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I think both teams might look at a trade like this near the deadline. Jefferson should be healthy and back to his old self, 20-10. OKC might still be around the 7-8th seed and realize they have no one who can score in the post and you can't compete in the playoffs without that. So maybe they decide the time to compete is now, and instead of waiting for more players to develop they make a trade for Big Al. At the same time, perhaps the Wolves have decided that for reasons of offensive scheme fit and the continued development of Love, they are ready to capitalize on Jefferson's trade value. They are also looking hard at drafting Aldrich(a hometown boy) or bringing Pekovic over. The scenario I imagine is as follows:

Jefferson, Ellington, and Pavlovic for
Green, Harden, and Collison
(Maybe picks are included going one way or the other as well, depending on the play/development of said players. OKC has 2 firsts, MN can't trade their first- its owed to LAC, but they have Charlotte's and Utah's)

the results are:
MN-
Flynn/Sessions/Hart
Brewer/Harden
Green/Gomes/Wilkins
Love/Collison/Jawai
Hollins/Collison/Pecherov
They are still not competing for the playoffs, but are much more balanced. They also become a much more triangle-esque squad. They still have assets and are still taking the best player available in the upcoming draft, still targeting Turner and Aldrich. They open space for Pekovic to come over. They give up capspace, but still have options, including the expirings of Blount and Wilkins to play with this year.

OKC-
Westbrook/Livingston/Ollie
Sefolosha/Weaver/Ellington
Durant/Pavlovic
Krstic/Ibanka/White
Jefferson/Thomas/Mullins
They run out a much more playoff ready starting five. Pavlovic gives them playoff experience off the bench. They may want to make a move using the expiring of Thomas to sure up their bench with playoff tested vets. They still have assets in the upcoming draft. Willie Warren would make and ideal 6th man.(and a nice hometown consolation for missing out on Griffin) They are still young, but slightly more proven and better balanced. Krstic's outside game would complement Jefferson perfectly and no one would be out of position. Their biggest needs would be a veteran, defensive big and a veteran point, both off the bench. They would have the assets to get both.

What do you think? Any interest?

*Throws up*

Thanks but no thanks.

I might do a Love for Green and Weaver but unfortunately Weaver is out for 4 months.

But the original I don't like at all.

I will say that I do think for OKC to contend they will have to get rid of Green at some point and get a quality big but I do not think that they should include harden in any deal.

i posted this trade on the Minnesota message boards, Westbrook n Green for Rubio n Love, and some of they're fans seem alright with this trade. IMO i LOVE this trade. Obviously it shouldnt be done midseason but perhaps this upcoming offseason. reasoning?
-OKC is in dire need of a PG. And please do not tell me Westbrook is a PG, if so then could you please name me ONE successful combo guard who has made the transition from combo guard to a top 10 point guard in the league? Before you name names, stay away from the numbers, I want names of POINT guards, those who can run a break and run a half court set from tip off to the last buzzer of the game. Here are some examples of Failed "experiments", Allen Iverson(Den), Jamal Crawford(Chi), Larry Hughes, Jason Terry(ATL), Monta Ellis, Randy Foye. There are many more, but the only player that i can name that could maybe slide into the top PG category is Gilbert Arenas. My theory on PGs is that the player must be a PG since he 1st picked up a basketball, ok fine, when he's on his varsity HS team. Making the transition from a scorer to a floor leader is tough and probably impossible in the NBA! So landing Ricky Rubio, an amazing and gifted PG btw, OKC's offense will look more crisp, more precise, more fluid, just an all out better offense. Dont get me wrong I think talent wise, Westbrook brings much more to a team than Rubio, but its about need rather than stats. Oh and I am one of those who did not want Rubio in the draft, but I have a legit excuse for that, Harden! Again here I am pleading the "NEED" case, I think we will all agree that down the line Harden will be a better SG than Westbrook. And I agree that Rubio will/is a better point guard than Westbrook. So Im sorry to all the Russell Westbrook fans out there, its plain and simple...Westbrook just doesn't fit in.
-Green for Love? Is Green really the best sidekick for KD? Well if you look at it as a 2 on 2 contest yes! And if you think of them as a potential Jordan n Pippen tandem then yes...wait NO...why? Because Jordan played the 2(his natural position), Pippen played the 3(his natural position), and Green plays the 4(not his natural position) So I am back with the natural position argument. Green is a perfect 6th man, like a Lamar Odom, but he isn't a playoff contending PF, remember Boris Diaw, n Lamar when he was starting, and throw in Josh Smith, any success there? History doesn't lie! Presti wants another Spurs type team, so I truly feel that he is searching for that team. A team that consists of players who do not play out of position. Kevin Love fits the grand scheme.
-The Off season scenerio...Minnesota lands a pick that will secure them with the pick of either Donatas Motiejunas or Cole Aldrich. I think by season's end Al Jefferson will be back into form as the franchise building block of Minnesota. So I wouldnt be surprised if Presti offers the Russell n Green for Rubio n Love trade (Presti must clarify that Rubio will play btw). So looking at the trade both teams do win! Which is tough to post on fan boards, an actual fair trade
2010 Lineup:
Minn- Flynn, Westbrook, Green, Jefferson, (Donatas or Aldrich), comon thats pretty sick Minnesota fans
OKC- Rubio, Harden, KD, Love, (Mullens/Ibaka/or FA), comon this is a team when you watch them there will be NO excuses for losing. This is a team that will need time to gel together rather than a team that has to wait on a certain individual/s to learn a position.

