Around the League: The Off-season

[INFORMER]

Russell Westbrook Trade Scenarios

Destination: Cleveland
Cleveland gets: Steven Adams, Patrick Patterson, Russell Westbrook
OKC gets: Collin Sexton, Larry Nance Jr., Tristan Thompson, JR Smith, Brandon Knight, 1st rounder

Destination: Minnesota
Minnesota gets: Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson
OKC gets: Andrew Wiggins, Jeff Teague, 2 1st rounders

Destination: Denver
Denver gets: Russell Westbrook, Patrick Patterson
OKC gets: Gary Harris, Will Barton, Mason Plumlee, Michael Porter Jr., 2 1st round picks

Destination: Orlando
Orlando gets: Russell Westbrook
OKC gets: Aaron Gordon, Markelle Fultz, DJ Augustin, 3 1st rounders

[Split T]

Those feel a little steep for me. Maybe I’m too down on Westbrook, but I think his style of play can only take you so far. Plus that contract is a monster. If someone could get him to play more under control and improve his shot selection, it might be worth it, but I have a hard time seeing him change up his game.

[Split T]

[The Bobster]

Kevin Pelton of ESPN puts the Knicks and Suns as the two teams who could most easily justify a trade for Westbrook.

For the Suns he proposes Tyler Johnson and Ricky Rubio after December 15.

Considering the amount of money the Suns would be on the hook for, I'd like some of the windfall of draft picks the Thunder have now too.

[JeremyG]

If Rubio has not significantly improved our team by December 15, then yeah I would do that trade.

[Split T]

I wouldn’t. Westbrook completely takes over our team. Does he make us better? Sure, but he stunts everyone else’s growth

[Mori Chu]

Not sure I would want Westbrook in his 30s on our team. Great numbers but not sure he makes others better.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I don't want anything to do with Westbrook until he shows that he's willing to play smarter.

[specialsauce]

Pass on Westbrook

[JeremyG]

I wouldn’t. Westbrook completely takes over our team. Does he make us better? Sure, but he stunts everyone else’s growth

Did he stunt Paul George’s growth? George was an MVP finalist this season.

[JeremyG]

Not bad, still think they are heavy small forwards that should be playing PF(Lebron, Dudley, Kuzma)

Let's just hope they struggle once again. They still have a dose of knuckleheads <\Barkley>.

They are turning into the Pelicans lol. They have 3/5 of the Pelicans starting lineup from 2017-18!

[JCSunsfan]

Kevin Pelton of ESPN puts the Knicks and Suns as the two teams who could most easily justify a trade for Westbrook.

For the Suns he proposes Tyler Johnson and Ricky Rubio after December 15.

Considering the amount of money the Suns would be on the hook for, I'd like some of the windfall of draft picks the Thunder have now too.

To me, Orlando is a fit. They need a lead player.

[Mori Chu]

To me, Orlando is a fit. They need a lead player.

Good point; that's a good fit. And they have lots of young assets and picks they could trade for him. Magic would still need shooting after that trade, but they'd have a great young nucleus and a star to run their offense. I kind of like that idea.

[Superbone]

[The Bobster]

But Oklahoma City isn't taking back Chris Paul, so the deal is probably dead in the water. Their only real motivation for getting rid of Westbrook is to get financial flexibility, and taking on a lesser player for just as much money doesn't do that.

[JeremyG]

This Paul George trade proves everyone wrong who has said that Booker can’t demand a trade for awhile because he just signed a contract.

If he wanted Russell and the organization wouldn’t even pursue it, I would expect a trade demand sometime between February and July, if we are not competing for a playoff spot.

[The Bobster]

This Paul George trade proves everyone wrong who has said that Booker can’t demand a trade for awhile because he just signed a contract.

If he wanted Russell and the organization wouldn’t even pursue it, I would expect a trade demand sometime between February and July, if we are not competing for a playoff spot.

He can demand one all he wants, but the Suns don't have to trade him unless they want to.

That's what most people have been saying around here.

[carey]

He can demand one all he wants, but the Suns don't have to trade him unless they want to.

That's what most people have been saying around here.

So... in the first year of a 5-year deal he's going to demand a trade?

[The Bobster]

He can demand one all he wants, but the Suns don't have to trade him unless they want to.

That's what most people have been saying around here.

So... in the first year of a 5-year deal he's going to demand a trade?

That seems to be the belief of some people.

[Superbone]

He can demand one all he wants, but the Suns don't have to trade him unless they want to.

That's what most people have been saying around here.

So... in the first year of a 5-year deal he's going to demand a trade?

That seems to be the belief of some people.

Even our very own local columnist Dan Bickley.