I don't think he is and I don't think anyone really thinks he is either. He does however have an absolutely fantastic drive to him that rivals Kobe's and that's worth noting. I think that's what most people are picking up on.
To be fair, Durant bailed on him. His put on a facade that Westbrook was his running mate. When Kobe retired those 2 (Durant, Westbrook) became my 2 favorite players because to me they carried on the spirit of Kobe. Assassins, killer take-no-prisoners attitude. When Durant bailed to GSW I was forced to reevaluate that because Kobe would never have done that. Leave to a team that's stacked. He was beatdown and lost his sense of himself after these playoffs. Westbrook averaged 26/7/11 in the playoffs maybe his FG% isn't the best but with free throws and his other stats he makes up for it. He gave it his all and Durant bailed on him. 21.8 attempts for Westbrook compared to 20.2 and KD is playing like this is what made him leave. I wonder what his attempts in GSW will be with Green, Currey, Thompson, Iguodala?
The Oklahoma City Thunder rescinded the qualifying offer to guard Dion Waiters on Monday, making him an unrestricted free agent, league sources told The Vertical. The move protects salary cap space for the Thunder’s primary offseason objective, league sources said: persuading five-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook to renegotiate his contract, which would eliminate his 2017 free agency. The Thunder still hold Waiters’ Bird Rights and could re-sign him to a deal, but several teams with salary-cap space – including Brooklyn and Philadelphia – make it unlikely that Waiters returns to the Thunder. For Westbrook, the most likely scenario for a renegotiation would be to use the Thunder’s cap space to guarantee he will stay under contract with the Thunder through the 2017-18 season. This would give Oklahoma City the chance to recruit one of its top targets – 2017 free agent and Oklahoma native Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers – to partner with Westbrook, league sources said. Westbrook and his agent, Thad Foucher of Wasserman Media Group, have been in regular contact with Thunder general manager Sam Presti since Kevin Durant’s departure on July 4, but Westbrook has yet to make a commitment to renegotiate his contract and forgo free agency in 2017, league sources said. Nevertheless, Westbrook is a proponent of the young talent on the Thunder roster and is eager to lead the team in the 2016-17 season, sources said. So far, league sources said, teams that have reached out to the Thunder about trading for Westbrook have been told that he isn’t available. The Thunder protected themselves on the loss of Waiters with the signing of their 2013 draft pick, Spanish guard Alex Abrines, a top player in the Euroleague, and by acquiring guard Victor Oladipo in a trade with the Orlando Magic. Without an offer sheet, Waiters could’ve cut into the Thunder’s salary cap space with the acceptance of a $6.7 million qualifying offer for the 2016-17 season, but the Thunder will no longer have Waiter’s $12.8 million cap hold count against the their cap once they renounce him and his Bird Rights – or he signs elsewhere. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources-thunder-rescind-qualifying-offer-to-dion-waiters-040352448.html
I'm wondering if Presti is going to make a play for Griffin before the season starts; Westbrook is reluctant to renegotiate his contract right now, and I understand that. However, what if Presti comes at Westbrook with something like this: 'I know you've been reluctant to restructure you current contract with us, and I understand that. Nevertheless, there's a deal on the table for us to acquire Blake Griffin; it's a tentative agreement, but it's contigent on you to renegotiate your contract and commit the next 5 years with us.' Westbrook has to consider that scenario, IMO. Depending on what Presti has to give up, they do have some young talent, and I believe all their draft picks. I know Presti doesn't like parting with his draft picks, but if it keeps Westbrook and nets you another star to pair with him, how can you not do that? Why the Clippers would? Your core of Paul, Griffin, and Jordan as gone as far as it can go; you need to change things up or be stuck in mediocrity for the foreseeable future. Additionally, if you're the Clips, you'll get a nice haul of young players and potentially draft pick(s).
I don't see how the Clippers could receive fair value in that trade, also, if they are trading Griffin for young players/picks they aren't going any further either? Wouldn't OKC also need Griffin to sign an extension as well, seeing as he has an ETO for 17-18 season?
"or be stuck in mediocrity for the foreseeable future." What is meaning of this "or" word? Clippers "clip" = stuck in mediocrity for foreseeable forever.
Yeah the problem is the Clippers on paper right now are better than the Thunder. Whatever they get back wouldn't likely make them better and as of today they're maybe the 3rd best team in the West. Doc is their coach and GM and right now he gets to fight for home court advantage in the Playoffs, I don't see him giving that up to help an in conference opponent.
I don't know if you'll ever get fair value back when trading for a star. As far as his ETO, I am unsure.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...um=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national Presti wants to pair him up with Biff...that just might make Westbrook wanna leave
...and so it begins. Presti trawling the waters for a potential bookend to Westbrook. Ya, I don't believe the Clippers will accommodate him. If Presti is looking for another star of equal magnitude, he might be better served looking in the Eastern Conference.
I think Presti will explore it. However, as you and @therealdeal mention why would the Clippers accommodate him? I only mentioned it because if you're trying to beep Westbeook and convince him to commit to you, the addition of another star might help.
For sure. I assume Presti is looking for some deal that can net him a star, but for the life of me I can't imagine who or how. They're beginning to run out of assets that would make sense to trade. Adams has the early look of a building block type, you just got Oladipo, and who else is left that will net you a great player?
Of course... I think Presti will make a concerted effort to appease and keep his current franchise cornerstone. If Griffin were to be traded, Rivers will likely do it with Whiny Ainge since them trolls have a relationship.
i dont even think Presti has any moves...im pretty sure Westbrook didnt appreciate getting immediately shopped around the moment KD bolted
So the Thunder need a commitment from Westbrook. They really want it in the form of a renegotiated extension, which would serve as a declaration of responsibility to take over the burden of the franchise, as well as stabilizing it for the long-term. The Thunder are still reeling from the sting of Durant's decision, and most in the organization have been left jaded by a cornerstone piece saying all the right things and then turning another direction at the last minute. Even with Westbrook's history of avoiding doublespeak, actions speak louder than words. So the Thunder are pushing for it, and their decision to rescind Dion Waiters' qualifying offer suggests they're paving a way to do it. (A brief explainer on a renegotiation of Westbrook's contract: Because the Thunder are now under the cap, they can "renegotiate" Westbrook's contract up to a max-level deal, starting next season. He's set to make $17.7 million, but that can go up to around $26.5 million. So while the rising cap would allow Westbrook to make more per year if he were to wait until free agency, with the lower projections, it wouldn't be as much as he'd make overall with close to an extra $9 million in his pocket that he otherwise wouldn't have.) It's obvious to say, but the Thunder categorically don't want to trade Westbrook. They aren't interested in a teardown. Their priority is to convince him to stay long-term and reconfigure around him. That's why they've held firm thus far outside of signing Alex Abrines; they're paralyzed until Westbrook gives them an answer. They already have received plenty of calls about Westbrook, and thus far have told teams he's unavailable. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, he doesn't want to be traded. He wants to play next season with the Thunder. It's the year after that which is in question. There's a growing belief Westbrook will think heavily about an extension but will first weigh every angle before doing it. And with Waiters agreeing to terms with the Miami Heat, the Thunder can now officially present that extension to Westbrook. http://espn.go.com/blog/okc-thunder...on-forcing-westbrook-to-decide-okc-future-now