So we trade a 15 ,5 ,5 athletic freak, good defensive guard and a 17 & 7 PF with a good handle, decent 3pt shot, good character guy, for an unproven (in the NBA) slow, average defender not available for at least another year pg and a (good )PF that but has been out for almost the entire season so far.....

I don't get it.

Id do that trade in a heartbeat. Right now i think with the team you have now you have potential to be a very good team. But with Rubio and Love, you have a potentially GREAT team. Rubio and Loves ceiling is in the sky.

If Rubio pants out, you have a dynasty PG, and a double double PF with a pretty jumper.

I honestly dont know why OKC wouldn't do this.

And Rubio is not a bad defender, hes actually very good. But I agree does need time and to put on some weight.

But the last thing OKC needs to worry about is time. More so focus on patience.

Clangus wrote:So we trade a 15 ,5 ,5 athletic freak, good defensive guard and a 17 & 7 PF with a good handle, decent 3pt shot, good character guy, for an unproven (in the NBA) slow, average defender not available for at least another year pg and a (good )PF that but has been out for almost the entire season so far.....

I don't get it.

Again, please stay away from Numbers! 15, 5 and 5 yes those are good numbers but I am saying that no matter what Russ puts up he's still not a point guard. Russ is a an athletic freak which i mentioned, he will block and save 1 bucket a game, but thats 2 points, only 2!!! All im saying is that Rubio n Love will be better for the team for 48 minutes rather than Westbrook n Green due to the fact that Rubio n Love play the natural positions of the 1 and 4. Westbrook n Green will only put up great numbers when there's a mismatch on the floor...that's too Dallas for me. Id rather take a whole complete team, Spurs, than a team that thrives on invdividual scoring, in which we see often in the Offense of OKC right now

Rubio has suspect D. Love is injured, we don't know what he'll bring once he is back. Love is a decent player and I might consider Green for Love. But Rubio for Westbrook is WAY too risky. We have no idea if his game translates, if he can guard any of the PG's in the NBA - the level of athleticism is alot higher in the NBA. Unless there is something else coming back No way I do this deal.

Billups came into the league as a combo guard (read his old scouting reports) and made himself one of the top 3 PGs in the league, behind only Nash and Kidd.

Not a chance we get rid of Green and Harden. Anyone and everyone can just forget about the possibility of the Thunder without these three guys-Jeff Green, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. James Harden has been unbelievable. I say unbelievable because he has come in and accepted his role as a bench player and he has done everything we have asked of him. He is truly a team player and I am psyched that he loves being in OKC. I mean he was the third overall pick and has had a wonderful attitude about how this is the "Durant, Green, and Westbrook show."

