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Oklahoma City Thunder: Kendrick Perkins expected to be out for entire preseason

The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson, Darnell Mayberry and John Rohde provided live coverage of Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti's preseason press conference today in Oklahoma City.

By Darnell Mayberry and Jenni Carlson and John Rohde | Published: September 26, 2012 Comment on this article

For an hour Wednesday morning, Thunder general manager Sam Presti addressed the media on everything from music, television, movies, uniforms, NFL referees and -- oh, yes -- the defending Western Conference champion Thunder. As usual, mum was the word on ongoing contract negotiations with James Harden and Eric Maynor. Thunder Media Day is next Monday and training camp opens Tuesday.

The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson, Darnell Mayberry and John Rohde are provided live coverage of Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti's preseason press conference today in Oklahoma City. Check back with NewsOK later for more in-depth coverage of today's press conference. For now, here's a look at what Presti had to say:

@JenniCarlson_OK 10:34 a.m. I'm heading to Thunder GM Sam Presti's preseason press conference soon. I'll be live tweeting throughout. Join me! #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 10:50 a.m. Thunder GM Sam Presti will address the media shortly in his annual preseason news conference. I'll be live tweeting momentarily.

@JenniCarlson_OK 10:52 a.m. Presti is set to start at 11 am. Stay tuned. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 10:55 a.m. BTW, they have a "SAM PRESTI" name plate on the table. Um, we know who he is... #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:00 a.m. Presti is off and running. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:01 a.m. Presti: Says the team has to take a building mentality. "That's how we've done it every year." #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:02 a.m. Presti: Says team needs to continue w/ the mentality and approach that got it here. #OKCThunder

@RohdeOK 11:03 a.m. Familiar refrain from Presti so far: think big, build small; keep our own identity; embrace who we are; not entitled to anything.

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:03 a.m. Presti: Not going to feel entitled. Team has to understand what has worked for it. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:05 a.m. Presti: Talks about realities in the new CBA that have to be managed. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:06 a.m. Presti: Says the players benefitted on and off court this offseason. Mentioned Basketball Without Borders trip. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:07 a.m. Presti: Says he loves music documentaries. Loves the new George Harrison one. Talking in terms of his own offseason downtime. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:08 a.m. Out of the blue, Sam Presit starts breaking down his love for music. Talks about how he's hooked on the show classic albums on VH1.

@DarnellMayberry 11:08 a.m. Presti: "Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt: that was a really good one."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:09 a.m. Presti: Music development is something he says he's really interested in. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:10 a.m. Presti: For whatever reason he's being really open today about personal stuff. #OKCThunder

@RohdeOK 11:11 a.m. An accomplished drummer, Presti turned to music this offseason to decompress.

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:11 a.m. Presti: Got a diary from his grandmother this summer that belonged to his grandfather. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:12 a.m. Presti when asked about James Harden and Eric Mayor's contract negotiations: "Well, as I was saying about Dark Side of the Moon."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:12 a.m. Presti: His grandpa rebuilt bridges during WWII. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:13 a.m. Presti: Says basically the same thing about Harden negotiations that he's said in the past. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:13 a.m. Presti: "Once the season starts, the team has to focus on basketball."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:14 a.m. Presti: "Once the season starts, we have to focus on basketball." #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:16 a.m. Presti says Perry Jones III has had a good summer.

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:18 a.m. Presti: Says Finals experience was just part of the building process for the team. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:18 a.m. Presti on Finals experience: "The next challenge is to retain that but not necessarily rely on it."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:19 a.m. Presti: Team needs to retain experience from Finals but not rely on it. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:20 a.m. Presti: When asked about biting the luxury tax bullet: "I don't feel comfortable talking about limitations." #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:21 a.m. Presti elaborating on Harden and whether the franchise would "bite the bullet" with the luxury tax...

@DarnellMayberry 11:21 a.m. "There are certain realities that we face, and there are some inherent challenges that we face...

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:21 a.m. Presti: "My job is to be able to make it work out for everyone." #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:21 a.m. "I don't feel comfortable talking about limitations and things that we ultimately have to decide on...

