The Oklahoma City Thunder are now receptive for the first time toward trade calls for franchise star Russell Westbrook, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Westbrook, his agent Thad Foucher and Thunder general manager Sam Presti are now collaborating together and examining alternative solutions, given that trade timing is challenging this late in the summer due to the free agency bonanza that has now locked teams into tight payroll spots.
The Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and the Detroit Pistons are among the teams that have shown interest in dealing for Westbrook, but all of them are in tight salary cap situations that could render the trade gymnastics too far a stretch.
Most teams willing to take a stab at a trade for Westbrook have to keep one thing in mind — he is no complementary piece to a roster. Everything from pace of play, to shot-selection and execution will go through Westbrook, a dynamic, yet inefficient player with nightly triple-double potential.
Rumblings of his unhappiness in Oklahoma City have now swirled upon George's trade, having had the second superstar leave him in a span of three years.
The Thunder might just have to look for a different way to engineer an end to this marriage, considering they just traded George and consequently Jerami Grant, quickly crumbling away a roster that clearly had very little potential to make it deep in the playoffs.
OKC will listen to offers, but dealing a four-year, $170 million contract is no easy task, especially considering that most teams have already made moves to set themselves up for this upcoming season. Throw in the wrench of a potential Westbrook trade and it could soon be a tornado of problems if the team receiving the former MVP is not equipped with the right personnel to make a feasible addition of such magnitude.
Follow Us
Subscribe