Thunderous Intentions
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Why trading Russell Westbrook is the Thunder’s best move

By Rich Condon

Dec 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) speaks with referee Matt Boland (18) during the first quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) speaks with referee Matt Boland (18) during the first quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 21, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dances as New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) walks away during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 121-110. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dances as New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) walks away during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 121-110. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Why the Thunder should trade Russ

Again, I’m fully aware that 95% of you want to kill me right now. But bear with me.

When Russ is up for the lucrative player designation extension, he will be 30 years old. Russ’ biggest asset is his other-worldly athleticism; as that goes so does Russ’ overall play. OKC could be trapped like the Lakers were with the last Kobe contract.

We all know just how awe-inspiringly, amazing Russell has been this season. However his shot, which is the last thing to leave a player, is still very flawed. At this point in the season, he’s shooting 43.1% from the floor, 33.0% from deep. His eFG% (effective field goal percent) of 47% is barely in the top 100 (97th) of the NBA.

It isn’t illogical to think in four years (when he’ll be making close to 50 million a season) Westbrook  may not even be able to put up All-Star numbers.

This makes finding a trade partner incredibly difficult. The team that trades for him would need to have both the assets to make the trade worthwhile for OKC, AND a legitimate shot to compete for a Finals run now.

There’s really only one team that qualifies for both. That team, of course, is the team Russell Westbrook just got done destroying: the Boston Celtics. Facts are Danny Ainge has been searching for that superstar since the demise of the Pierce-Garnett-Allen era. Witnessing Russ’ dominance last night has to have Ainge trigger-happy to go all Russian with Presti and ink Russ right now!

Sam Presti would also be operating from a position of extreme leverage, as Russell is still under team control for next season. More importantly, HE DOESN’T HAVE TO TRADE HIM. This means that Boston would have to make a godfather offer, which would look something like this:

Westbrook for Amir Johnson, Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley, and both remaining Brooklyn picks.

Here’s why this deal makes the most sense for the Thunder. If you are an OKC fan, you may want to sit down for this one; it’s going to hurt (it pains me to write this).

RELATED STORY: Insane stats from Westbrook’s triple-double streak

The Thunder aren’t going to make much noise, if any at all in April. Russ has been playing at a historic, MVP caliber level, but 82 games with a near 50 percent usage level is going to take it’s toll on anybody, even a super freak like Russell.

The Thunder simply don’t have the team around him to pick up the slack in a series against Golden State, San Antonio, or even Utah. Until recently, the Thunder crater by almost every metric when Russell is off the court.

There’s really no shame in not being able to keep up with the creme de la creme. Remember: the Thunder lost the second best player in the league for nothing.

With no feasible way to improve while keeping what you have now, why wallow in the second tier? Why not just admit that the Thunder have had a good run over the last decade, but it’s time to move on and rebuild? Why not take advantage of something that almost never, EVER happens?

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