In just a few years I think Blake Griffin will bail on that disease of a franchise, the LA Clippers and come home and be our post player. I am an OSU grad and I want Blake in OKC regardless of the OU idiots that will wear their OU gear to Thunder games.

Durantist wrote:i posted this trade on the Minnesota message boards, Westbrook n Green for Rubio n Love, and some of they're fans seem alright with this trade. IMO i LOVE this trade. Obviously it shouldnt be done midseason but perhaps this upcoming offseason. reasoning?
-OKC is in dire need of a PG. And please do not tell me Westbrook is a PG, if so then could you please name me ONE successful combo guard who has made the transition from combo guard to a top 10 point guard in the league? Before you name names, stay away from the numbers, I want names of POINT guards, those who can run a break and run a half court set from tip off to the last buzzer of the game. Here are some examples of Failed "experiments", Allen Iverson(Den), Jamal Crawford(Chi), Larry Hughes, Jason Terry(ATL), Monta Ellis, Randy Foye. There are many more, but the only player that i can name that could maybe slide into the top PG category is Gilbert Arenas. My theory on PGs is that the player must be a PG since he 1st picked up a basketball, ok fine, when he's on his varsity HS team. Making the transition from a scorer to a floor leader is tough and probably impossible in the NBA! So landing Ricky Rubio, an amazing and gifted PG btw, OKC's offense will look more crisp, more precise, more fluid, just an all out better offense. Dont get me wrong I think talent wise, Westbrook brings much more to a team than Rubio, but its about need rather than stats. Oh and I am one of those who did not want Rubio in the draft, but I have a legit excuse for that, Harden! Again here I am pleading the "NEED" case, I think we will all agree that down the line Harden will be a better SG than Westbrook. And I agree that Rubio will/is a better point guard than Westbrook. So Im sorry to all the Russell Westbrook fans out there, its plain and simple...Westbrook just doesn't fit in.
-Green for Love? Is Green really the best sidekick for KD? Well if you look at it as a 2 on 2 contest yes! And if you think of them as a potential Jordan n Pippen tandem then yes...wait NO...why? Because Jordan played the 2(his natural position), Pippen played the 3(his natural position), and Green plays the 4(not his natural position) So I am back with the natural position argument. Green is a perfect 6th man, like a Lamar Odom, but he isn't a playoff contending PF, remember Boris Diaw, n Lamar when he was starting, and throw in Josh Smith, any success there? History doesn't lie! Presti wants another Spurs type team, so I truly feel that he is searching for that team. A team that consists of players who do not play out of position. Kevin Love fits the grand scheme.
-The Off season scenerio...Minnesota lands a pick that will secure them with the pick of either Donatas Motiejunas or Cole Aldrich. I think by season's end Al Jefferson will be back into form as the franchise building block of Minnesota. So I wouldnt be surprised if Presti offers the Russell n Green for Rubio n Love trade (Presti must clarify that Rubio will play btw). So looking at the trade both teams do win! Which is tough to post on fan boards, an actual fair trade
2010 Lineup:
Minn- Flynn, Westbrook, Green, Jefferson, (Donatas or Aldrich), comon thats pretty sick Minnesota fans
OKC- Rubio, Harden, KD, Love, (Mullens/Ibaka/or FA), comon this is a team when you watch them there will be NO excuses for losing. This is a team that will need time to gel together rather than a team that has to wait on a certain individual/s to learn a position.

I would do Jefferson and Rubio for Green and Harden why would we want another point guard?? just more we have to get rid of down the line.

Clangus wrote:So we trade a 15 ,5 ,5 athletic freak, good defensive guard and a 17 & 7 PF with a good handle, decent 3pt shot, good character guy, for an unproven (in the NBA) slow, average defender not available for at least another year pg and a (good )PF that but has been out for almost the entire season so far.....

I don't get it.

You haven't watch Rubio be honest....Because if you did you would know he isn't slow or an average defender.

