The Thunder continue to work through contract language on a new four-year deal with Scott Brooks, according to sources.

Brooks' contract was set to expire on June 30th.

Sam Presti views Perry Jones as a good teammate who can find his place on an already successful team.

“We really see him as a player that can blend,” Presti said. “We see great value in the fact that he’s incredibly talented, but he’s able to play within a team and understand how he can impact a game. He doesn’t need to be forcing the issue at all times. With our particular team, we feel like that is a huge quality that we looked at as a positive for us. The ability to play within the framework of a game and be able to impact it in several different ways.”

“To us, the ability to show some restraint and not force the issue, that’s a major plus,” Presti continued. “We look at that as a guy that is about winning first and foremost and has impacted winning. For us, we think it’s a good fit with what we have going on here.”

Thunder assistant general manager Troy Weaver explained that the team won’t slot Jones into a particular position or role.

“We won’t pigeon-hole him,” Weaver continued. “I think he can play anywhere on the front line. He’s a versatile player, but the coaches will handle that. What we see is his versatility is his strength.”

The Thunder assured James Harden in recent days that the team wouldn't trade him for a top-3 pick.

Oklahoma City would have presumably drafted Bradley Beal to replace Harden, who the franchise may not be able to afford to extend.

The Thunder have improved their contract offer to Scott Brooks, including a fourth year to the extension on the table. But sources say the two sides remain apart significantly on salary.

Brooks' contract will expire on Saturday if he doesn't sign an extension.

Sources say Brooks would immediately become a candidate for the Blazers if a deal isn't reached.

Brooks had been offered a three-year extension worth around $11 million. Brooks made $2.1 million in the final year of his deal this season.

Sources say Kostas Papanikolaou is receiving attention from several teams at the end of the first round, including the Heat and Thunder.

Papanikolaou is a 21-year-old Greek forward who had a breakout performance in the Euroleague Final Four.

Papanikolaou has two seasons remaining on his deal, but has an affordable buyout that can bring him to the NBA for the 13-14 season.

Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports the Knicks are looking to add a pick with Papanikolaou as the target.

Bradley Beal revealed that Sam Presti told him in an interview in Chicago that the Thunder were interested in trading up to draft him.

Oklahoma City doesn't have a selection until the No. 28 pick.

"He told me he was going to decide what they're going to do and considered getting up there," Beal said.

Beal said Denver, which picks at No. 20, also made a similar statement.

In order to draft Beal, the Thunder would almost certainly need to trade James Harden. League sources said Oklahoma City would be unable to avoid tax issues if they had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Harden and Serge Ibaka under lucrative contracts.

Trading for Harden could make sense for a team like the Bobcats, though there is no guarantee he would be willing to sign a long-term extension.

"I've heard it a lot," Beal said of the Thunder scenario. "It's really interesting. I would love to play with Kevin Durant. (Russell) Westbrook, great point guard. Just the whole team. It's young; I would love to play with a young team. They play fast. I'd love to get up and down, shoot the ball. Overall, whatever situation I Iand in I'll be happy."

Presti and Billy Donovan have had multiple conversations on the phone about Beal, as well.

A source with direct knowledge of the situation said, "Oklahoma City exhausted every opportunity on campus to find out everything they could find out about Beal. They've done everything they can."

The Spurs have also been interested in moving up to draft Beal.

The Celtics have been awarded a 2013 second round draft pick from the Thunder as compensation for a dispute over Jeff Green's medical condition, according to sources.

Boston filed a complain with the NBA after Green was revealed to have a heart condition.

Oklahoma City will convey Charlotte's second round pick in 2013, according to a source.

Sam Presti dismissed speculation that Phil Jackson or Jeff Van Gundy could be the next coach of the Thunder.

“To me, it's rubbish,” said Presti when asked about the rumors.

Presti expressed his desire to bring back Scott Brooks.

“As we've said before, Scotty is an integral part of our organization and critical to our success,” Presti said. “And we value him greatly. We're looking forward to having those conversations, as he said, in the coming days. But he's been integral to our success. We wouldn't be in the situation that we're in without him and his commitment to the organization and to our players.”

James Harden plans to stay with the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

"This team is like a family," Harden said. "Like, we're really brothers. We hang out most of the time every single day. You won't find any other team like this. I love it here."

"A dynasty is being built here. So we're winning, we're having fun and we're brothers. The other stuff, you can't buy it."

Harden doesn’t plan on being involved in contract negotiations between his agent and Thunder general manager Sam Presti.

"They'll do a pretty good job of working it out," Harden said. "I'm focused on several other things right now. But when the time is (right), they'll figure it out and it'll be done."

The 2012 NBA Finals was the second-most watched Finals in ABC history, according to Nielsen ratings. Only the 2004 Finals between the Lakers and Pistons fared better.

The Finals averaged 16.9 million viewers and 11.6 million household impressions, a five percent increase fro 2011.

For the series, the top 10 local markets were Oklahoma City, 43.8; Miami, 33.1; Tulsa, 26.9; West Palm Beach, 20.1; Cleveland, 17.4; Memphis, 15.9; New Orleans, 14.4;. Atlanta, 14.2; Chicago, 14.1; and San Antonio, 14.0.