@DarnellMayberry 11:22 a.m. "But we're making a commitment to try to put a competitive team on the floor. But we have to do that right thing for the organizations."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:24 a.m. Presti: Says the veterans who weren't resigned is somewhat of a nod toward leadership of KD and Russ. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:25 a.m. Presti on Orton: "Danie's a talented player. He's had some things not go his way, the injury. But we like him. He's got a nice edge to him."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:26 a.m. Presti: On what he learned from Jeff Green trade: He has to do what's best for the franchise. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:28 a.m. Presti on Perk saying Harden will want to sign once camp starts...

@DarnellMayberry 11:28 a.m. "One thing we can't do is put expectations on specific people and how they're going to react to things."

@DarnellMayberry 11:30 a.m. Presti on the league having a full training camp: "I think it will be very helpful for us. I think it will be very helpful to the coaches."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:30 a.m. Presti: Just asked about having a full preseason. Does it seem possible the NBA lockout was less than a year ago? #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:31 a.m. Presti said the extra days during the season will be beneficial as well and said coach Scott Brooks is great at maximizing those days.

@DarnellMayberry 11:33 a.m. Presti on Kevin Durant's movie Thunderstruck: "I had seen previous screenings, and I think he's a tremendous basketball player."

@RohdeOK 11:34 a.m. Oh, if only Presti's answers pertaining to basketball could be as open as his remarks concerning music, television and film.

@DarnellMayberry 11:35 a.m. Presti on Durant and LeBron working out together: "I don't really pay attention to the narrative of the NBA."

@DarnellMayberry 11:36 a.m. Presti: "Kevin's going to work out, he's going to compete, he's going to play...he's going to spend his time wisely in the offseason."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:36 a.m. Presti: On KD and LeBron working out together and criticism it had: "I don't really pay attention to the narrative of the NBA." #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:37 a.m. Presti on the Lakers: "We've got a tremendous amount of respect for the Lakers. They're a great franchise."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:38 a.m. Presti: "We're at our best when defensively we're locked in." #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:40 a.m. Presti: Defense is something that gives you consistency. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:42 a.m. Presti on the new CBA: "For us, I think the best word I can use is this is what it is."

@DarnellMayberry 11:43 a.m. Presti: "We're not going to pass judgment on how it's gonna look or what's gonna happen."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:43 a.m. Presti: On issues that have come up w/ new CBA and challenges it brings to OKC: "This is what it is." #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:45 a.m. Presti: "The identity of this franchise? The cement's not dry." #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:46 a.m. Presti: Feels good about centers who could back up Perk. Says Thabeet's conditioning is much improved. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:47 a.m. Presti: Trying to have Perk rehabbed and ready for start of the regular season. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:48 a.m. Presti says the team is hoping Kendrick Perkins (wrist) will be ready for the first game of the regular season. Could miss entire preseason.

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:50 a.m. Presti now talking about his music love. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:50 a.m. With Perkins likely out for the entire preseason, expect to see a heavy dose of Cole Aldrich, Hasheem Thabeet and Daniel Orton.

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:52 a.m. Presti: Says he'd defer to league office if NBA refs went on lockout. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:53 a.m. This has been a crazy broad-ranging presser. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:54 a.m. For what it's worth, Presti says Thabeet's conditioning has vastly improved. Says he's much better conditioning-wise than he was.

@DarnellMayberry 11:54 a.m. Presti says the Thunder will be wearing an additional uniform this season. Won't say when.

@RohdeOK 11:55 a.m. Is OKC the team to beat in the West? "Preseason predictions, that's never really been our bag." -- Presti, keeping with his music theme.

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:55 a.m. Presti: Says team will have an alternate uniform this year. Doesn't know when it will appear. #OKCThunder

@DarnellMayberry 11:55 a.m. Presti on the alternate uni: "We're really excited about it. We hope people like it. But the people wearing the uniform have to do the job."

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:56 a.m. Presti: Won't reveal uniform's color or look. #OKCThunder

@JenniCarlson_OK 11:57 a.m. Presti's done.

@DarnellMayberry 11:57 a.m. Presti says the alternate is not a part of the league's annual Hispanic heritage celebration. It's an alternate that's designed by the team.

@DarnellMayberry 12:02 p.m. Everything you need to know from Sam Presti's press conference: bit.ly/SlRJ1P