Somebody thinks Harden is staying in OKC; Jim Calhoun is retiring

It’s no secret that the NBA is on the mainstream backburner right now — stuck in that period when everybody is paying attention to football and the MLB playoff chase, when pretty much every important free agent has been signed, and when training camp isn’t exactly right around the corner. But in places like Oklahoma City, they’re just as basketball-obsessed as they were during the NBA Finals. Even on days when there’s no other NBA news to report, there’s still something coming out of OKC. Lately it’s been all about James Harden and Serge Ibaka. More specifically, after Ibaka signed his $48 million deal over the summer, it’s been about whether the Thunder will have room to sign Harden. The Rockets, Mavs and Suns have been mentioned as teams that will go after The Bearded One hard in free agency, and that list is only gonna grow … But at least according to Kendrick Perkins, Harden isn’t going anywhere. Perk was quoted by The Oklahoman saying the team is “getting close” to re-upping with Harden on an extension. “Once James gets here it’s nothing to be said,” Perk said. “He’ll see his family and that’s all he needs. So once he sees everybody’s faces that’s enough said.” We’re not saying we know Harden better than Perkins knows him, but once Harden envisions the other faces he’ll be seeing next summer — Franklin, Grant, Jackson, Price Akeem — and remembers he should be able to see a lot more of them in another city than he’ll see in OKC, family might become less important … The biggest stories in basketball yesterday were from the college ranks. Jim Calhoun is retiring after 26 years and three national championships at UConn, and Notre Dame is joining the ACC in basketball (and every other sport except football). Calhoun has something of a complicated legacy. On one hand, he won a ton of games, put a ton of guys in the pros, and was the primary reason UConn is now considered a national powerhouse. On the other hand, especially in recent years, there was always some kind of borderline scandal hovering over the program. And because of that it kind of feels like Calhoun is walking away before a real storm hits, kind of like Pete Carroll at USC. When you think about Calhoun, do you think of the good stuff first, or the bad? … Keep reading to hear the latest free-agent rumors…

Matt Barnes kind of has to play in L.A. for the rest of his life, right? He’s only been relevant when he was with UCLA and the Lakers, so it’s no surprise that we’re hearing Barnes is leaning toward signing with the Clippers. Apparently Chris Paul really wants Barnes on his squad — or maybe the Clips just need somebody to fill the tattoo void left by Kenyon Martin … As for K-Mart, he has reportedly gotten interest from the Celtics and Lakers. Does it make anybody else feel really old that Kenyon Martin has hit that point in his career when playing for a non-contender is a waste of his time? … And K-Mart might be hitting the retirement home along with Derek Fisher, who also isn’t getting a lot of significant action from contenders. The Thunder have a logjam at point guard with Russell Westbrook, Eric Maynor and Reggie Jackson, and after Fisher apparently turned down the Bulls, what others (good) team would want him? Do the Lakers have room for an off-the-bench shooting specialist on a farewell tour? … On to the younger set: Terrence Williams is working out for the Pistons, Kyrylo Fesenko is working out for the Spurs, and Hassan Whiteside has the Heat and Wolves looking at him … Sleeper deal of the summer: Andray Blatche going to Brooklyn for a one-year contract near the minimum. Blatche is already gonna pocket $7 million from the Wizards, so it’s not like he needed the money. He just needed a team willing to give him another chance. If Blache is motivated, the Nets just got themselves a 6-11 three-position frontcourt guy who could be a beast off the bench, and they got him for cheap. He could be like a poor man’s Lamar Odom, back when L.O. was good … Seriously, what the hell is in the air in Portland? Elliott Williams doesn’t make as many headlines as Greg Oden or Brandon Roy, but he’s had just about as many injuries. The Blazers’ first-round pick from a couple years ago missed his rookie season following double knee surgery, then he hurt his shoulder last season, now he’s torn an Achilles tendon that is going to require surgery. Robbie Hummel should consider himself lucky he got drafted by Minnesota. He’s only going to miss 4-6 weeks with his latest knee injury. Had the Blazers drafted Hummel, his legs would’ve detached from his body during training camp … We’re out like knees in Portland …