OKC Thunder quotes: Mark Daigneault, speak with media following practice
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daignault and rookie Tre Mann spoke with the media following practice on Tuesday. This comes off the heels of Monday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. The team next plays on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors.
With the NBA trade deadline this Thursday, the Thunder have been in their fair share of trade rumors as they look to be sellers this season. Daigneault and Mann each spoke a bit about this and how the team addresses the elephant in the room.
Let’s take a look at this and also other noteworthy quotes and paraphrases from this post-practice media availability.
Keeping touch with Presti
Daigneault said that he keeps in touch with Thunder GM Sam Presti all the time and trade deadline week is no different for their relatioship.
“He’s done this a long time. He’s got a great balance with me… I’m not in the dark, I’m aware broadly,” said Daigneault. “They’re in the play-by-play, I’m not… If something gets close, he’ll make me aware.”
This was a safe assumption to make but it’s nice to get conformation that there is ongoing communication between the general manager and head coach. That’s not always the case for NBA teams, which can lead to toxic situations where both parties want different things.
Paying attention to trade rumors
Daigneault said that he thinks that the team does not really pay attention to trade rumors because the team is so young and have never really gone through enough deadlines to fully understand the business side of the NBA.
Daigneault also said that he enjoys looking at trades from a roster building aspect and how players fit with their new teams. He also admitted that he does not really pay attention to trade grade articles or instant reactions to trades.
“I’m not really on Hoops Hype,” said Daigneault.
Locker room trade talk
Mann mentioned that he talks about the NBA trade deadline with some of his teammates, especially with trades starting to surge in. Mann even brought up how he talked to Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins about the CJ McCollum trade to the New Orleans Pelicans that broke Tuesday morning and mentions how Dort personally knew Nickeil Alexander-Walker — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s cousin. Alexander-Walker was part of the trade and is being sent to the Portland Trail Blazers.
“I try not to think about it too much,” said Mann. “I think it’s crazy but I gotta remember it’s a business.”
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