Tramel's ScissorTales: Jazz, Spurs mimic Sam Presti's tanking plan for the Thunder

The Thunder’s tanking might be finished. Or maybe not. Too early to tell. Depends on several things.

How Chet Holmgren meshes with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. How the health of SGA, Giddey and Lugentz Dort hold up. How the development of Darius Bazley and Tre Mann go.

Either way, the Thunder rebuild has drawn more than reviews. The roster includes young players ranging from great prospect (Holmgren) to established star (SGA). Plus, OKC has 14 likely first-round picks assembled over the next seven drafts. Hope and optimism reign.

But here’s how to best know that Sam Presti’s master plan – tear down the roster after Paul George’s trade request in summer 2019 – is working.

Two of the most esteemed franchises in the NBA are copying the Thunder.

The Monday ScissorTales include a remarkable Texas football legacy marriage and a look at Russell Westbrook’s continuing troubles. But we start with a couple of highly-respected NBA franchises copying the Thunder’s rebuilding methods.

The Spurs and the Jazz are embracing the tank.

Both San Antonio and Utah are small-market franchises with fabulous reputations for being well run and competitive.

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The Spurs, you know all about, with NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. San Antonio retained one of the two most competitive streaks in NBA history; only the Red Auerbach Celtics could compare.

But Gregg Popovich finally has let go of the rope, and a few weeks ago, the Spurs traded their lone star, Dejounte Murray, to Atlanta for three first-round draft picks. San Antonio finally is about to lose big.

Meanwhile, Utah is tearing down its roster, too. The Jazz went between 1983 and 2010 with just one losing season, then finally gave in to rebuilding. Utah, despite changes in ownership and management, coaching and stars, always maintained a culture of winning and competitiveness.

But in June, the Jazz traded all-star Rudy Gobert for five players (none of them high quality) and four first-round draft picks, to Minnesota. And now Utah seems intent on trading its other star, Donovan Mitchell, to the New York Knickerbockers.

That’s the Presti Plan. Presti traded George, Russell Westbrook and Jerami Grant in summer 2019, receiving Chris Paul, SGA and a stash of draft picks. After one more entertaining and competitive season, more trades ensued.

You know the rest. Two mind-numbing seasons, with rampant losing and apathy soaring and longing for the draft lottery to deliver some luck.

But those already were distant memories as the Thunder’s Summer League squad competed in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas with Holmgren, Giddey, Santa Clara Jalen Williams, Mann, Aaron Wiggins and Ousmane Dieng. Not all are going to be big-time NBA players, but there seems to be enough young talent to know the Thunder is back on the upswing.

That’s the kind of talent infusion – with more on the way – that the Spurs and Jazz desire.

OKC’s 11-year run of success was astounding. Winning records every year, 10 playoff advancements, superstars in all shapes and sizes.

But San Antonio and Utah had even longer runways of success. Yet now the Spurs and Jazz have mimicked Presti. Tear it down, load up on draft picks and be patient.

You’re known by the company you keep. The Thunder is keeping some solid company. When Utah and San Antonio start imitating your plan, you know you’re on solid ground.

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Sonny Dykes married into the Joe Golding family

New Texas Christian coach Sonny Dykes is part of a legacy Texas football family. But he married into an even more remarkable Texas legacy family.

Dykes’ father, Spike, was the head coach at Texas Tech from 1986-99.

Spike Dykes had a quintessential Lone Star State career. Born in Lubbock, raised in Ballinger and graduated from Stepehen F. Austin. Coached at Eastland, Ballinger, San Angelo Central, Coahoma, Belton, Big Spring and Alice high schools, before Darrell Royal hired Dykes for the University of Texas staff.

Dykes also coached at New Mexico and Mississippi State, before becoming head coach at Midland Lee High School. From there, Tech hired Dykes as defensive coordinator, and soon enough he was head coach.

Sonny Dykes didn’t have those kinds of high school ties – just one year at Richardson Pearce – but he coached at Navarro Junior College and Texas Tech, as well as Kentucky, Louisiana-Monroe and Arizona, before he became head coach at Louisiana Tech, California, Southern Methodist and now TCU.

Let’s see. Between the two Dykeses, that’s nine high schools, one junior college and four major colleges. Including one or the other being head coach at Tech, SMU and TCU.

But does that match the Goldings?

I wrote about the Golding family a few years ago, after Abilene Christian made the NCAA Tournament coached by Joe Golding.

That’s a name I’ve heard all my life. Joe Golding was a star OU halfback in 1941 and 1946. Joe Golding also was a legendary high school coach in Wichita Falls.

