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Warriors fan here. Would OKC fans be willing to consider Westbrook for Steph Curry? Seems to me that WB just isn't gonna work out coexisting with Durant. He wants to be a #1 guy and doesn't have the wiring to accept a #2 role to his clear superior in talent, Durant. Steph Curry could either start or be 6th man, depending on where you see Maynor shaking out (he looked fine tonight). This clears the deck for Durant and Harden (who looks like an emerging star and is everything in terms of decision-making that WB isn't), and frees WB to be "da man" over in GS. Maybe we throw in a sweetener.

I know you guys could go shopping for a veteran, maybe CP3 for WB, but Steph Curry is young and doesn't have bum knees. He'd fit RIGHT into the OKC program, and although he's like the opposite of WB (not explosive, great shooter), he seems like he'd be more conducive to a championship contender ultimately IF you guys decide WB has to go.

Man I wish these trade threads for Westbrook would stop. Every thread says that Westbrook wants to be the man and that going to so-and-so will let him be the man.

He's not going anywhere, he's 22 and has massive potential. He's practically been learning how to play PG since he's been in the NBA and he's constantly improving.

Maynor starting would be awful. I shouldn't even have to explain why.

We don't need to trade Westbrook, he is a very good player who will only get better. Also maynor is a very good "traditional" point guard but his potential isn't as high as Westbrook. Westbrook is still college aged player. Every year he has improved greatly, I don't see that growth slowing down.


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I don't get it, OKC fans seem to seriously think there isn't an issue. But from the outside, it appears WB really won't / can't tailor his game to allow KD to maximize his potential. You guys are way too placid about this. But anyway I hope I'm wrong, not trying to act like a buzzard circling. But all signs point to WB being a ball dominator.

Frank Mulely wrote:I don't get it, OKC fans seem to seriously think there isn't an issue. But from the outside, it appears WB really won't / can't tailor his game to allow KD to maximize his potential. You guys are way too placid about this. But anyway I hope I'm wrong, not trying to act like a buzzard circling. But all signs point to WB being a ball dominator.

He's only 22. He's radically altered his game every season he's been in the league. You don't give up on a young, All Star PG this early because he's struggling a little bit. That's the type of reactionary move that destroys franchises.

Hm...well for WB's sake, assuming you guys don't win it all this year (if I had to bet, I'd bet on a Miami-Dallas finals due to experience vs. Chi and OKC), WB is gonna need to definitely watch some tape. Its not a talent issue, its a mentality issue. He needs to stop wanting to be the guy and become happy with Durant clearly in that role. I agree he can keep growing skillswise, that is not the fundamental issue here.

LOL!

He dot benched for one game. I gurantee Westbrook will not be traded.

Frank Mulely wrote:Hm...well for WB's sake, assuming you guys don't win it all this year (if I had to bet, I'd bet on a Miami-Dallas finals due to experience vs. Chi and OKC), WB is gonna need to definitely watch some tape. Its not a talent issue, its a mentality issue. He needs to stop wanting to be the guy and become happy with Durant clearly in that role. I agree he can keep growing skillswise, that is not the fundamental issue here.

He'll be fine. What exactly is the fundamental issue? A lot of fans are making assumptions about Westbrook's mentality based on how he's playing or how emotional he gets on the court; he hasn't said a word to the media or anyone that would corroborate some of the 'issues' that are being reported. He's a young player who's still learning the position and how to balance all of his responsibilities on the court properly. Even if the Thunder don't make the Finals, this season has been wildly successful, and you can bet that Westbrook and others will be working hard in the offseason to get better as a team.

You don't trade an All-NBA and All-D talent with 22 years old.

2nd team All-NBA and an All-Star, but we should trade him for someone who is worse than James Harden?


Pass

I'm not even trying to sell you guys on this deal since you're obviously really against it (personally I think having a shooter like Curry along with Durant and Harden would be insanely difficult to stop). But I'm a bit shocked you're so solidly pro-WB. It seems clear that Durant would be maximized by a pass-first PG. It appears to be a classic addition-by-subtraction situation to me. WB and Durant are stylistic oil and water. WB is really immature and maybe he'll wise up. But he seems like a really emotional guy who isn't able to separate his ego from the situation. I'm not saying he's Marbury but his game is similar, and he needs to mature or he WILL end up being a Marbury type situation.

