BIG trade talk about the Wolves that does NOT include Kevin Love.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Zach Lowe discussing whether big changes could happen in OKC if the Thunder flames out in the playoffs... and what happens from there...

"... I am skeptical this will ever happen, because Westbrook and Oklahoma City are so good. But if it does, you could build an intriguing fake trade around Westbrook, Kendrick Perkins's expiring contract, and perhaps one other player asset going to Minnesota for Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, and J.J. Barea. Such a deal is super-tricky, since both teams need to worry about next year's tax line, and the salary match is difficult. Oklahoma City would have to be confident in both Rubio's upside and his willingness to re-sign at a price that does not take the combined Rubio-Pekovic salaries too far above Westbrook's current salary slot. But think about it: Oklahoma City gets a pass-first point guard and a low-post scoring beast in need of a rim protector the Thunder already have. The Wolves get a second top-10 player for Kevin Love. Just throwing it out there."

[ahughes53 [enjin:6639223]]

It's intriguing. I love Rubio but Westbrook and Love could be deadly in late game situations where we falter more because of the lack of two true scoring options. Put Martin on the bench, grab a guy like someone mentioned in Steve Blake who can man the back up spot just fine. Get PJ Hairston in the draft.

Westbrook/Blake
Hairston/Martin
Budinger/Brewer
Love/Mbah a Moute
Dieng/Turiaf

That might be good enough for a top 5 finish in the West. I love Rubio, so it'd be hard to see him go. However, with their UCLA connection on top of Westbrook being a star already, even if we're not the best team right away, it might buy us more time with Love.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Lol a trade that has been talked on here before. If you can add a top-15 NBA player next to Kevin Love, it's a no-brainer.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Lol a trade that has been talked on here before. If you can add a top-15 NBA player next to Kevin Love, it's a no-brainer.

Who's the traitor feeding Zach Lowe our insights?

[ahughes53 [enjin:6639223]]

Lol a trade that has been talked on here before. If you can add a top-15 NBA player next to Kevin Love, it's a no-brainer.

Who's the traitor feeding Zach Lowe our insights?

Could be anyone, considering most of this board has about as much basketball knowledge as most of these "experts"

[Brandon BassHole [enjin:8183321]]

I see OKC in the finals so I don't see them considering it

[all_day_88 [enjin:6666373]]

Rubio AND Pek for westbrook. tempting but no thanks

[Coolbreeze44]

This trade might help both franchises. I think it definitely makes OKC better. For us it would depend on how Kevin and Westbrook mesh, and how far Dieng can come along.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Rubio AND Pek for westbrook. tempting but no thanks

Two players who I love, but have glaring weaknesses for a legitimate young star in the NBA? Oh yeah, you pull the trigger every time if you're the Wolves. For the Thunder, all they should need to do is take a look at how they played without Westbrook this year and see if a low post scorer and a playmaking PG makes them better than that team, which it does.

Westbrook
Martin
FA (Ariza?)
Love
Perkins

FA (Blake?)
Brewer
Budinger
FA or DC
Turiaf

Prospects:
Muhammad
Dieng
2014 draft pick

[all_day_88 [enjin:6666373]]

I would be too worried about Westbrooks recent multiple surgeries to pull the trigger without getting Reggie Jackson as well.

I think I would need Westbrook and Jackson or Westbrook, lamb and Steven Addams and even then I wouldn't be too thrilled about giving up on Rubio before letting him reach his potential