Thunder GM calls Phil Jackson rumors “rubbish” and more in NBA Daily Digest.

Beam Me Up Scotty: Earlier today we discussed how the OKC Thunder could possibly handle James Harden’s contract extension.

One thing that that can be assured is that Thunder GM Sam Presti is hell-bent on getting a new deal done with HC Scott Brooks.

According to the New York Times, Presti will not pursue high profile names such as former Bulls coach Phil Jackson stating “to me, it’s rubbish.”

“Scotty is an integral part of our organization and critical to our success,” Presti said. “We value him greatly and we’re looking forward to having those [contract] conversations.”

“He’s been integral to our success. We wouldn’t be the situation that we’re in without him and his commitment to our organization and our players.”

Presti also touched on the difficulties that lie ahead in regard to keeping certain aspects of the team together.

“The challenges of that, quite frankly, are the challenges you have when you’re a good team,” Presti said, “and the decisions that you have to make, especially under a new system, as we try to learn that system and understand it and ultimately make some decisions about what we feel like is the best way to build a team in Oklahoma City that’s capable of competing year in and year out and giving ourselves a chance to win both in the in short and long term.”

Breakup to Make-up: Tomorrow it looks like J.R. Smith will decline his contract option to gamble on pushing the Knicks into giving him a long-term deal.

Smith’s 2012 option is worth $2.4 million and by shooting that down he could possibly put together a lengthier deal worth in the neighborhood of $12 million dollars over four years.

If he makes the move as rumors suggest, come July 1^st he will become an unrestricted free agent.

There will be a market for Smith and if he‘s willing to do reasonable business with the Knicks will probably play ball.

Really:  Ray Allen is really seriously, seriously, seriously potentially about to become a member of the Miami Heat. After all of the bad blood that has spilled between the Celtics and the Heat, the unrestricted free agent may be ahem…taking his talents to South Beach according to ESPN.

Quickly: The Knicks probably won’t have the financial wiggle room to secure Steve Nash. The Golden State Warriors will reportedly do whatever they can to hold onto restricted free agent Brandon Rush.