RealGM

As everybody seems to be trying to lure Westbroook from OKC, I compiled some articles ranging from serious to downright laughable to show how obnoxious some writers can be. As I said before, the poopstorm has started.

21th July -Adam Joseph(WTLC) from his Twitter account
per sources, Presti discussed Westbrook deals with several different teams (inc. SAS, MIL, LAL, BOS), but no middle ground was found. deals included players & picks from BOS, LAL. Spurs deal was player centric, Bucks very keen but backed away w/o an extension guarantee. in exploratory discussions with SAS, w/o significant assets sources say Kawhi was the asking price = unrealistic. with the Lakers sources indicated a deal would need to include Ingram, Russell & picks. the Celtics deal centered around Thomas, Smart, Brown & picks (trying to confirm what). Spurs deal unrealistic, Lakers/Celtics deal feels like a place where middle ground can be found per @WTLC sources. Relaying everything I heard. All teams thus far unwilling to meet high asking price. Normal in early negotiations. clarifying again, as i woke to a lot of mentions/questions (lots of Bucks fans!) these were exploratory discussions.
https://twitter.com/AdamJosephSport/status/755948114905751552

[15th july - RealGM] Russell Westbrook As Antihero On An Anti-Superteam (he means Celtics not OKC)
He first says:
When Kevin Durant missed most of the 14-15 season, Westbrook ascended to his own beautifully twisted version of heaven obstinately doing everything on offense. Westbrook’s usage rate and assist rate jumped radically and he went from excellent second star to MVP candidate
then he says:
Russell Westbrook Celtics could be the rebellious antidote, the scrawny yet capable underdog. Boston would stagger the minutes of Westbrook and Thomas with the latter instantly becoming 6th Man of the Year favorite to anchor their bench unit.
First, OKC already had 6th man of year candidate in Kanter and OKC's style when Durant was injured was scrawny yet a rebellious and capable underdog. How come Boston is any different than OKC?
http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/242855/Russell-Westbrook-As-Antihero-On-An-Anti-Superteam

[14th July - TI-Fansided] Thursday’s trade of the day: Russell Westbrook
"OKC won’t be competing for the playoffs at that point, so a potential top three lottery pick in a loaded draft means Sam Presti and Co. can find the next Thunder great."
Is this really a pro-OKC website? Who is Tony Heim? Avery Bradley on top of Oladipo? Terry Rozier(who?) as backup PG?
https://thunderousintentions.com/2016/07/14/thursdays-trade-of-the-day-russell-westbrook/

[14th July - CBS Sports] Knicks listed as possible trade destination for Russell Westbrook
"But look, Westbrook loves fashion, and New York is the fashion capital of the world. They have things to trade here, too. If they could send Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose (on an expiring contract) elsewhere, to get Westbrook back, wouldn't they? "
Of all the NBA teams, Knicks? really?
http://www.nj.com/knicks/index.ssf/2016/07/knicks_russell_westbrook_trade_rumors.html

[13th July - Bleacher Report] GMs Expect Russell Westbrook To Be Traded Before Start Of Season:
"But that said, let's just say there's a very strong suspicion, a strong belief among rival GMs that Russell Westbrook is not intending to stay and that he would leave next summer"
Well they are supposed to do that, they are "rival" GMs , doh!
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/242832/GMs-Expect-Russell-Westbrook-To-Be-Traded-Before-Start-Of-Season

[13th July - Sportsrageous] Clippers offer Chris Paul in a 3-team trade for Russell Westbrook, involves Cavs’ Kyrie Irving?
"Then, the best way for them to get something out of Westbrook’s plan to jump into free agency next summer is to trade him as early as now. Since the Thunder is also bent on rebuilding their team after Kevin Durant deserted them to sign with the Golden State Warriors, it could be the best offer they could get."
As if Thunder would want Kyrie Irving, another Nike endorsed guy with his own signature shoe line in Oklahoma City. They don't stick, you know..
http://www.sportsrageous.com/nba/nba-rumors-clippers-offer-chris-paul-3-team-trade-okc-russell-westbrook-cavs-kyrie-irving/34949/

[12th July - SQ] Welcome To Minnesota, Russell Westbrook
"The most likely trade would send Dunn, LaVine, Pekovic, and a future draft pick to the Thunder for Westbrook and possibly a big like Mitch McGary. The Thunder would be in the rebuilding process with a completely different team. Getting young potential from Minnesota would be a great starting point. It most likely won’t get OKC into the playoffs, but it would provide hope for a franchise that would potentially lose its two brightest stars."
Minnesotaians (or whatever) are providing hope for "hopeless" OKC. At least they are honest enough to admit that this trade won't even get us to playoffs.
http://thesportsquotient.com/nba/2016/7/12/welcome-to-minnesota-russell-westbrook

[11th July - LBS] Report: Lakers feel they can land Russell Westbrook as free agent
“The Lakers think they can sign him,” Broussard said. “And I was talking to some executives yesterday about possible trades they might do or offer. And I was told they think they can sign him as a free agent, so why should they give up anything?”
Well, they felt big and they felt Mozgov before, soo..
http://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/lakers-feel-can-land-russell-westbrook/312252

