Russell Westbrook on the trade block

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I think OKC would want Culver without a doubt along with a 1st and then some combination of Teague/Dieng and NOT Wiggins. So are folks willing to give up Culver, a future 1st, and have Wiggins stay?

I honestly don't think the Thunder are in a position where they can demand that much of a return for him. Additionally, the Wolves will not be involved unless Wiggins' contract is involved somehow.

Exactly. Their leverage is the trade market and the offers they get. They can't trade him before the season and expect to get anything close to a haul unless 2+ teams desperately want him.

I think Miami desperately wants Westbrook. The problem is that Miami has already given away pretty much all it's future picks. But Miami still has Bam and Josh Richardson and I'm sure Miami would be willing to give up at least one if not both of them to get Westbrook. And the Heat also have some big contracts they could include to match Westbrook's salary. OKC and the Heat might need to get a 3rd team involved, but ultimately I see Westbrook going to Miami to team with Jimmy Butler.

Josh Richardson is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers and I can't imagine Miami trading Bam Adebayo now that Hassan Whiteside is gone. Their offers could revolve around one talented rookie from Kentucky -- Tyler Herro -- but I'd bet that they're trying to use Justise Winslow as tradebait instead. If that's the case, then I don't see Russell Westbrook winding up in Miami.

Whoops. Meant Winslow. I just can't get Josh Richardson off my mind given how badly I wanted him last season. :) I think Pat Riley would give up almost anything, including Bam, to get Westbrook. Pat would figure he could find a big guy somewhere from a summer league roster or among the remaining free agents. One possible deal would be Bam, Hero, Johnson and Dragic. OKC gets two talented young players and salary relief next season with expiration of Dragic's contract and more salary relief the following year with Johnson's expiring contract. They'd also have a good PG in Dragic along with Adams and others to avoid being a total wreck this next season. As for Miami - they get the player Pat Riley covets as he attempts to catapult his team to relevancy. Westbrook is a Pat Riley kind of player as is Jimmy. I'd be willing to wager it will happen.

Then see if we could swap dieng for olynyk.

Heat need a c and we could use some shooting. We woukd save a couple of bucks but a lateral move in terms of length.

[Monster]

I think OKC would want Culver without a doubt along with a 1st and then some combination of Teague/Dieng and NOT Wiggins. So are folks willing to give up Culver, a future 1st, and have Wiggins stay?

I honestly don't think the Thunder are in a position where they can demand that much of a return for him. Additionally, the Wolves will not be involved unless Wiggins' contract is involved somehow.

Exactly. Their leverage is the trade market and the offers they get. They can't trade him before the season and expect to get anything close to a haul unless 2+ teams desperately want him.

I think Miami desperately wants Westbrook. The problem is that Miami has already given away pretty much all it's future picks. But Miami still has Bam and Josh Richardson and I'm sure Miami would be willing to give up at least one if not both of them to get Westbrook. And the Heat also have some big contracts they could include to match Westbrook's salary. OKC and the Heat might need to get a 3rd team involved, but ultimately I see Westbrook going to Miami to team with Jimmy Butler.

Josh Richardson is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers and I can't imagine Miami trading Bam Adebayo now that Hassan Whiteside is gone. Their offers could revolve around one talented rookie from Kentucky -- Tyler Herro -- but I'd bet that they're trying to use Justise Winslow as tradebait instead. If that's the case, then I don't see Russell Westbrook winding up in Miami.

Whoops. Meant Winslow. I just can't get Josh Richardson off my mind given how badly I wanted him last season. :) I think Pat Riley would give up almost anything, including Bam, to get Westbrook. Pat would figure he could find a big guy somewhere from a summer league roster or among the remaining free agents. One possible deal would be Bam, Hero, Johnson and Dragic. OKC gets two talented young players and salary relief next season with expiration of Dragic's contract and more salary relief the following year with Johnson's expiring contract. They'd also have a good PG in Dragic along with Adams and others to avoid being a total wreck this next season. As for Miami - they get the player Pat Riley covets as he attempts to catapult his team to relevancy. Westbrook is a Pat Riley kind of player as is Jimmy. I'd be willing to wager it will happen.

