his promise and jumps into Lake Erie.
Добавлено: Пт авг 17, 2018 2:57 pmPaul George said all the right things when asked if he’d consider staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder instead of leaving in free agency this summer.
”They honestly check the boxes where I needed those boxes to be checked from what a player wants and needs out of a front office Cheap DJ Moore Jersey , out of a medical group, out of teammates, out of a coaching staff,” George said Saturday, a day after the Thunder lost their first-round playoff series to Utah 4-2. ”I mean, honestly, I can’t say it any more than that. They checked the boxes on what needs to be checked.”
George’s decision will largely determine if a rare gamble by general manager Sam Presti pays off. The Thunder bucked their tendencies and went for big splashes before this season, trading for George and Carmelo Anthony to join Russell Westbrook in hopes of rejoining the NBA’s elite.
It didn’t work – or at least, it hasn’t yet. Now, the Thunder and their fans are in an eerily familiar position. Kevin Durant had good things to say about Oklahoma City in 2016, but he left for Golden State. Now, George has a $21 million player option for next season. If he declines, he will become a free agent.
It would be a huge loss for the Thunder. George, a 6-foot-9 forward, was an All-Star who averaged 21.9 points and 5.7 rebounds this season and was among the league leaders in steals.
George’s camp showed interest in the Los Angeles Lakers last year before the Thunder made the deal with the Indiana Pacers to get him; Los Angeles is near his hometown. George said going home would be enticing Josh Sitton Color Rush Jersey , but that wouldn’t be the determining factor. He said he’d talk to Presti, Westbrook and coach Billy Donovan before making a decision.
”It will definitely be the opportunity on knowing, you know, team, personnel, and ultimately like what team will be assembled,” he said. ”That’s the only thing that it will come down to.”
George believes the team has something on which to build. The Thunder started off 8-12 but went 40-22 the rest of the way to earn the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the second straight year and Steven Adams evolved into one of the league’s best centers.
But the team never fully recovered after defensive stopper Andre Roberson was knocked out for the season with a ruptured left patellar tendon.
Westbrook said that was hard to overcome.
”I’ve always been very, very big on Andre,” Westbrook said. ”He’s one of my favorite players, just because the things he brings to the game. I know a lot of people across the world, even you guys (media) doubted Andre many, many times about his shooting and all that stuff. But to me, man, the type of guy he is, the things he brings to the game is a huge 49ers Jonathan Cooper Jersey , huge impact on our team and what he brings to the table.”
Compounding the pressure on the Thunder to keep George is the fact that the players they traded to get him – Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis – have been so good for Indiana. Oladipo had an All-Star season and Sabonis is a solid contributor.
Anthony was Oklahoma City’s No. 3 scorer this season, averaging 16.2 points per game. His playing time dwindled in the playoffs and he wasn’t happy. In Game 5, the Thunder rallied from most of their 25-point deficit against Utah with Anthony on the bench. In Game 6, backup Jerami Grant actually got more court time than Anthony.
Donovan said he won’t need to mend fences with Anthony.
”I think there was a lot made of Game 5, him wanting to be out there, and I respect that, and I said that about his competitiveness. But I think going forward, Carmelo has been a total pro, and he’s been a total team guy.”
Anthony will be 34 before next season starts, but he still feels he can play at a high level. He became more of a catch-and-shoot scorer this season instead of the isolation specialist he had been. He said prefers to play his old way and said he has no interest in coming off the bench. Though he is due $28 million next season, he seemed unsure of his future.
”It’s something I really have to think about, if I really want to be this type of player, finish out my career as this type of player, knowing that I have so much left in the tank and I bring so much to the game of basketball,” he said. ”And how long I want to continue to do this Kerryon Johnson Youth Jersey , I think that’s also a thought process as well.”
In the end, for all Westbrook’s electrifying play and the two major moves, the Thunder have three playoff wins the past two years and haven’t advanced past the first round since Durant left.
”Our biggest challenge to try to figure out I think in this offseason is our consistency,” Donovan said. ”That has been a problem. That’s going to be obviously my major focus. I think it needs to be our team’s major focus.”
—
Taylor Lewan answered the biggest question for the Tennessee Titans heading into training camp by showing up for work along with the rest of his teammates.
How long it takes to get a new contract for the two-time Pro Bowl left tackle remains to be seen.
General manager Jon Robinson said they're making good progress, even if he isn't ready to say when that might be wrapped up.
"It's good to have him back," Robinson said Wednesday after the Titans reported for camp. "I know that our coaches are excited to work with him and had really good discussions over the last 24 hours with his representation and nothing's finalized. But I would say we're certainly headed in the right direction."
Robinson said contract talks had been going on the past couple days and ramped up Tuesday night.
"I'd say we've made really good progress and that's about all I can really comment on that for now," Robinson said.