[8th July - TI-Fansided] Why trading Russell Westbrook is the best move for OKC
"We have been blessed the past eight seasons to watch two generational talents blossom together. Now it’s time to stand behind Sam Presti as he builds a new era of Thunder basketball"
Wait a minute, so Presti actually told you and "you only" that he is selling WB and we need to stand behind him? OK then..
https://thunderousintentions.com/2016/07/05/why-trading-russell-westbrook-is-the-best-move-for-okc/

Also some other links from mainstream media that says OKC "should" trade him quickly:

[USA Today] The Thunder should trade Russell Westbrook. Here's why.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/okc-thunder-trade-russell-westbrook-celtics-lakers

[FOX] 5 Trades for RW OKC should consider.
http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/5-trades-for-russell-westbrook-the-thunder-should-consider-070416

[SN] Thunder should trade Russell Westbrook before he leaves like Kevin Durant
http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/news/kevin-durant-decision-free-agency-thunder-future-russell-westbrook-trade/19rh3s73yrhck1ipfbqk51b12n

I think I just want to stick it out. If he leaves he leaves. Either the team sucks now or the team sucks a year from now. At least if you don't trade him you've got a chance he comes back. You trade him and what chance do you really have of acquiring a player of that caliber again?

Old Man Game wrote:I think I just want to stick it out. If he leaves he leaves. Either the team sucks now or the team sucks a year from now. At least if you don't trade him you've got a chance he comes back. You trade him and what chance do you really have of acquiring a player of that caliber again?

Absolutely none. Still Presti will also have all-star break if everything goes downhill.

oken wrote:

Old Man Game wrote:I think I just want to stick it out. If he leaves he leaves. Either the team sucks now or the team sucks a year from now. At least if you don't trade him you've got a chance he comes back. You trade him and what chance do you really have of acquiring a player of that caliber again?

Absolutely none. Still Presti will also have all-star break if everything goes downhill.

Yeah but by then you're really talking about diminished trade value.

Maybe not. With too many teams taking on stupid deals I guess there will be more mid season blow-ups this year. Not that I think any mid season break trade scenario will be necessary. If he wants to play in OKC he should play until end of his time, even if he's going to leave I guess he deserves an honorable goodbye instead of being dumped to some other team like commodity.

If he's going to leave that is him saying that OKC isn't a contender so trading him to a better situation where he could get his 5 year deal would be helping him. Especially, if he names 2-3 teams he'd like to go to and would resign with. If he says that he is going to resign then you don't trade him, at least not right now. You try to put a contender around him over the next 12 months and then if you can't land the other needed quality player(s) you probably trade Russ after the '17-'18 season when you've been a first round exit two seasons in a row. I don't see Presti sitting on his hands as a fringe playoff team and first round exit. He'd break it down and do a rebuild if it became clear that was the ceiling of the roster.

This year is an exception as kd leaving when he did prevented Presti from being able to chase a replacement, like Parsons, Joe Johnson, Bazemore, Batum or Deng. Next off-season is going to set the tone for a while if they keep Russ. If they can't add a FA before resigning Russ, Oladipo, Adams and Roberson they are basically stuck with this core for the next 4-5 years. They will not be under the cap enough to chase a quality FA for four years unless they trade two of Kanter, Oladipo, Adams and Russ. If they can't add one of Hayward, Millsap or Blake or two of Gibson, Iguodala, Gay, Tyreke and Redick it will be really hard for them to even try to convince anyone they are a contender.

It's technically still possible that one player is LeBron and he is going to sign just to beat kd with the team he abandoned. I don't see that as realistic, but that would make for one hell of a story. It would push LeBron's legacy to new heights that he went to a team that was abandoned by their superstar and put them over the top. LeBron's ego would love to do something like that. He got Cleveland their championship and his ego could push him into proving how much better he is than kd. It would also totally destroy kd's legacy if he ran to a new team to get crushed by his old team. If there is anything other than media driven hype to a LeBron and kd rivalry it would be the ultimate move by LeBron to team up with Russ to crush kd in the playoffs.

But I read in an article that he was postponing his decision because he was trying to get some hints about the possible changes to CBA not because he is considering to join another team. It would be awesome but it's only a pipe dream I guess.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/news/lebron-james-new-contract-cleveland-cavaliers-salary-cap-nbpa/1iffk888imwjm14zs73sirj8tk

LeBron isn't coming to OKC. That is just wishful thinking. The uncertainty of a new CBA is going to make things difficult for players trying to maximize their salary. There have been rumors of both increasing and decreasing the max salary. If they are going to increase it then a 1+1 for LeBron is his best bet. If they are going to decrease it a 5 year max is his best play. The only thing that is pretty much certain is there will be a new CBA and the goal of the owners and the NBA will be to give teams a better chance to retain the players they draft while the union will be trying to find ways to increase the share of money players can get. The problem is if you throw the balance off, like it was before the lockout, by giving the players 2% more of the total money that isn't good for anyone.

