Jul 28, 2007 12:53 PM EST
The Nuggets' scouting staff took its second hard hit this week with the departure of director Bill Branch, who is going to the Seattle SuperSonics.
Branch's 10-year tenure with the Nuggets, the past five seasons as assistant coach/director of scouting, will end Tuesday, and he will move on to be the Sonics' director of pro personnel. Branch is regarded as one of the NBA's top advance scouts and has 20 years experience working in the league.
"I had a great 10 years here," Branch said in a phone interview Friday. "I enjoyed all the people from coaches I worked for. I worked for a lot of people here in my tenure and I learned a lot of different things.
"Hopefully, it will help me down the road. I told (Nuggets) George (Karl) to be proud and happy for me and that the Sonics wanted me during your command. George treated me like a son."
Via Denver Post
Oklahoma City, Denver Nuggets
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Mentoring Kevin Durant may be one of the last tasks of Kurt Thomas's NBA career.
Not that he is focused on that. Not yet, anyway.
"No, I don't think like that. I just go out and play. When the time comes, I'll deal with that," the rugged and wise Thomas said Thursday after dining with new coach P.J. Carlesimo and getting a physical with his new team, the Seattle SuperSonics.
The Sonics got Thomas not because he averaged a career-low 4.6 points in 67 games last season for Phoenix, but because he personifies the mentality new general manager Sam Presti wants on his rebuilt team. Thomas has averaged 7.4 rebounds per game in his career and is also known for a commitment to defence.
"Kurt really represents the identity we are trying to develop," Presti said last week.
Via Globe And Mail
Oklahoma City
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Seattle SuperSonics center Robert Swift was cleared for full contact Monday, and he should be ready when training camp begins in September.
Team spokesman Tom Savage confirmed Swift has been cleared by doctors. Swift won’t have his first official practice until training camp begins.
Dr. Steven Lombardo of California, who operated on Swift’s knee, gave him the final OK.
More than likely Swift will come back to Seattle in the near future to continue workouts, and will participate in scrimmages with other Sonics players in town at the Furtado Center until the start of camp.
Via Tacoma News Tribune
Oklahoma City
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Jul 2007 Archive
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Seattle Times | Jul 21, 2007
Will the Sonics trade either Luke Ridnour or Earl Watson who have three years left on contracts?
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The Arizona Republic | Jul 20, 2007
Kurt Thomas is the newest Sonic.
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USA Today | Jul 20, 2007
On the day Clay Bennett called for a resumption of talks regarding a new arena in the Seattle area, the SuperSonics owner finally declared where he'll move the franchise if a deal can't be reached.
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Seattle Times | Jul 19, 2007
Sonics and Storm owner Clay Bennett called Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels today to reopen talks on the future of the teams at KeyArena.
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ESPN.com | Jul 19, 2007
Kevin Durant signed a seven-year, $60 million endorsement deal with Nike that includes a $10 million signing bonus, the second-largest rookie deal in basketball.
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Dallas Morning News | Jul 18, 2007
ormer Texas national player of the year Kevin Durant has agreed to a seven-year, $60 million endorsement deal with Nike that includes a $10 million signing bonus.
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Seattle Times | Jul 18, 2007
Sonics forward Kevin Durant scored the second-largest endorsement contract for an NBA rookie when he signed a seven-year, $60 million deal with Nike that included a $10 million signing bonus.
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Sports Illustrated | Jul 16, 2007
Seattle swingman Kevin Durant had several highlight-reel plays Sunday night to break out of an event-long shooting slump, but it wasn't enough as the SuperSonics finished winless in the summer league with an 84-78 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
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ESPN | Jul 14, 2007
Kevin Durant struggled again with his shot Friday night, this time with superstar LeBron James sitting courtside.
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Seattle Post Intelligencer | Jul 12, 2007
While the Sonics played their best game of the Las Vegas Summer League, Jeff Green was relegated to the bench Wednesday.
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ESPN | Jul 12, 2007
Kevin Durant missed the Seattle SuperSonics' Summer League game on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks to attend the taping of the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.
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Press Release | Jul 11, 2007
Rashard Lewis is now officially a member of the Orlando Magic, after the Magic and Sonics completed a sign and trade Wednesday
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Seattle Times | Jul 11, 2007
The Magic has spent the past few days attempting to finalize a sign-and-trade deal with the Sonics to ease the financial burdens of the Rashard Lewis contract, but the teams had not agreed on compensation as of Tuesday night.
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Seattle Post Intelligencer | Jul 11, 2007
According to NBA sources, the Sonics may target Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams to join P.
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Philadelphia Daily News | Jul 10, 2007
With tomorrow the first day teams can sign free agents, Sixers GM Billy King confirmed via the team's public-relations department that he has spoken with Darko Milicic, an unrestricted free agent who appeared in 80 games last season with the Orlando Magic, and Milicic's agent, Marc Cornstein.
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Globe And Mail | Jul 9, 2007
According to two league sources the team is expected to make an offer to Indiana Pacers big man Maceo Baston, a restricted free agent who could help Toronto shore up their rebounding and shot-blocking.
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Seattle Times | Jul 6, 2007
Kevin Durant scored a game-high 18 points on 5-for-17 shooting in his NBA debut, but the Sonics suffered a 77-66 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks today in the Las Vegas summer league at the Thomas & Mack Center.
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Seattle PI | Jul 6, 2007
Lenny Wilkens resigned his position as vice chairman and is no longer a member of the Sonics organization.
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USA Today | Jul 5, 2007
Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are expected to play Friday when the NBA's summer league opens in Las Vegas.
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Yahoo! | Jul 5, 2007
P.
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RealGM Staff Report | Jul 4, 2007
The Seattle SuperSonics announced today that they have signed 2007 NBA Draft selections Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.
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ESPN | Jul 3, 2007
The Seattle SuperSonics have scheduled a Thursday news conference amid reports that the team has hired P.
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Globe And Mail | Jul 3, 2007
Rashard Lewis may get that sixth year in order for Orlando to shed some salary and give Seattle value in return.
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WKMG Channel 6 | Jul 2, 2007
An Orlando TV station is reporting that Rashard Lewis has agreed to sign with the Orlando Magic on July 11.
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MLive/News Tribune | Jul 2, 2007
Frank Hughes, Sonics Insider for The News Tribune, is quoting a source from local radio station WXYT, says the Pistons are considering shipping Richard Hamilton to Seattle.
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Seattle Post Intelligencer | Jul 2, 2007
It is believed Sonics GM Sam Presti is close to naming a head coach and NBA sources say that former Sonics assistant and Minnesota coach Dwane Casey has emerged as the favorite.
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Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel | Jul 1, 2007
Rashard Lewis' agent Tony Dutt believes "There Is No Better Fit" for his client than the Orlando Magic.