SO_MONEY wrote:

Clangus wrote:So we trade a 15 ,5 ,5 athletic freak, good defensive guard and a 17 & 7 PF with a good handle, decent 3pt shot, good character guy, for an unproven (in the NBA) slow, average defender not available for at least another year pg and a (good )PF that but has been out for almost the entire season so far.....

I don't get it.

You haven't watch Rubio be honest....Because if you did you would know he isn't slow or an average defender.

yes i have watched quite a bit of him. He takes gambles - which is why he gets a few steals etc that end up on the youtube highlights, the highlights dont show teh times when he gets brunt. he plays the passing lanes too much and gets backdoored, his weakness' are somewhat covered by the fact that his team plays alot of zone.. Hi lateral quickness Vs smaller faster PG is bad.

It seems that we are claiming Russ as some type of 1st team all defender?! OKC's best defender and probably the only good 1on1 defender they have is in Thabo, and maybe Harden in the near future. Russ is amazing on the boards and getting blocks (NOT defensive rotation, theres a difference). I see Rubio buying into the team defensive concept, watch CP3 closely, he isnt the most athletic PG on the court but he knows where to shift the offensive player and he knows when to step in to gamble for a steal or to gamble to take a charge, and there are many plays that show Rubio willing to slide in and take a charge. If you watch Russ he is kind of clueless where to send the offensive ballhandler during a pick n roll situation. I like Russ and I hope he develops into a Chauncey type player(nice research on Chauncy being a combo, thats just 1), but why pass up on a true and top POINT guard prospect when we all know that the PG position is in need for OKC??? This trade isn't about whos better between Russ n Rubio or Green n Love(btw i do feel that Love is better than Green), this trade is about what players can OKC use to make a complete team, a team that COMPLIMENTS the building block, which is Kevin Durant. Notice that Presti did an excellent move on the aqcuisition of Thabo. KD will never be a SG, due to his lack of perimeter Defense against other SGs. So Presti did the smart thing and grabbed Thabo, not only did he get an excellent 1on1 perimeter defender, Thabo is turning into a decent spot up shooter. We will see where this Russ experiment ends up, it will play out til season's end, but if there aren't any signs of improvement then I would have to put my money on Presti making a deal for a true PG.

Reminder!!!!
Presti is a genius, remember before the draft when he visited Rubio? Well I think he made that trip just to see if Rubio was willing to play for OKC. Presti is planting seeds!!!

I know as OKC fans we probably aren't the biggest +/- supporters, but they tend to support the thought of Russell being a very good defender.

SO_MONEY wrote:I would do Jefferson and Rubio for Green and Harden

I think this might make the most sense of all the proposed MN-OKC trades I've seen.

Jefferson is on a reasonable contract, and is one of the best post players in the game. Rubio is a gamble, but if OKC could ensure that he would sign, the team might laugh about stealing him away from the Wolves.

For the Wolves, they round out the roster and make Love the focal point of the team up front. Minnesota could see what Green could do at his natural position and tap Harden's potential by giving him as many minutes as he needed.

All in all, this is a riskier move for the Thunder. The Wolves give up the most talent, but realize immediate production and round out the roster.

I agree with Clangus, I could see Minnesota going for this but I would feel ripped off in both individual swaps Westbrook vs. Rubio, Green vs. Love you are admitting it would be a move to fill a team need and OKC would be giving up more raw talent and ability. That's why these guys are core members of the roster, because they provide so much talent and fill so many needs on their own, we can bring in bench pieces and specialty players to fill the other individual needs the team still has.

A team that is already a title contender may be willing to give up more talent to fill a specific hole they feel will put them over the top, under no circumstances should a team that will fight tooth and nail but hopefully finish .500+, (a team that finished with only 20 some wins last year), purposely go out and make itself less talented.

You can add Rajon Rondo to your list of tweener guards to successfully make the transition to PG full time. Coming out of school Rondo was touted as being unreal fast and able to score at will but the knocks on him were ball handling, court vision and basketball IQ, he's the fourth leading assist man in the NBA right now.