But the two Joe Goldings were not the same person.

I jumped in and tried to sort it all out. The OU Joe Golding and the Wichita Falls Joe Golding were brothers.

Joseph Griffin Golding was a pool hall owner in Eufaula. He had a father and uncle named Joe, also. So giving siblings the same name was no big deal. When Joseph Griffin Golding had sons, he named them both Joe. Joe Griffin Golding Jr. went to OU and made all-American. Joseph Lester Golding became the Wichita Falls coach.

Joseph Lester Golding had a son, Joseph Lester Golding Jr., who was a long-time high school basketball coach in Texas, including a long stint as the Wichita Falls girls coach.

Joseph Lester Golding Jr. had a son. His name is Joseph Charles Golding, and he became the basketball coach at Abilene Christian, which upset Texas in the 2021 NCAAs, and landed the Texas-El Paso job.

Joseph Charles Golding, the UTEP basketball coach, has a sister named Kate.

Kate Golding married Sonny Dykes.

I met Kate Dykes at Big 12 Football Media Days last week, and we had a great visit about all the Joe Goldings.

She even told me a Dykes family story about names. Sonny Dykes’ given name is Daniel Dykes. No middle name. Spike Dykes wanted to name his son “Sonny.” But Sonny Dykes’ mother wanted to name him Daniel. So she named him Daniel, with no middle name. But Spike won the day, because everyone always has called Spike’s son “Sonny.”

The football Joe Goldings had quite the accomplishments. The OU Joe Golding was a star of such status, that at the turn of the century, I placed him on The Oklahoman’s all-century high school team. The Wichita Falls Joe Golding coached 15 seasons, and his Coyotes went 152-22-2 and won four state championships: 1949, 1950, 1958 and 1961. Texas Monthly in 2000 labeled Wichita Falls the state’s high school football program of the century.

The Wichita Falls Joe Golding was the grandfather of Sonny Dykes’ wife. That’s a state of Texas football story.

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Westbrook’s troubles continue

First, injury. Then, insult. Things keep getting worse for Russell Westbrook.

Over the weekend, long-time Westbrook agent Thad Foucher not only released a statement to ESPN about parting ways with Westbrook, but explained why. It’s not particularly flattering for Westbrook, and such a peek inside the Los Angeles Lakers drama is quite rare.

Then it got worse. Westbrook’s diminished status as a player was magnified by Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan.

During NBA Summer League, fellow Spurs rookie Malaki Branham teamed with Sochan on a word-association game that was videoed. Branham, seeking to get Sochan to say the phrase “triple-double,” gave Sochan this clue: “Russell Westbrook get 'em a lot.”

Sochan immediately responded, “bricks.”

The video went viral.

Uh-oh. Westbrook’s poor shooting is becoming more and more a punchline. That’s got to be painful for the prideful Westbrook, who last season made 29.8 percent of his 3-point shots, the sixth time in eight years he’s been below 30 percent on deep balls.

Players have been whispering about Westbrook for years. But now rookies – bricklaying rookies like Sochan, no less – are going public.

Baylor’s Sochan, drafted ninth overall by the Spurs, is a tremendous prospect. But he can’t shoot a lick. If Jeremy Sochan is making fun of your shooting, you’ve hit rock bottom.

Sochan took to Twitter to issue an apology, saying he was “not intending on being disrespectful.”

Sochan said Westbrook has been his favorite player. Sochan said he even named his dog “Russ.”

But that makes it even worse. If somebody who loves Westbrook naturally thinks of Westbrook’s shooting woes, what about the 99% rest of the league?

Intentional or not, the damage was done. Westbrook’s reputation within the league is in tatters.

And that’s coming off the revelation by Foucher, a virtually unprecedented maneuver by an agent.

Foucher, Westbrook’s agent all 14 of his NBA seasons, said they split due to "irreconcilable differences" and suggested they weren’t on the same page when it came to Westbrook’s career.

Foucher apparently wanted the 33-year-old Westbrook to acquiesce to the Lakers and try to work with LeBron James and new coach Darvin Ham. Westbrook apparently wants something different.

Foucher said Westbrook's "best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered.”

Westbrook is entering the final season of his contract, which is paying him $47 million a year. A crazy-high salary and diminished playing ability. Trading Westbrook is prohibitive.

Foucher’s statement read: “I represented Russell Westbrook for 14 years and am proud of our partnership, which included a highly successful 2008 draft (by the Seattle SuperSonics, who a week later moved to Oklahoma City), a super-max contract and the only renegotiation-and-extend max contract in history (both with the Thunder).

