Thunder Team Report – Feb 21st

Getting Inside

Here one day, gone the next. That’s how Thunder fans must have felt after hearing news that a “local” favorite, Tyson Chandler, was coming back to Oklahoma City—only to leave again after he failed his physical.

Dealt from New Orleans in exchange for Joe Smith, Chris Wilcox and the draft rights to DeVon Hardin, Chandler was expected to be the Thunder’s center of the future. Instead, a severe case of turf toe scuttled the deal.

“We were pleased to add Tyson to the Thunder roster,” OKC general manager Sam Presti said. “During the course of the physical examination and outside consultations some questions arose that gave us cause for concern. We felt that this course of action was the best for our organization.”

Chandler was part of the Hornets team that spent two years in OKC after relocating because of Hurricane Katrina. Presti said that losing what seemed to be such a perfect fit won’t force OKC to shortcut the building process.

“We’re always open-minded,” he said. “At the same time we’re not going to allow this situation to affect future decisions. We have to continue to be methodical as we go through the process of growing our team and growing our organization.”

Suns 140, Thunder 118: The Thunder tried to make a game of it in the second half at Phoenix, but the resurgent Suns had too much firepower even without injured All-Star Amare Stoudemire. Leandro Barbosa stepped into the starting lineup and scored a career-high 41 points Friday night, as Phoenix hit 140 for the third consecutive game.

Kevin Durant scored 35 for the Thunder, who have dropped four straight to fall to 13-42. OKC actually had six score in double figures in the run-and-gun affair. Russell Westbrook followed Durant with 19 points. Jeff Green (10 points) had a game-high 14 rebounds.

Jason Richardson added 34 points for the Suns and Shaquille O’Neal had 22. Phoenix is the first team in 18 years to score at least 140 in three consecutive games.

Notes, Quotes

• The Thunder added to their swingman depth with Thursday’s trade for Thabo Sefolosha. Oklahoma City also received cash considerations from Chicago in exchange for a 2009 first round pick.

“We are excited to add Thabo to our team,” GM Sam Presti said. “With this trade we add another defensive-minded perimeter player that we feel has the opportunity to grow with our organization.”

Sefolosha (6-7, 215), currently in his third season, owns career averages of 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 16.6 minutes in 183 NBA games (40 starts). He has appeared in 43 games (14 starts) this season with the Bulls, averaging 4.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 17.1 minutes.

OKC owns three first-round picks in the 2009 draft. The Thunder holds the rights to its own pick, the Denver pick acquired in the Johan Petro trade and the San Antonio pick received in the Kurt Thomas deal. Chicago will get the least favorable of the Denver and San Antonio picks.

• OKC added to the frontcourt stable Thursday by acquiring forward Malik Rose and cash considerations from New York in exchange for forward Chris Wilcox.

“We are pleased to add Malik to our roster,” Sam Presti said. “He brings a wealth of experience and veteran leadership to our team.”

Rose (6-7, 255), a two-time NBA champion currently in his 13th season, owns career averages of 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 16.5 minutes in 793 NBA games. He has appeared in 18 games this season with the Knicks, averaging 1.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 8.9 minutes.

Quote To Note: “We feel the right decision for us was to move in another direction. We’re disappointed it did not work out.”—Thunder general manager Sam Presti on rescinding the Tyson Chandler trade for medical reasons.

Roster Report

Rotation: Starters—Point guard Russell Westbrook, Shooting guard Kyle Weaver, Small forward Kevin Durant, Power forward Jeff Green, Center Nenad Krstic. Bench—Guard Earl Watson, Guard Chucky Atkins, Center Robert Swift, Center Nick Collison, Guard Damien Wilkins, Forward Joe Smith, Guard Thabo Sefolosha.

Player Notes: —C Nenad Krstic made his second start of the season Friday at Phoenix. He scored 16 and grabbed six rebounds, replacing Nick Collison in a move that was more than just a simple matchup against Shaquille O’Neal.

“We’re just going to change it up and give him an opportunity to start,” coach Scott Brooks said of Krstic. “It’s nothing against Nick. Nick’s been playing very well for us. It just gives us a different look. They both are going to play good minutes. We want them to both play well.”

• F Chris Wilcox was ultimately traded Thursday to New York because he didn’t fit in OKC’s long-range plans. There was speculation that the Thunder had to move Wilcox after he was originally part of the failed Tyson Chandler deal.

“We certainly didn’t make any decisions based on reaction to that situation,” GM Sam Presti said. “That’s something that we’ve tried to be thorough with in our process. We have to make the intelligent decisions for our organization, take the information that we have and do what we think is in the best interest of the team. We did not alter our process.”

• C Mo Sene was waived to make room for G Thabo Sefolosha on the 15-man roster. The 6-11 three-year vet from Senegal played in just five games this season and averaged less than five minutes.

Medical Watch:

• F D.J. White (jaw surgery) had a benign tumor removed Oct. 13. The second phase of the surgery involved mending the jaw with bone graft taken from his hip. He’s begun doing light workouts.

• G Desmond Mason (knee surgery) is missing the rest of the season. He is expected to make a full recovery.