OKC Thunder: Matt’s Monday Musings, Edition One

Why The Trade Had To Happen.

This bit actually hurts to write. It hurts because I have to remember the 2014-15 season. I think that someone in the Thunder organization broke six mirrors or something else unlucky.

Russell Westbrook was injured at the start of the year. The basketball player who used to play for the Thunder and is now forever going to known as a cupcake had a Jones fracture causing him to miss all but 27 games. Serge Ibaka missed part of the season with injury. The list goes on.

As a result, Jackson started when Westbrook was out. This gave him a taste of what it was like to start in the NBA and he thought that he was ready to run a team. So Jackson started to push for a trade. Honestly, it was good management by Sam Presti that the Thunder got anything for Jackson at all.

Must Read: Five shooters the Thunder should continue trading for

In Detroit, Brandon Jennings had gone down with an injury that was going to keep him out for a long time and Detroit needed someone to run the point. They were not going to give up anyone of value so a third team had to be found to facilitate the trade.

Enter the Utah Jazz, who had too many big men. Enes Kanter did not fit Utah’s defensive mantra so Utah went all in on Rudy Gobert. They took advantage of the win now mentality of the Thunder and basically got a protected pick and a couple of role players back.