Kevin Durant said nine weeks ago that he does not pretend to have a crystal ball about his future -- in regard to his 2016 free agency or otherwise.

"I'm taking it day by day with the Oklahoma City Thunder," Durant said then. "That's my main concern."

Durant's return from a foot injury is expected to be soon.

Russell Westbrook will return to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup on Friday for their game against the New York Knicks.

Westbrook broke a bone in his right hand in the second game of the Thunder season.

Westbrook has been practicing and taking contact on the court in recent days.

The Thunder have won just four of their first 16 games without Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will release Sebastian Telfair with their hardship exception expiring.

The Thunder need to get down to the 15-player maximum roster size.

Oklahoma City will instead keep Ish Smith.

Serge Ibaka has already tied a career-high for three-point makes and attempts in a season with 23 and 60 respectively.

Ibaka's three-point shooting is expected to continue for the Oklahoma City Thunder after Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

“I think it continues,” Scott Brooks said. “He doesn’t necessarily have to live out there and shoot 10 a game. But three or four a game is a good number for him.”

Ibaka is shooting a team-best 38.3 percent from 3-point range — the equivalent of an efficient 1.15 points per shot attempt (or a 57.5 percent 2-point shooter).

“He’s a great shooter,” Brooks said. “He’s not just a great big-man shooter.”

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant participated in practice Saturday, joining their Thunder teammates in select portions of non-contact drills.

Both are said to be progressing from their respective injuries on schedule.

“They looked good,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “They’ve been with the group the whole time, but (Saturday) was the first day they’ve actually participated in some of the drills. It wasn’t the entire practice.”

The Oklahoman reports that "there's a growing belief that Westbrook and Durant aren't far from returning."

The Oklahoma City Thunder could be targeting a Friday return for Westbrook, which would be the day before his originally scheduled evaluation date.

Durant could return soon thereafter as his original projection was Dec. 11.

Kevin Durant has signed an endorsement deal with the fast-food drive-in chain Sonic.

"Everything that Kevin pitches comes from an authentic point of view," said Michael Yormark, president and chief of branding and strategy for Roc Nation, Jay Z's agency that represents Durant. "When it comes to grab-and-go food, KD's a Sonic guy."

An extra layer of motivation to forge the partnership comes from the fact that Sonic, which has 3,500 restaurants in 44 states, has its headquarters in Oklahoma City. It's the second deal that Durant has done this year with an Oklahoma City company.

Sonic is not an NBA partner nor a Thunder partner but expects to feature Durant heavily, especially during the playoffs.

James Harden was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder two years ago as he pursued a more lucrative contract extension, a position that the Thunder now face with Reggie Jackson.

“I went through the same thing,” Harden said about contract negotiations between Jackson and the Thunder. “Obviously, his is prolonged more. That’s (tougher). Credit to him. He’s handling it great. He’s been a great leader. Since he’s been on the court he’s been playing very good basketball, and he’s handling it the right way. I’m sure good things are going to happen for Reggie.”

Jackson has made it clear that he is hoping to receive a more prominent, starting role.

“I fell into the same situation, and that could have been my only contract And I’m sure Reggie feels the same way,” Harden said. “He has to get the money that he’s earned and that he’s worked his whole life for. It’s the nature of the business. It’s going to happen every single year and it’s going to continue to happen.

“I just said to him, keep going out there and hooping. Do what you’re doing; going out there, being aggressive and attacking, being the vocal leader that you are and everything will fall into place.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder have assigned Grant Jerrett to the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA D-League, the team announced on Saturday.

Scott Brooks flatly rejected Mark Cuban's suggestion that the Oklahoma City Thunder tank the season due to injuries to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

"I don't really pay much attention to other people's thoughts on our team," Brooks said. "I know what we're about; I know what our organization is about. Everybody has their opinion and they're entitled to that.

"Tanking is not something that we will consider. I don't think any team is focused on doing that. You're a pro team; you get paid to play and play as hard as you can."

After recovering from a sprained MCL, Anthony Morrow is a virtual lock to make his season debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night in Milwaukee, league sources told RealGM.

Morrow sprained left MCL late in training camp and was given a return timetable of four-to-six weeks.

Scott Brooks told reporters in Milwaukee on Tuesday morning that Morrow was questionable to play against the Bucks.

In six preseason games for the Thunder, Morrow averaged 15 points on 45 percent three-point shooting.