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The Oklahoma City Thunder jarred the NBA this past weekend when they traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, a deal that means George is pairing up with Kawhi Leonard.
But this isn't about the Clippers; it's about the Thunder.
In trading George, it signals another change in direction for Oklahoma City. But now, the Thunder may need to rebuild rather than retool, and if they do that, they are going to have to trade Russell Westbrook.
Here are three reasons why OKC should move its beloved point guard.
3. His Contract
Westbrook has four years and about $170 million remaining on his contract. The Thunder would be much better off if they can move his salary, as it's not likely Westbrook is going to be worth that contract, anyway. Now 30 years old with clearly eroding skills, that contract could look ugly soon.
OKC moving George was just the start of what should be a salary-shedding offseason, as the club was essentially stuck in NBA purgatory with absolutely no cap space to improve what was just a decent team.
If the Thunder are able to get out from all of the money they owe Westbrook, they will be able to breathe and will have some flexibility to make other moves.
2. Stars Don't Enjoy Playing with Him
When George re-signed in Oklahoma City last summer, it was seen as a vindication for Westbrook, who had been criticized regularly for his inability to play alongside another star player.
But apparently, George demanded a trade from the Thunder in part because of issues with Westbrook, seemingly tiring of the floor general's ball-dominant ways.
Of course, we all know what happened between Westbrook and Kevin Durant, and even if Westbrook wasn't the main reason Durant left, he certainly didn't make him want to stay.
Westbrook has developed a rather poor reputation around the league as a team-killer, as his habit of gunning and committing silly turnovers has worn on some of his teammates.
Basically, the Thunder are not going to have a lot of success finding another star willing to join Westbrook in Oklahoma City.
1. His Style of Play
What we love most about Westbrook is his intensity and recklessness out on the floor. Earlier in his career, it added to his charm, as his take-no-prisoners attitude on the court was a breath of fresh air in an NBA where bitter rivalries are pretty much extinct.
But as he has gotten older, that style of play that we loved so much has become a detriment to his game and his team, as Westbrook no longer has the young legs to back it up.
This past season, Westbrook shot just 42.8 percent from the floor, 29.0 percent from 3-point range and a puzzling 65.6 percent from the free-throw line. It was a historically inefficient season that was bad even for Westbrook, a guy who has never been known for his efficiency.
At this point, just what does Westbrook bring to the table offensively? He can't get by defenders with as much regularity anymore. His mid-range jumper has escaped him. His free-throw rate has dipped. He still turns the ball over a whole lot.
Westbrook had an incredible run in Oklahoma City. He will forever be loved by the fans, and his No. 0 will unquestionably hang in the rafters one day. But his time is up. It's time for the Thunder to move on.
