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Oklahoma City Thunder news gathered from around the net.

Thunder Aren't Considering Amnesty Clause On Perkins

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not considering using the amnesty clause on Kendrick Perkins.

"We just haven't considered using the provision. ... We think Perk has a lot of value to our team," Sam Presti said Saturday.

Perkins is set to make about $18 million over the next two seasons.

Via Darnell Mayberry/The Oklahoman

Thunder May Anticipate 6th Man Role For Reggie Jackson

After sporadic playing time as a rookie last season, Reggie Jackson emerged as a critical guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder and averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the playoffs.

With Russell Westbrook set to return next season, the Thunder might be anticipating a sixth man role for Jackson.

“If that's the number that's called,” Jackson said, “I'm doing my best to just be ready for whatever situation I'm thrown into next year.”

“I'm excited about his future, about what he was able to do during the minutes that he had," Brooks added.

Via Darnell Mayberry/The Oklahoman

Kendrick Perkins Finishes Playoffs With Worst PER On Record

Kendrick Perkins finished the 2013 NBA Playoffs with a PER of -0.7, which is the worst on record for a player with 200 or more minutes.

Perkins had 24 turnovers, 24 points, 39 fouls, five blocks and a plus/minus of -40 in the playoffs.

Perkins was acquired by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011 in a trade involving Jeff Green.

Scott Brooks played Perkins 23.3 minutes per game in the Conference Semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies despite clearly being ineffective.

Via Tom Haberstroh/ESPN

Macklemore Upset Thunder Using His Song

The Oklahoma Thunder have been using the song "Can't Hold Us", which is performed by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Macklemore is a rapper from Seattle.

"So apparently the OKC blunder are using @macklemore 'Can't hold us' as a song to hype up the crowd in their arena <-OH HELL NO!" wrote Macklemore on his Twitter account.

Detlef Schrempt echoed the same sentiment on Monday.

Via KING 5 News

Russell Westbrook: Thunder 'Have Enough To Get A Ring'

Russell Westbrook talked to the media on Thursday for the first time since suffering a season-ending torn meniscus in Game 2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder's first round series against the Houston Rockets.

Westbrook, who will be off crutches in the next three to four weeks, believes the Thunder still have enough talent to get past the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round and win a championship.

"We're finding a way to win games," Westbrook said. "The group of guys we have, I think we have enough to get a ring."

The Thunder are tied against the Grizzlies, 1-1, as the series goes to Memphis on Saturday.

Via Darnell Mayberry/The Oklahoman

Grizzlies Want To Make Durant Work For Everything, Avoid Putting Him On Line

The Memphis Grizzlies are allowing Kevin Durant to average 35.5 points, 13 rebounds and 7.5 assists over the first two games of their series against the Oklahoma city Thunder.

“We want to (cut off Durant’s supporting cast), but you still can’t let him get 50," said Lionel Hollins. "We want to make him work and take a lot of shots. We don’t want to put him on the free throw line. It takes a lot of energy to be an offensive player, regardless of what people think, especially when you have the ball in your hand the majority of the time. We want to work him on that end and work him on the defensive end. We want to run and make him play the entire game.”

Via Ron Higgins/Commercial Appeal

Thunder Confident Perkins Fit For Series Against Grizzlies

Kendrick Perkins was benched in the second half of the Oklahoma City Thunder's closeout win over the Houston Rockets on Friday, but Scott Brooks is confident that his big man will bounce back in the second round against the Memphis Grizzlies.

“This series was hard for him,” Brooks said of Perkins against the run-and-gun Rockets. “But his commitment to still cheer his teammates in the second half tells you what he's all about."

Perkins will receive plenty of minutes with the Grizzlies being anchored by Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

“Playing Memphis, he's going to get every minute that he deserves," Brooks said.

Via Darnell Mayberry/The Oklahoman

Durant Dribbled Ball 240 More Times In Game 3 Than Season Average

Kevin Durant dribbled the ball 377 times in Game 3, about 240 more dribbles than he averaged per game for the season, according to data from SportVU.

Durant played the first game since his rookie season without Russell Westbrook on Saturday.

Durant touched the ball 111 times in the game, almost double his season average.

Via Zach Lowe/ESPN

Russell Westbrook Undergoes Successful Surgery, Out For Playoffs

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that Russell Westbrook underwent successful surgery on Saturday to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.

Westbrook will miss the remainder of the 2013 NBA playoffs.