This trade actually makes a lot of sense, although I think Udoh would need to be included. Steph's outside shooting and decision making would be a perfect fit next to Durant/Harden/Ibaka. Udoh can bulk up a bit to be the Nazr and eventually Perkins replacement. Steph may not have the athletic upside of Westbrook, but he's much less likely to end up as the next Marbury/Steve Francis either.

Frank Mulely wrote:But I'm a bit shocked you're so solidly pro-WB.

You're shocked that we like our All Star, 2nd Team All NBA PG?

Frank Mulely wrote:It seems clear that Durant would be maximized by a pass-first PG. It appears to be a classic addition-by-subtraction situation to me.

Thunder had a Top 5 offense in the regular season, and #2 in the Playoffs. Is there room to grow? Of course. Can Durant and Westbrook get better together? Of course. But it's way too premature to think about trading Westbrook.

Frank Mulely wrote:I'm not saying he's Marbury but his game is similar, and he needs to mature or he WILL end up being a Marbury type situation.

Russ is not the kind of knucklehead that Marbury is / was. Russ is very coachable and receptive to criticism from the coaches. He's improved tremendously every year he's been in the league in almost every aspect you can think of. He'll get better as a table setter. It's not something that was going to happen overnight or something that can be rushed. He won't be a Marbury type situation because the Thunder org. and Westbrook himself are way above that kind of stuff. It's the reason the only place you hear any of this BS is in the media.

Even beyond everything, there's the simple fact that Westbrook has a much higher assist rate than Curry anyway >.>

Durant's skill level cries out for a competent playmaker who isn't thinking shoot first. I mean come on, just think of what CP3 would look like with Durant

As a hoops fan I don't want to see Durant sitting around open while WB hogs the friggin ball. I'm serious here, its blatant that this needs to change.

Frank Mulely wrote:Durant's skill level cries out for a competent playmaker who isn't thinking shoot first. I mean come on, just think of what CP3 would look like with Durant

As a hoops fan I don't want to see Durant sitting around open while WB hogs the friggin ball. I'm serious here, its blatant that this needs to change.

Kevin Durant lead the league in scoring this season and he's leading the league in scoring in the playoffs, and he lead the league in scoring last season. Westbrook is not Chris Paul, but that's not what we want him to be. The team often needs Westbrook to score points or create his own offense. But, clearly, Durant is getting plenty of opportunity himself.

Can OKC get better with distribution of possessions? Of course it can. Westbrook is an improving, young player who has made huge improvements every year. You have to be patient with a player like Westbrook. There is not pressing, immediate change needed right this second as the Thunder are the youngest team in the league (weighted for minutes played) and they are three wins away from making the Finals. Westbrook will have a whole 'nother offseason to improve on what he needs to improve on, and OKC will be an even better offensive team next year. This media driven Westbrook hate-fest is ridiculous.

Have anyone been watching the OKC games in the season? And I agree that RW is still young, and I would not trade a young all star PG.

So no we would not trade RW.

I think it's a great privilege to watch Westbrook grow as a player.

This team is fascinating because they win while showing room for improvement at the same time. It's the struggles that make us able to appreciate the achievements.

sonictecture wrote:I think it's a great privilege to watch Westbrook grow as a player.

This team is fascinating because they win while showing room for improvement at the same time. It's the struggles that make us able to appreciate the achievements.

Well said, I agree


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Durant won 2 scoring title with westbrook playing beside him. Just this season Westbrook+Durant is the 2nd highest scoring duo behind Wade+Lebron.

I don't think that Westbrook can do anything else to convince everyone he can play with Durant. We don't need Durant to score 40+ a game. Some others need to score as well. Should he get the ball more, definitely. Will Westbrook start passing to him more? Let's just wait and see how they progress if Harden is in the mix as well.

Edit: I dont think that the talks about Westbrook/Durant disagreement are true by the way.