“I also supported Russell throughout his rise into a prominent fashion industry figure and recently orchestrated three successive trades on Russell's behalf -- culminating with the trade to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.

"Each time, teams gave up valuable players and assets to acquire Russell -- and each time, a new organization embraced his arrival. We did it together with grace and class.

"Now, with a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout.

"My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell's value and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered. Russell is a first-ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame player and will prove that again before he is retired.

"Unfortunately, irreconcilable differences exist as to his best pathway forward and we are no longer working together. I wish Russell and his family the very best."

Westbrook was ready to move on from the Thunder after the 2018-19 season, and the Thunder worked with Foucher to facilitate a trade to Houston for Paul, with OKC also getting draft picks. Then Westbrook wanted away from the Rockets, and Washington traded John Wall and draft picks to get Westbrook.

Then Westbrook wanted to go to the Lakers, and LA gave up Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell for Westbrook.

But now, any trade for Westbrook would have to include the Lakers sending out assets just to get rid of Westbrook. Foucher is right. Westbrook’s apparent desire for a trade is only diminishing his value. And his reputation has crashed, as even rookies who can’t shoot are making fun of Westbrook.

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The List: Australian major golf champions

Cameron Smith won a stirring British Open on Sunday, becoming the 12^th Australian to win a golfing major. Here are the 12 Aussie champions, ranked by their careers:

1. Peter Thomson: The greatest Aussie of them all, he won five British Opens – including three straight, 1954-56, won at Royal Birkdale, St. Andrews and Royal Liverpool, respectively. Thomson also won in 1958 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes and in 1965 back at Birkdale.

2. Greg Norman: Considered the world’s most talented player during a stretch in the 1980s, Norman won just two majors, both British Opens, in 1986 at Turnberry and in 1993 at Royal St. George.

3. David Graham: Graham won the 1979 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in suburban Detroit and the 1981 U.S. Open at Merion, outside Philadelphia.

4. Jason Day: Finishing 20-under par, Day won the 2015 PGA at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.

5. Cameron Smith: A splendid 64 Sunday gave Smith the 2022 British Open at St. Andrews.

6. Adam Scott: No Aussie had won a green jacket, but Scott beat Angel Cabrera in a playoff to win the 2013 Masters.

7. Wayne Grady: In 1989, Grady tied for second in the British Open, but he was no one-hit wonder, winning the 1990 PGA at Shoal Creek in Birmingham, Alabama.

8. Steve Elkington: Won the 1995 PGA in a playoff over Colin Montgomerie at Riviera Country Club in suburban Los Angeles.

9. Jim Ferrier: Won the 1947 PGA, beating Chick Harbert in the match-play finals at Plum Hollow in Southfield, Michigan.

10. Geoff Ogilvy: Phil Mickelson melted down on the 72^nd hole of the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, opening the path for Ogilvy.

11. Ian Baker-Finch: Won the 1991 British Open at Royal Birkdale, but his swing soon mysteriously left him.

12. Ken Nagle: A 39-year-old who never before had finished in the top 10 of a major, Nagle won in 1960 at St. Andrews.

Tramel:Threadbare OKC Thunder arena served us well, but now it's time for something better

Mailbag: New Thunder arena

Oklahoma City mayor David Holt’s announcement that the city needs a new arena has drawn tons of interest and curiosity from fans and non-fans.

Carole: “I was wondering where you think would be the best location for a new arena? I know as my hips have gone arthritic (forgive me for talking old), the only complaint I have about Paycom is the lack of handicap parking.”

Tramel: The Myriad location, a cross the street north from Paycom Center, is ideal. But it’s Prairie Surf Studios now. The city is about 18 months into a five-year lease with Prairie Surf, so that wouldn’t impede the arena going there.

However, if the film-making industry continues to thrive, it might be cool to keep Prairie Surf in those digs. A huge sound stage is quite the coup for downtown OKC, though our Steve Lackmeyer has pointed out that the 50-year-old building will need constant upgrading. And the Myriad location is city-owned, which is a big help in construction costs.

The other locations mentioned have pros and cons. Lackmeyer pointed out the parking lots just west of Paycom would be a fine location, but the city also wanted to place the convention center there. Negotiations to purchase the land broke down. Would the arena be different? The former cotton oil mill property just south of Bricktown would be an OK location but has limited access. The Strawberry Fields area just west of Scissortail Park is far from hotels and restaurants and parking.

Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today. 

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sam Presti's tanking plan for OKC Thunder embraced by Spurs, Jazz