Then see if we could swap dieng for olynyk.

Heat need a c and we could use some shooting. We woukd save a couple of bucks but a lateral move in terms of length.

I don't think Riley would have any interest in that deal. Personally I think Riley would be fine moving Bam and rolling with what we center he can get his hands on or just role out Olynyk and Meyers Leonard surrounding Westbrook and Butler with shooters. Miami is going to be a team that keep the price for Westbrook high enough OKC isn't gonna have to settle for a first round pick and scraps. We are talking about a guy that just put up 3 straight triple double seasons folks. There will be teams that want that type of player on their roster. Like Bobby Marks said some smaller market teams could get in on the action. He mentioned teams like Detroit and MN but I think Detroit makes more sense with Griffin fitting more in a timeline with Westbrook.

[Phenom]

The Wolves timeline should be to win with Towns from here on out. The Spurs always were able to retool around Duncan from the beginning to the end. They didn't just bide their time. Grab Westbrook now, win a lot, and in 2 or 3 years get another guy that compliments who Towns and Culver are at that time. Get the train rolling and keep it rolling.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The Wolves timeline should be to win with Towns from here on out. The Spurs always were able to retool around Duncan from the beginning to the end. They didn't just bide their time. Grab Westbrook now, win a lot, and in 2 or 3 years get another guy that compliments who Towns and Culver are at that time. Get the train rolling and keep it rolling.

I chuckled at the absurdity of the Westbrook to Minnesota chatter when I first heard it. But... you make a decent point.

How many times has an over-the-hill superstar's contract really destroyed a franchise? Obviously, Kobe Bryant's late career swoon comes to mind. Any others?

Meanwhile, how many times can we count a middling team hoping and praying for lottery/draft luck that never materializes? As you guys know by now... I'm sick of mediocrity. We've seen it over and over and over and over again at Target Center.

I'm not saying the Wolves should trade for Westbrook. Only that I could see making a case for it compared to the bleak future of middling success the team has right now.


[Note: I'd probably be all in on it if the Wolves were in the East where 45 - 50 wins and 1st round homecourt in the playoffs were in play. In the West, there's no guarantee the Wolves with Westbrook + Towns are even a playoff team.]

[Monster]

The Wolves timeline should be to win with Towns from here on out. The Spurs always were able to retool around Duncan from the beginning to the end. They didn't just bide their time. Grab Westbrook now, win a lot, and in 2 or 3 years get another guy that compliments who Towns and Culver are at that time. Get the train rolling and keep it rolling.

I chuckled at the absurdity of the Westbrook to Minnesota chatter when I first heard it. But... you make a decent point.

How many times has an over-the-hill superstar's contract really destroyed a franchise? Obviously, Kobe Bryant's late career swoon comes to mind. Any others?

Meanwhile, how many times can we count a middling team hoping and praying for lottery/draft luck that never materializes? As you guys know by now... I'm sick of mediocrity. We've seen it over and over and over and over again at Target Center.

I'm not saying the Wolves should trade for Westbrook. Only that I could see making a case for it compared to the bleak future of middling success the team has right now.


[Note: I'd probably be all in on it if the Wolves were in the East where 45 - 50 wins and 1st round homecourt in the playoffs were in play. In the West, there's no guarantee the Wolves with Westbrook + Towns are even a playoff team.]

Let's say we go with this theory. What kind of assets would we be willing to give up to make it happen? At what point would we basically be the Heat with 2 good players and just some other guys...except Towns is younger BUT we are in the West?

[Tactical unit]

I've been thinking about it and I actually like a Westbrook trade. His defense, rebounding and competitive spirit is something I want on this team. I don't think it cripples this team I think it makes other players want to come to this team and if Wiggins doesn't grow with him, KAT, Covington then we can worry about Wiggins at that point in time.

I am willing to move Okogie, KBD and a 1st lottery protected for 3 years converts to two 2nds after that. I think that with Teague / Dieng is a solid offer on what has been reported as a lukewarm market for Russ.