The 50/50 split is in the best interests of both parties. Finding more ways for teams to exceed the salary cap without paying tax is in the best interests of the union and if done right could serve the interests of both sides as a means to allow teams to keep homegrown talent by allowing players who have played exclusively for one franchise to have their contract only count 75% against the luxury tax bill. It would mean that OKC could have retained Russ, kd and Harden without paying the tax, although they wouldn't have gotten a share of the tax revenue since their total salary would have been over the tax line.

"not expected to stay with the OKC Thunder past this season"

That guy know something?:lol:

Classic reporting from someone who doesn't know anything - use wishy-washy statements like "not expected"

On Realgm wiretap it says Russell has given the thunder no indication of a trade, He's pissed off Durant went to the Warriors and Westbrook is ready to go. I'm shocked cause I thought both guys decided to part ways.

nymets1 wrote:On Realgm wiretap it says Russell has given the thunder no indication of a trade, He's pissed off Durant went to the Warriors and Westbrook is ready to go. I'm shocked cause I thought both guys decided to part ways.

Based on Durant's comments at the USA camp he has not really spoken to Russ. Which is confusing based on the statement in china a couple of days back that he had spoken to Russ and their relationship would never be the same.

Sort of leaves you speculating that Durant's OKC team mates, including Russ read about it in the players tribune. It is hard to tell what is true and what isn't but it seems that the player he has spoken the most too in the lead-up to his decision is Draymond Green who also claims to have received a text from Durants camp prior to the announcement he was moving to GS.

Once his career is over and Durant has had time to reflect, I suspect one of his regrets will be the way he has treated Russ and his OKC team mates on leaving OKC for GS

My understanding is that kd told Russ. Russ responded in a less than ideal manor, in kd's mind. kd knows the relationship is damaged because he jumped ship basically telling Russ that he was inferior to Curry. Russ probably said some other things about his play in the WCF and his relationships with what at the time was the enemy. Russ comes off as the type of person to see that as betrayal which is why most expect Russ to be more direct about his intentions.

Pretty sure the team did find out from the Players Tribune.

You can tell by the way Curry's Assistant responded to the question about Russ that something went down. He talked about him the way you would an ex-girlfriend or employer from about 8-10 years ago. 'I wish him well,' really, dude? That's all you got for someone you led a franchise with for 8 seasons and now just left high and dry?

First, inevitably the conversation is going to happen between Presti where Westbrook says something like "I love it here, but I'm not resigning right now. I'll give OKC serious consideration next summer (when the money's better for me)."

Here's what I would do.......

I start the season with Russ. I have 25-30 games go by. By then, it will become apparent who has at least a remote chance to topple Golden State in the West, and Cleveland in the East. My guess is that the Celtics will be on that short list, and Ainge will be itching to go for it.

So I pull Westbrook into a room, and I say the following.....

"Russ, we believe that you will really consider us for next year. We're going to do you one better - we're going to give you a legitimate chance to win the championship this year, while loading our team up for the future. We're sending you to Boston, but we're not taking back any of their core players. By the way, we're sending Kyle Singler along with you, because we don't want him next year."

Then I take the following:

One of the two Brooklyn picks
Another first rounder

Three of the following: (Let the scouting department find the best three - my money's not on Young or Mickey)

Brown
Smart
Hunter
Rozier
Young
Mickey
Yabusele
Zizic

Jerebko to make the numbers work

Maybe a third team needs to get involved (Green and Meeks in Orlando? Maybe Hezonja could wiggle in) to make it all match up, but right now it looks like it's okay, or at least close.

"Russ, good luck winning it all this year. You have a shot to win it all. Go crazy. And don't sell your house in OKC, because we'll offer you a 1+1 max deal next July."

Thoughts? I guess the one big difference between this and other Celtic trade proposals that I've seen is that usually Bradley, Johnson, and/or Thomas are involved. And looting Boston's future (not the present) keeps the Thunder in good graces with Russell......

And to the concern that nothing like this (coming back to the team that r=traded you away) has happened before, why not now? In addition to a max contract, Westbrook could have a future rule named after him. How awesome would that be????

Bird rights aaretoo valuable for both team and player.

My thoughts are this isn't a good idea at all. 30 games in and GSW will still look great, OKC isn't as good as them. You give a star an ultimatum and trade for the junk you woulnd't now. Easy solution:

Keep Russ. Wait until next offseason. You lose him, you lose him. But give the young guys playoff experience. And you trade him he'd never take less money to come back. And this still doesn't put Boston as good as GSW or probably the Cavs. So at basically every point along the way I'd say no, but that's just me.

Oh and heads up but I'm merging this with the other Westbrook thread.

How much less did KD take to go to the Warriors? After he signs the deal next year, how much will he truly have lost?

You can pick up five young assets, either draft picks or players on rookie contracts, along the way..... I think it's risk management. And from Presti's perspective, it's career risk management.....