Minnesota Sports Forum

kms789 wrote:

repplile wrote:KMS:

1. I don't think it's fair to say we needed to trade KG anymore than the Thunder need to trade Westbrook. Both would be a function of a decision by the management of the respective teams that there is a better way to go. Further if you do a news search for Westbrook on google or bing the stories you get are asking whether he is to blame and wondering what he would be traded for. It's not like there's not pressure there to trade him, especially if the Thunder flame out in the playoffs for the umpteenth time.

2. The trade seems unbalanced in retrospect but at the time it was considered pretty good value. Admittedly Jefferson was thought to have a lot higher ceiling that he did as were Telfair and Green. The point is you're not getting superstar players back in exchange for a superstar.

3. I agree that the Thunder don't want the same type of assets which is why our proposal is not based around cap space and picks. They get a borderline allstar starter and a guy who was a proven quality 6th man on their own team a year ago. It's not the draft pick/prospect platter we got by any stretch.

That's ridiculous. KG was what...31 when the Wolves traded him? They had nobody else to build around and had just missed the playoffs. The Thunder are built around two 25-year olds and a 24-year old. Last time all three were healthy (at 23, 23, and 22), they were in the Finals. They won 60 and 59 games the last two years. That comparison is from a Wolves fan bias, not a reality.

Pretty much. The Thunder has been flirting with 60 wins with Westbrook.

The Wolves were flirting with 50 losses with Garnett. The team's were at very different stages with very different expectations.

I agree that they're different but if the goal for the Thunder is winning a championship Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka is not getting it done. In 2012 when they went to the Finals they also had Harden as a 6th man which made a big difference. As some have already mentioned they're a great regular season team but the Durant/Westbrook tandem is just not as potent in the post season. If they can get pieces for him to make them more competitive in the western conference it'd be silly not to do it. That said their ownership group has not exactly proven to be the swing for the fences type...

Bottom line if they do decide to move him is this: The Wolves moved KG to rebuild and the Thunder would be moving Westbrook to retool. The value you get in return for the player is still fundamentally the same. Whether it's draft picks + prospects or win-now players you're not going to get full value back for a superstar. With that in mind you try and do what's best for the franchise given your current goals. I think if the Thunder's goal is to win a championship in the near term with Durant a package based around Pekovic, Martin, pick and expiring may be one of their best options. It's a move that likely improves both teams.

If OKC gets bounced tonight I could see them looking into moving Westbrook. We have a couple factors in our favor, they played really well without him, Jackson has proven himself to be a good player, and we have a guy who is really good at a position they struggle. We have a couple factors working against us, Westbrook is an all-star teams don't usually trade those guys, they have Adams who they might really like, and what's stopping them from just signing an upgrade at center.

Outside of Love I'd trade them pretty much whatever they wanted. If I'm OKC I'd go for Pek, Shabazz, and a swap of firsts.

I think we'd have to take on Perkins' contract in any trade scenario to acquire Westbrook. That's not necessarily a bad thing for the Wolves being that he will be a 9 million expiring, and this happens when Love's player option comes up giving us cap space to offer Love the max.

Wolves receive: Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Perkins and Perry Jones
Thunder receive: Nikola Pekovic, Chase Budinger, J.J Barea and 13th pick.

Rickys best with the ball in his hands. R we sure a guy that loves to dominate the ball and takes alot of shots is a good fit next to Love and Rubio? I could see Love getting a bit agitated with a guy taking a bunch of bad shots every game.
I love Westbrooks fire and willingness to take big shots but is Love gonna be okay with second fiddle?
If we thought Barea shot us outta some games last year just wait for Westbrook.

PorkChop, I'm on the fence with acquiring Westbrook.

But one thing he would bring which we sorely lack is a player who is willing to take and make big shots. He gives us a legit game closing option, something that cost us a lot of games this season. Love and Westbrook would give us two guys who can make clutch shots, which in this league is essential if you want to make the playoffs and make a run. He would give us another ball handler, scorer and slasher who can create his own shots.

Whether him, Love and Rubio could co-exist is another story, but at this stage we need to take a gamble to make the next step.

KiwiMatt wrote:PorkChop, I'm on the fence with acquiring Westbrook.

But one thing he would bring which we sorely lack is a player who is willing to take and make big shots. He gives us a legit game closing option, something that cost us a lot of games this season. Love and Westbrook would give us two guys who can make clutch shots, which in this league is essential if you want to make the playoffs and make a run. He would give us another ball handler, scorer and slasher who can create his own shots.

Whether him, Love and Rubio could co-exist is another story, but at this stage we need to take a gamble to make the next step.

Really just playing devils advocate, It would be tough to say no to any deal for Westbrook that doesnt involve Love. It certainly isnt a no brainer tho

KiwiMatt wrote:I think we'd have to take on Perkins' contract in any trade scenario to acquire Westbrook. That's not necessarily a bad thing for the Wolves being that he will be a 9 million expiring, and this happens when Love's player option comes up giving us cap space to offer Love the max.

Wolves receive: Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Perkins and Perry Jones
Thunder receive: Nikola Pekovic, Chase Budinger, J.J Barea and 13th pick.

I wouldn't trade specifically for Perkins but if he was included I'd actually be all for it. He's always been a winner and has that type of mentality plus he would bring toughness things we're lacking. In my opinion this team needs an attitude adjustment and Perkins would go a long towards helping in that area.

Kiwi, I like your offer outside the pick. It would be hard giving up that draft pick. If we give up the pick I would want to add Kevin Martin to the trade instead of Barea. It would free up a capspace for next offseason.

I know I'm beating a dead horse here...

But there is no way OKC even considers a trade with the Wolves unless (1) they really dig Rubio AND (2) he's included in the deal with Pekovic.

Some people are debating whether to do the deal with Pekovic and bit parts (yes, expirings, Martin, Budinger, draft picks (mid round) are all bit parts.) OKC would not even answer the phone on a single one of those deals.

- Westbrook is an All-NBA guy (warts and all). He's arguably a top 10 player in the league. SOME teams might put him at Love's level or possibly even higher than Love.

- Pekovic makes a lot of money for a long time. And he hasn't proven capable of playing more than 60 games. When effective, he's a top 10, or maybe even top 5 center. He's not even an All Star. And, he's pretty much hit his ceiling. He's nearly 30.

- A LOT of teams wouldn't want Martin with that contract and his flaws.

- Barea is a detriment for many teams. So is Budinger. Many teams are trying to avoid those "just another guy" players who take up $5M or so of your cap. Martin, Budinger, Barea, Brewer are all various versions of "just another guy."

- Teams that win 60 games every season don't trade Top 10 players for an effective, but unknown and injury-prone and expensive center... and bit parts. They don't. And OKC won't. Even in a town like OKC where they're on an extended honeymoon with the fans... they'd have a very serious PR issue trying to justify any such trade.