Thunder GM Presti agrees to extension

Basketball Betting Lines

07/22/2010 - Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti has agreed to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. Presti, 33, was named general manager in 2007, when the team was still located in Seattle, after serving as assistant general manager for the San Antonio Spurs.

"I am extremely humbled to have the opportunity to continue our work here with the Thunder," Presti said. "Oklahoma City is home for me. We have a committed group of players, excellent coaches led by Scott Brooks, and a support staff in both basketball and business, that is integral to the vision of our organization and I am grateful for their partnership."

Through draft choices, such as Kevin Durant in 2007 and Russell Westbrook in 2008, as well as key acquisitions, Presti has constructed a young and promising roster.

The maneuvering paid dividends this past season, when the Thunder went 50-32 under Brooks -- a 27-win improvement from 2008-09. Oklahoma City made the franchise's first playoff appearance in five years and lost its first-round series to the eventual NBA-champion Lakers.

Onlinecasibo Basketball Betting News

<< Chiefs sign third-round pick Moeaki
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Chiefs have signed tight end Tony Moeaki, the club's third-round pick in the 2010 draft. Moeaki played in 48 games at Iowa, starting 15, and caught 76 passes for 953 yards with 11 touch

<< Blue Jackets re-sign Clitsome
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed defenseman Grant Clitsome to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Clitsome appeared in 11 games for the Blue Jackets last season

<< Pistons' Monroe has foot surgery
Auburn Hills, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pistons rookie forward/center Greg Monroe underwent successful surgery on his right foot Thursday. The out-patient procedure was performed by Dr. Arthur Manoli at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in P

<< Sum greater than parts at Stephen F. Austin
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Head coach J.C. Harper attributes Stephen F. Austin's turnaround over the past few seasons to a belief in the system he established. "We had a plan, stayed on task with the plan, and haven't gotten off of

<< Bills put TE Klopfenstein on IR
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Buffalo Bills tight end Joe Klopfenstein was placed on the injured reserve list Thursday. Klopfenstein's exact injury is unknown. An injury settlement with the four- year veteran remains a possibility

Orioles bring Millwood off DL >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles have reinstated pitcher Kevin Millwood from the 15-day disabled list, and he will start Thursday's game against Minnesota. Millwood landed on the DL on July 6 with a strained right

Public gets chance to see Rachel Alexandra on Friday >>
Oceanport, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Thoroughbred racing fans should be able to get an up-close look Friday afternoon at 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra at Monmouth Park. The four-year-old filly will be in the track's paddock

Canada's squad armed and ready >>
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - As Canada prepares to host the 2010 IBAF World Junior Baseball Championship in Thunder Bay, Ont., beginning Friday, here's a closer look at its final 20-player roster. It all starts behind the plate. Can

Brewers activate Gallardo for Thursday start >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Brewers have activated right-hander Yovani Gallardo from the 15-day disabled list to make Thursday's start versus Pittsburgh. Gallardo suffered a strained left rib cage muscle against the Cardi

Roenick, Hatcher brothers head 2010 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class >>
Colorado Springs, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeremy Roenick headlines a list of five members that make up the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2010. The class, which also includes Derian Hatcher, Kevin Hatcher, Art Berglund an

Big 12 Conference betting odds

Work left to do: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

Texas joins Texas A&M and Kansas as locks after getting league win No. 11. Texas Tech greatly helped its own hopes and crippled OK State's with the two-point win Saturday. Is K-State the last reasonable hopeful? Could be an elimination match in Stillwater on Tuesday, at least for the Cowboys.

Work left to do:

Texas Tech [18-11 (7-7), RPI: 44, SOS: 12] A critical two-point win over OK State leaves the Red Raiders with Baylor and at Iowa State left. Get both and the Red Raiders likely are good to go. Get one and there could be some interesting comparisons with a K-State team that could finish two or three games "ahead" of them in the standings but doesn't have any of the quality wins Texas Tech has. Not a lot in nonconference play (against Arkansas in Little Rock being the best win, by far) to lean on.

Oklahoma State [18-9 (5-8), RPI: 50, SOS: 35] Still without a road win, the Cowboys now need to win two on the road just to get to .500 in conference play. It's hard to recall a team (OK, other than Clemson) falling so precipitously from lock status to almost certainly out of the NCAAs at this point. There are wins to be had in the last three, including a very big home game against K-State on Tuesday, but this team is reeling. Can you tell the pressure to win is getting to them with the way the final possession played out at Texas Tech? There are some good nonconference performances to lean on, specifically beating Missouri State and Syracuse on neutral floors and Pitt in OK City, but if the Pokes don't right this very, very soon, that won't be enough.

Kansas State [20-9 (9-5), RPI: 56, SOS: 96] It pays to be in the Big 12 North. The nine league wins are Colorado (twice), Missouri (twice), Iowa State (twice), Baylor, Nebraska and (a good one against) Texas. That helps explain the middling computer profile. The win over USC is nice, but the nonconference leaves a lot to be desired. The game at OK State in Stillwater on Tuesday is huge, as it could KO the Cowboys and leave K-State with a home date against Oklahoma with which to work.