PG: Westbrook, Napier, Wallace
SG: Wiggins / Culver / Graham / Nowell
SF: Covington / Layman / Culver
PF: Vonleh / Bell / Layman
C: Towns / Vonleh / Reid

That's a solid team.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The Wolves timeline should be to win with Towns from here on out. The Spurs always were able to retool around Duncan from the beginning to the end. They didn't just bide their time. Grab Westbrook now, win a lot, and in 2 or 3 years get another guy that compliments who Towns and Culver are at that time. Get the train rolling and keep it rolling.

I chuckled at the absurdity of the Westbrook to Minnesota chatter when I first heard it. But... you make a decent point.

How many times has an over-the-hill superstar's contract really destroyed a franchise? Obviously, Kobe Bryant's late career swoon comes to mind. Any others?

Meanwhile, how many times can we count a middling team hoping and praying for lottery/draft luck that never materializes? As you guys know by now... I'm sick of mediocrity. We've seen it over and over and over and over again at Target Center.

I'm not saying the Wolves should trade for Westbrook. Only that I could see making a case for it compared to the bleak future of middling success the team has right now.


[Note: I'd probably be all in on it if the Wolves were in the East where 45 - 50 wins and 1st round homecourt in the playoffs were in play. In the West, there's no guarantee the Wolves with Westbrook + Towns are even a playoff team.]

Let's say we go with this theory. What kind of assets would we be willing to give up to make it happen? At what point would we basically be the Heat with 2 good players and just some other guys...except Towns is younger BUT we are in the West?

To be fair... are we certain the current Wolves aren't 1 good player and "just some other guys?"

I'll give you Covington. But there's a reason the 76ers let him go. He's really good at stuff... in a room with a low ceiling. He's a 4th or 5th guy.

Other than that? Okogie? Meh. Culver? Maybe.



[Note: Again, I just don't know if battling for #8 and a 1st round loss in the playoffs is ultimately worth what comes after Westbrook is officially cooked.]

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I am going to come out and say it....Okogie is NOT an asset right now. That dude had statistically one of the worst years I have seen from a guy that gets talked about on this board as a "maybe all-star". He does NOTHING well. People talk defense. Does he have bouts of good defense? Maybe....but he more than makes up for it by making MANY mistakes a game. I know....he's young, and he will certainly get better. But I can tell you....if we have a chance to move him in a deal to get a player like Russ (or someone else that fits better), then you move him in a heartbeat. I hope I am wrong, but I haven't seen one minute from okogie that makes me think he has star potential.

Whew....glad that's over! Felt good....

And while I would never state that a dominating performance in Summer League predicates a good NBA future, I can say that I am a bit worried that okogie looks SOOO bad in SL. Not good.

[thedoper]

The Wolves timeline should be to win with Towns from here on out. The Spurs always were able to retool around Duncan from the beginning to the end. They didn't just bide their time. Grab Westbrook now, win a lot, and in 2 or 3 years get another guy that compliments who Towns and Culver are at that time. Get the train rolling and keep it rolling.

Yes. Isn't Towns' timeline to win now? Whatever we do it should be to win.

[KiwiMatt]

I've been thinking about it and I actually like a Westbrook trade. His defense, rebounding and competitive spirit is something I want on this team. I don't think it cripples this team I think it makes other players want to come to this team and if Wiggins doesn't grow with him, KAT, Covington then we can worry about Wiggins at that point in time.

I am willing to move Okogie, KBD and a 1st lottery protected for 3 years converts to two 2nds after that. I think that with Teague / Dieng is a solid offer on what has been reported as a lukewarm market for Russ.

PG: Westbrook, Napier, Wallace
SG: Wiggins / Culver / Graham / Nowell
SF: Covington / Layman / Culver
PF: Vonleh / Bell / Layman
C: Towns / Vonleh / Reid

That's a solid team.

I'd definately offer them that deal, but doubt they'd bite. But hey it might be the best offer they get, you never know. I think we'd need to take the protection off that pick, or make it top 3 protected for them to consider it.