MILWAUKEE – With Derrick Rose working hard to recover from his torn ACL, Ronnie Brewer believes the Chicago Bulls made a mistake by leaking that the 2011 NBA MVP has been medically cleared to return.

“I felt it was unfortunate the [Bulls] released that Derrick was cleared to play,” Brewer told RealGM on Saturday night. “It’s a process and that’s a dramatic injury. If you’re not 110 percent mentally there and you still have thoughts and regrets about the injury, you’re not going to be playing at a high level. Until you can do that, he’s still not cleared in my opinion.”

Rose has made clear he could sit out the entire season after undergoing knee surgery last May, and a major issue he’s dealt with is being fully confident mentally. In Brewer’s mind, the mental facet is just critical as the physical one – no matter if Rose wants to return in a limited part or his old superstar role.

“I think it’s as important mental as it is physical,” Brewer said. “[The injury] happened on a freak play: Him coming down the lane, doing the play he’s done a thousand times. Whenever he’s comfortable doing the things he was used to doing, that’s when he’ll jump out there.”

As far as when Rose will return, Brewer doesn’t think anyone around the Bulls knows, but he was adamant it should come when only his former teammate is ready.

“I don’t think anybody really knows,” Brewer said. “I don’t think the doctors know. I don’t think any of the players know. Whatever it is, I don’t think he should rush back and not be confident to play, because if you’re not playing with confidence then everything goes out the window.”

John Wall was asked if Russell Westbrook is the fastest player in the NBA.

“No, I'm going to say myself,” Wall said after shooting just 3-for-18 from the field in the Wizards' 103-80 loss to OKC on Wednesday.

Wall couldn’t say for certain that Westbrook was the league's second-fastest player.

“It's tough man,” said Wall. “There's a couple fast guys in this league. He (Westbrook) is up there, Derrick (Rose) is up there, when he's healthy. Mike Conley's pretty quick. There's a couple guys. Ty Lawson's quick. So there's a lot of guys, but I put myself first.”

Kevin Martin has thoroughly enjoyed his first season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and has stated repeatedly he believes the organization is a good fit for him moving forward.

In his ninth season, Martin does not believe money will play as big of a factor as in the past when he enters free agency this offseason.

"My perception would be happiness and a good fit basketball-wise," Martin said. "I'm in a situation that after nine years I don't have to chase money. So I think that part goes into a lot of guys' minds when it happens. But for me, I found a new happiness here when I got traded here. It feels like a good fit. But we'll see when it comes around.

"I think that's where it just comes down to, what would you be happy with? And I love being a major piece on a championship-caliber team. I'm enjoying the ride.

Preventing Scott Brooks from potentially leaving Oklahoma City for the Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Durant reached out to Brooks to let the coach know how much he means to the Thunder's success.

“During negotiations, it can be stressful at times,” Durant said. “One day it looks like something's going to get done and then the next it might not. So I reached out to him and just told him I loved him and let me know what happens.

“It was like the day before they got something done. I think that day was the toughest.”

Brooks ultimately signed a contract extension with the Thunder.

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

Jones has appeared in 34 games for Oklahoma City this season averaging 2.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 6.9 minutes. In his previous stints with Tulsa, Jones averaged 14.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 32.5 minutes in 14 games.  

Liggins has played in 36 games this season for Oklahoma City, averaging 1.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 7.5 minutes.  During his previous assignments to Tulsa, he appeared in 13 games, averaging 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 34.2 minutes. 

Orton has appeared in eight games for the Thunder this season, averaging 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 4.9 minutes.  He has played in 24 games on assignment in Tulsa, averaging 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 28.5 minutes. 

Kevin Durant has committed a turnover in 16.3 percent of his possessions this month, which is the second worst mark of his career.

“He's trying to make the right pass. It's just that we have to be able to execute it much better,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “He's going to find his way through it. I just like the fact that he's trying to make those passes and trying to help his teammates score. But we have to definitely do a better job of not turning the ball over. We don't want to do that as a team and guys don't want to do it individually.”

Durant has taken on more of a facilitator role this year in the wake of James Harden's trade to Houston.

“The high turnover guys in the league are some of the best players,” Brooks said “because you have the ball in your hands a lot. And we need the ball in his hands a lot.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder have hired Jason Ranne to the position of Director of Strategic Planning.

In his new role, Ranne will work with Thunder basketball operations on various initiatives, including team payroll, player acquisitions and long-term operational planning. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to add Jason to our front office staff,” Presti said. “He adds a diverse skill-set as well as many years of experiences within the industry of sport. We are confident that he will make a positive contribution to our operations as we continue to build and grow as an organization.”

Ranne spent the last six years with the Wasserman Media Group, most recently as the organization’s Senior Vice President of Team Sports. In this position, Ranne oversaw the operational, legal and strategic aspects of Wasserman's basketball, baseball and football groups as well as the athlete marketing and digital divisions related to those sports. Prior to his stint at Wasserman, Ranne spent four years as a guard on the Arizona Wildcats (2000-04), including a turn as the team captain during his senior season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled guard Jeremy Lamb, guard DeAndre Liggins and center Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

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

Liggins has played in 13 games (13 starts) with the 66ers, averaging 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals in 34.2 minutes per game.

Orton has appeared in 24 games (24 starts) with the 66ers, averaging 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.3 blocks in 28.5 minutes per game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward Perry Jones from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

In 14 games with the Tulsa 66ers (all starts), Jones has averaged 14.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.5 minutes per game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have reassigned Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones to the Tulsa 66ers, NBA Development League affiliate of the Thunder. 

Lamb has played in 19 games for the Thunder this season, averaging 2.3 points and 4.6 minutes.  In his previous assignments to the 66ers, he averaged 21.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 33.3 minutes in 16 games. 

Jones has appeared in 31 games for Oklahoma City this season averaging 2.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 7.0 minutes. In his previous stints with Tulsa, Jones averaged 14.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 32.8 minutes in 13 games.