“Although we are of course disappointed that Russell will be unable to return to the floor with his teammates this season, the opportunity to repair the meniscus as opposed to remove it was the best possible scenario for Russell's long term health as a player and person,” Sam Presti said in a statement. “Russell's health and well being are obviously our number one priority through this process and today's procedure helped solidify our belief that Russell will have many productive years of basketball in his future.”

Westbrook suffered the right knee injury in Game 2 of the Thunder's first-round series against the Houston Rockets, when Patrick Beverley collided with him as he tried to call a timeout.

Rehab will begin immediately for Westbrook and a timetable for his return will be determined during the offseason.

Via RealGM Staff Report

Beverley Sorry Westbrook Tore Meniscus, Doesn't Apologize For Being Aggressive

Patrick Beverley is sorry that Russell Westbrook suffered a torn meniscus while going for a steal before a timeout, but he doesn't apologize for being aggressive.

"I want to go against Russell Westbrook again and battle him again," Beverley told Yahoo! Sports by phone on Friday evening. "I didn't try to hurt him, but that play was something I've tried in the past, a play that worked against the Suns earlier in the season – and it's a play that I'm going to continue to try again."

Beverley abruptly left Arkansas before the start of his junior season to play in Ukraine after he confessed to turning in a paper he didn't write.

Beverley became a second round pick in 2009 and was the final cut by the Miami Heat one year later.

Beverley came to the Houston Rockets from Russia in the middle of the 12-13 season.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder Archives

Russell Westbrook To Undergo Knee Surgery

Russell Westbrook will undergo surgery on his right knee for a meniscus tear.

Howard Thinks Ibaka Should Have Been DPOY

Dwight Howard finished 14th in the Defensive Player of the Year balloting.

Durant 'Done With Being Second'

In a quote on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Kevin Durant lamented his runner-up status that he believes has plagued him throughout his basketball career.

Raptors 'Quickly Rebuffed' Valanciunas For Harden Trade Inquiry From Thunder

The Thunder spoke to the Raptors about a trade centered on James Harden for Jonas Valanciunas.

Brooks Guarantees Durant Won't Score 70 In Final Game To Chase Scoring Title

Kevin Durant will finish second in per game scoring to Carmelo Anthony unless he scores 70 points in the final game of the season.

Kevin Durant Fined $25,000 By NBA For Menacing Gesture

Kevin Durant also has 12 technical fouls this season, tied for third-most in the NBA.

Record Five Teams Have Had At Least 12-Game Win Streak

According to Elias Sports, the 2012-13 NBA season is the first in which five different teams have enjoyed win streaks of at least twelve games.

LeBron, Durant Named NBA Players Of Month

LeBron James captured his fifth straight Eastern Conference Player of the Month award by helping the Heat to an NBA-best 17-1 record as the team chased history.

Brewer: 'Unfortunate' Bulls Released Info Of Derrick Rose Being Medically Cleared

Ronnie Brewer doesn’t think anyone around the Bulls knows when Derrick Rose will return, but he was adamant it should come when only Rose is ready.

Wall Believes He's Faster Than Westbrook

John Wall and Russell Westbrook are regarded as two of the most athletics players in the NBA.

Kevin Martin Won't 'Have To Chase Money' In Free Agency

Kevin Martin has stated repeatedly he believes the Oklahoma City Thunder are a good fit for him moving forward.

Durant's Text Message Helped Thunder Keep Brooks

Kevin Durant reached out to Scott Brooks to let him know how much he means to the Thunder's success.

Thunder Reassign Jones, Liggins, Orton To D-League

The Thunder have reassigned Perry Jones, DeAndre Liggins and Daniel Orton to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate.

Durant Battling High Turnover Percentage

Kevin Durant has assumed more playmaking responsibilities this season.

Thunder Add Jason Ranne To Front Office

Jason Ranne spent the last six years with the Wasserman Media Group.

Thunder Recall Lamb, Liggins, Orton From D-League

Jeremy Lamb has seen action 20 games with Tulsa, averaging 21.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.6 minutes per game.

Thunder Recall Perry Jones From D-League

Perry Jones has averaged 14.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.5 minutes per game in the D-League

Thunder Reassign Lamb, Jones To D-League

In his previous assignments to the 66ers, Jeremy Lamb has averaged 21.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 33.3 minutes in 16 games.

Warriors Feared Tax In Declining Trade For James Harden

The Thunder sought Klay Thompson and a pick for James Harden, but the Warriors wanted to unload a burdensome contract with concerns on the 2014 tax.

Thunder Reassign Liggins, Orton To 66ers

Daniel Orton has played in 19 games on assignment in Tulsa, averaging 11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 28.6 minutes.
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