Thunder Rumors: Russell Westbrook hosts OKC party with Paul George in town to attend

Russell Westbrook is in OKC to host a party with one very special guest – Paul George — on the night NBA Free Agency moratorium begins.

The OKC Thunder, Russell Westbrook and Paul George can paint this anyway they want. But, let’s examine the facts.

Westbrook is the host of the party. Paul George flew in to attend the party. It is invitation only to 500 guests. Nas is the rumored performer. Both OKC Thunder players had to fly into Oklahoma City for the event.

The one key piece of information that jumps off the page is the fact guests were required to sign non disclosure agreements.

Royce Young wrote about the party via his ESPN piece while social media was blowing up about it. The FOMO (fear of missing out) was a nice touch.

"The invitation says, “The FOMO will be real.” Invited guests were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement."

Diving in deeper there are far too many coincidences to believe this is simply a party just for the sake of it. Or even meant as a recruitment party. First of all, even though that type of event could make logical sense why the necessity to fly back to Oklahoma?

Russ was apparently in Hawaii and George flew in from Vegas. George can agree to sign a deal at 12:01, so being in town to attend adds to the drama.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkoiqs4Hk2k/

Again, let’s examine the facts.

1. This past week Magic Johnson and the Lakers organization revamped and upped their trade talks with the San Antonio Spurs.
2. With Paul George filming a 3-part special on his “Decision” doesn’t it stand to reason adding in a clip from a special event like this would be perfect for the final segment if it included him announcing his decision at an event hosted by Westbrook in OKC?
3. The invited guests have to sign non-disclosure agreements.  Makes sense if they want the announcement to be delivered via the PG Decision special. Right?

There are Lakers fans hitting social media stating Paul George will be at a charitable basketball tournament. But, there are an equal number of sightings of PG being in OKC.

And, the one definitive fact. Why on earth would Westbrook fly back from Hawaii just to throw a party—- on the night free agency starts —- and not have Paul George there? He could throw the party at anytime and in any location.

As the above flight tracker notes Westbrook’s flight arriving in OKC from Hawaii. Also of note, there is a scheduled flight leaving OKC for LA at 2:00 AM. ‘

Bottom line, if Kevin Durant was vilified for how he handled his free agency this would fall into the opposite spectrum. And by that I mean for Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Although Westbrook hosts charitable events, seldom does he let fans into his private world.

This time around things have been highly different with Russ taking much more a role off the court in nurturing the relationship. Perhaps a sign he’s learning from past experiences.

Just ask yourself – why on earth would Russ fly back from Hawaii to hold a celebratory event on the same night the moratorium kicks off? Does that make logical sense it would have anything to do with something other than George?

Next: Comprehensive NBA Free Agency primer

Sure, I’m known as the glass half full lady, but it sure feels like this is in celebration of THE RETURN!