heavily chronicled.

Player’s outfits are posted on Instagram. There are power rankings of their individual fashion choices. And teams are adding red carpets and DJs to their walk-in entrance.

The fashions are almost as important as the games themselves.

But not to everyone.

Steven Adams is his own man. On the basketball court and in what he wears to and from the arena.

The Oklahoma City center is known for sporting bright orange flip-flops with his face across the band.

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🙏🙏🙏

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Camouflage is also a staple of his wardrobe.

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Happy Birthday brother! @flydre21 #CuteFlowerBruh

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And while the consensus around the league is that Adams is the toughest player in the NBA, Fred Katz of The Athletic found out that his teammates see him as “the dude who meanders around shoeless in public.”

“It’s just comfy. … I don’t wear (flip-flops) while driving, so I just kick them off while driving and sometimes in the mornings,” said Adams. “I just can’t be bothered, mate. That’s how lazy I get, mate,” he said. “It’s just, yeah you can slip them on but I’m like, ‘Agh, whatever.’ Let’s go. Then just walk in.”

Granted, it can be difficult to find shoes to fit size 19 feet. Walking around barefoot is likely a lot easier.

But there are times when dressing up and putting on shoes is necessary. For those occasions, there are two requirements for Adams’ style – comfortable, and preferably, free.

When he does wear something with a closed toe, they’re giant boots large and homey enough that they might just be the ones the old woman famously lived in. He sports camouflage jackets and hats not because he’s some experienced hunter but because a close friend has a hunting store back home in New Zealand and gave the clothes to him. And he said, he’s about comfort … and free (expletive).

The clothes are just some of the quirks that make the Big Kiwi so endearing to fans and teammates alike.

On or off the court, Adams doesn’t try to be anybody that he’s not.