With the Titans firing Mike Mularkey in January after the franchise's first playoff victory in 14 years, Lewan took part in the team's voluntary offseason program with new coach Mike Vrabel . Then Lewan skipped the mandatory minicamp in June over a lack of progress in contract talks.
The left tackle is due $9.34 million this season after Tennessee picked up the fifth-year option for the 11th selection overall out of Michigan in the 2014 draft. He has started 53 of 58 games, including every game the past two seasons, protecting quarterback Marcus Mariota's back. Lewan, who turned 27 last weekend, is younger than Nate Solder who became the league's highest-paid offensive lineman in March with a four-year, $62 million deal from the New York Giants.
Lewan and the rest of the Titans showed up on Wednesday for the start of training camp, joining quarterbacks, rookies and injured players who started last weekend.
The left tackle was not among the handful of players made available to reporters Wednesday. Veteran linebacker Brian Orakpo Tarik Cohen Jersey Youth , going into the final season of his contract, was glad Lewan reported since that means both sides must be talking again.
"I know what he brings to the table, so hopefully I mean stuff can get done and we can play ball and move forward," Orakpo said. "Nobody really wants to be worried about contract situations when we're trying to be you know coming together as a team. And they understand that, Taylor understands this so hopefully get it done sooner than later."
The Titans already are without right tackle Jack Conklin, who was placed on the physically unable to perform list last weekend. Conklin tore his left ACL in the Titans' divisional playoff loss to New England , and Vrabel had no timetable for Conklin's return.
Vrabel said Lewan is in great shape along with the rest of the offensive line. Center Ben Jones said it was good to have everybody in and ready to work, a credit to Lewan's work ethic.
"We're a band of brothers," Jones said. "We want us all out there at all times and that's all we do is go out there and grind every day. Taylor's the lead guy he's a guy we can put our hat on. You know he's going to work hard every day."
Vrabel said all the Titans passed the running test, but veteran wide receiver Rishard Matthews still is being evaluated. Matthews was sidelined during the offseason program with an unspecified injury.
"When he's ready, he'll be out there," Vrabel said.
NOTES: Robinson said he met Tuesday with Kevin Dodd before the Titans released the outside linebacker. Dodd was the 33rd selection overall out of Clemson in 2016 and the second player Robinson drafted in his first year as general manager. "I take full responsibility for that one. I've got to do a better job scouting moving forward," Robinson said. The move leaves the Titans at 89 players, and Robinson said they are looking to fill that spot.
.
”They honestly check the boxes where I needed those boxes to be checked from what a player wants and needs out of a front office Cheap DJ Moore Jersey , out of a medical group, out of teammates, out of a coaching staff,” George said Saturday, a day after the Thunder lost their first-round playoff series to Utah 4-2. ”I mean, honestly, I can’t say it any more than that. They checked the boxes on what needs to be checked.”
George’s decision will largely determine if a rare gamble by general manager Sam Presti pays off. The Thunder bucked their tendencies and went for big splashes before this season, trading for George and Carmelo Anthony to join Russell Westbrook in hopes of rejoining the NBA’s elite.
It didn’t work – or at least, it hasn’t yet. Now, the Thunder and their fans are in an eerily familiar position. Kevin Durant had good things to say about Oklahoma City in 2016, but he left for Golden State. Now, George has a $21 million player option for next season. If he declines, he will become a free agent.
It would be a huge loss for the Thunder. George, a 6-foot-9 forward, was an All-Star who averaged 21.9 points and 5.7 rebounds this season and was among the league leaders in steals.
George’s camp showed interest in the Los Angeles Lakers last year before the Thunder made the deal with the Indiana Pacers to get him; Los Angeles is near his hometown. George said going home would be enticing Josh Sitton Color Rush Jersey , but that wouldn’t be the determining factor. He said he’d talk to Presti, Westbrook and coach Billy Donovan before making a decision.
”It will definitely be the opportunity on knowing, you know, team, personnel, and ultimately like what team will be assembled,” he said. ”That’s the only thing that it will come down to.”
George believes the team has something on which to build. The Thunder started off 8-12 but went 40-22 the rest of the way to earn the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the second straight year and Steven Adams evolved into one of the league’s best centers.
But the team never fully recovered after defensive stopper Andre Roberson was knocked out for the season with a ruptured left patellar tendon.
Westbrook said that was hard to overcome.
”I’ve always been very, very big on Andre,” Westbrook said. ”He’s one of my favorite players, just because the things he brings to the game. I know a lot of people across the world, even you guys (media) doubted Andre many, many times about his shooting and all that stuff. But to me, man, the type of guy he is, the things he brings to the game is a huge 49ers Jonathan Cooper Jersey , huge impact on our team and what he brings to the table.”
