The Oklahoma City Thunder just lost Kevin Durant for nothing. They can’t afford to do the same with Russell Westbrook.
That’s going to make the next few weeks and months for Thunder General Manager Sam Presti as crucial as any during his long tenure with the franchise. He needs to determine whether Westbrook is going to stay in Oklahoma City for the long haul – and, if he’s not, the Thunder have to move on from him, just like they’re being forced to move on from Durant. Only this time they might be able to land a significant return for a departing star.
So where will Westbrook, one of the NBA’s best and most exciting players, begin next season? Here are a few options:
Oklahoma City Thunder
Even with the uncertainty surrounding Durant’s departure, this might be the most obvious outcome. The Thunder can hang onto Westbrook all the way up until February’s trade deadline if they want before deciding about moving him – or could even take the risk and wait it out entirely. The new collective bargaining agreement, expected to be in place prior to the start of next season, could feature some new rules that would give teams an even greater advantage in retaining their star players. That’s a gamble though.
[How LeBron James, the CBA and James Harden pushed Kevin Durant to the Warriors]
Oklahoma City could also try to convince Westbrook to renegotiate and extend his contract for at least a year or two, which would allow him to get a several million dollar raise this season and allow the Thunder to know he’d be around for more than just this coming season. Westbrook, however, has reportedly said he’s not interested in doing this – not that it’s much of a surprise. He’d make more by hitting the open market than any raise he’d earn via an extension signed this year.
Los Angeles Lakers
If they can’t get a commitment from Westbrook now, let’s assume the Thunder decide to trade him. Looking at Presti’s track record – including trades of James Harden, Reggie Jackson and Serge Ibaka before they reached free agency – this is a very plausible scenario.
[NBA free agency grades: High marks for Durant, Nowitzki]
And if the Thunder are going to move on from Westbrook, the Lakers are the obvious team to engage. The past week – which saw the Lakers not only get rejected by Kevin Durant for a meeting, but also by Hassan Whiteside – showed how far this franchise has fallen. It’s not the hot spot for free agents it once was. The era of Lakers exceptionalism is over. How can it begin to come back? By bringing a star to Los Angeles.
Westbrook, a Los Angeles native and former UCLA star, is the perfect fit for that role – particularly in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s retirement. No one is better suited to take Bryant’s mantle atop the franchise. And while some would argue the Lakers shouldn’t package some of their young talent to get Westbrook now, is there any guarantee he’d be willing to meet with them next summer? Recent history doesn’t bode well for their chances.
D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram would give the Thunder two building blocks to go with their young core, and allow Westbrook to walk onto a team with Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov. The Lakers would likely make the playoffs and reestablish themselves as a destination for star players. It may not happen, but if Westbrook leaves it is the most obvious trade fit for him.
Boston Celtics
The Thunder would likely prefer to get guys like Russell and Ingram: young, exciting players who can play for them immediately. But if they want draft assets, there’s no team with more of them than the Celtics.
Boston has control of the next two Brooklyn Nets first-round picks, has first rounders from Memphis and the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 and has all of its own picks. The Celtics also have a bunch of young players on their roster they could package together to send to Oklahoma City along with them.
Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge has been in search of a star, and now will be increasing that pursuit after landing Al Horford in free agency. Westbrook would be a dream scenario for Boston if he ever shook free.
Miami Heat
Talk about teams always ready to make a big move. No one fits that description better than the Miami Heat and team president Pat Riley, who always find themselves in the mix, or in the room, with every single star player on the market.
Make no mistake that Riley will be pursuing Westbrook when he hits free agency next summer, and would likely love to get his hands on him sooner. A package of Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow would give Oklahoma City both a young wing and an established starting point guard to keep building around, and Westbrook would likely be happy to go to Miami. Given Miami’s roster situation, moving on from Winslow would be difficult, but if Riley had a chance to get someone like Westbrook it’d be hard to see him saying no.
[Could Dwyane Wade really join the Cavaliers?]
Minnesota Timberwolves
Who knows if Westbrook would be willing to stay in Minnesota, but the Timberwolves have the pieces to put together an attractive package for him. Between Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn, there are plenty of scenarios that could result in a potential deal.
The problem, though, is whether Westbrook would commit to the Timberwolves now, because there’s no way new coach and team president Tom Thibodeau would blow up a chunk of this incredibly exciting young core to bring in anyone, even a talent like Westbrook, for one year. Only one thing is for certain: If Minnesota does pursue such a deal, Karl-Anthony Towns will not be part of any packages for anyone.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Nah, this isn’t happening. But how amazing would a Russell Westbrook for Kyrie Irving swap be? We all already know how determined Westbrook will be to prove himself the first time he faces the Warriors now that Durant’s gone there. Now imagine if he gets to face them in the NBA Finals.
There may have been a time where Irving would’ve been on the block this summer. But that time was before he won Game 7 of the NBA Finals with the go-ahead three-pointer to bring Cleveland its first championship in 52 years. So as much fun as this would be, it’ll only be possible in the upcoming edition of NBA 2K17.