Compounding the pressure on the Thunder to keep George is the fact that the players they traded to get him – Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis – have been so good for Indiana. Oladipo had an All-Star season and Sabonis is a solid contributor.
Anthony was Oklahoma City’s No. 3 scorer this season, averaging 16.2 points per game. His playing time dwindled in the playoffs and he wasn’t happy. In Game 5, the Thunder rallied from most of their 25-point deficit against Utah with Anthony on the bench. In Game 6, backup Jerami Grant actually got more court time than Anthony.
Donovan said he won’t need to mend fences with Anthony.
”I think there was a lot made of Game 5, him wanting to be out there, and I respect that, and I said that about his competitiveness. But I think going forward, Carmelo has been a total pro, and he’s been a total team guy.”
Anthony will be 34 before next season starts, but he still feels he can play at a high level. He became more of a catch-and-shoot scorer this season instead of the isolation specialist he had been. He said prefers to play his old way and said he has no interest in coming off the bench. Though he is due $28 million next season, he seemed unsure of his future.
”It’s something I really have to think about, if I really want to be this type of player, finish out my career as this type of player, knowing that I have so much left in the tank and I bring so much to the game of basketball,” he said. ”And how long I want to continue to do this Kerryon Johnson Youth Jersey , I think that’s also a thought process as well.”
In the end, for all Westbrook’s electrifying play and the two major moves, the Thunder have three playoff wins the past two years and haven’t advanced past the first round since Durant left.
”Our biggest challenge to try to figure out I think in this offseason is our consistency,” Donovan said. ”That has been a problem. That’s going to be obviously my major focus. I think it needs to be our team’s major focus.”
—
Taylor Lewan answered the biggest question for the Tennessee Titans heading into training camp by showing up for work along with the rest of his teammates.
How long it takes to get a new contract for the two-time Pro Bowl left tackle remains to be seen.
General manager Jon Robinson said they're making good progress, even if he isn't ready to say when that might be wrapped up.
"It's good to have him back," Robinson said Wednesday after the Titans reported for camp. "I know that our coaches are excited to work with him and had really good discussions over the last 24 hours with his representation and nothing's finalized. But I would say we're certainly headed in the right direction."
Robinson said contract talks had been going on the past couple days and ramped up Tuesday night.
"I'd say we've made really good progress and that's about all I can really comment on that for now," Robinson said.
With the Titans firing Mike Mularkey in January after the franchise's first playoff victory in 14 years, Lewan took part in the team's voluntary offseason program with new coach Mike Vrabel . Then Lewan skipped the mandatory minicamp in June over a lack of progress in contract talks.
The left tackle is due $9.34 million this season after Tennessee picked up the fifth-year option for the 11th selection overall out of Michigan in the 2014 draft. He has started 53 of 58 games, including every game the past two seasons, protecting quarterback Marcus Mariota's back. Lewan, who turned 27 last weekend, is younger than Nate Solder who became the league's highest-paid offensive lineman in March with a four-year, $62 million deal from the New York Giants.
Lewan and the rest of the Titans showed up on Wednesday for the start of training camp, joining quarterbacks, rookies and injured players who started last weekend.
The left tackle was not among the handful of players made available to reporters Wednesday. Veteran linebacker Brian Orakpo Tarik Cohen Jersey Youth , going into the final season of his contract, was glad Lewan reported since that means both sides must be talking again.
"I know what he brings to the table, so hopefully I mean stuff can get done and we can play ball and move forward," Orakpo said. "Nobody really wants to be worried about contract situations when we're trying to be you know coming together as a team. And they understand that, Taylor understands this so hopefully get it done sooner than later."
The Titans already are without right tackle Jack Conklin, who was placed on the physically unable to perform list last weekend. Conklin tore his left ACL in the Titans' divisional playoff loss to New England , and Vrabel had no timetable for Conklin's return.
Vrabel said Lewan is in great shape along with the rest of the offensive line. Center Ben Jones said it was good to have everybody in and ready to work, a credit to Lewan's work ethic.
"We're a band of brothers," Jones said. "We want us all out there at all times and that's all we do is go out there and grind every day. Taylor's the lead guy he's a guy we can put our hat on. You know he's going to work hard every day."
Vrabel said all the Titans passed the running test, but veteran wide receiver Rishard Matthews still is being evaluated. Matthews was sidelined during the offseason program with an unspecified injury.
"When he's ready, he'll be out there," Vrabel said.
NOTES: Robinson said he met Tuesday with Kevin Dodd before the Titans released the outside linebacker. Dodd was the 33rd selection overall out of Clemson in 2016 and the second player Robinson drafted in his first year as general manager. "I take full responsibility for that one. I've got to do a better job scouting moving forward," Robinson said. The move leaves the Titans at 89 players, and Robinson said they are looking to fill that spot.
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