It seems as if a resolution to the Russell Westbrook-Oklahoma City Thunder conundrum that Kevin Durant’s departure created will be reached semi-soon.
The Thunder, naturally, want a commitment from Westbrook, most likely in the form of a contract re-negotiation. They might settle for his verbal pledge, but the commitment itself is key. They cannot lose another top-seven superstar for nothing. They just can’t. If he doesn’t plan on staying or isn’t sure he wants to re-sign, the Thunder must act, swiftly and decisively, trading him for as much as they can get in order to jump start their next rebuild.
But Westbrook isn’t totally sure about what he wants, according to ESPN.com’s Royce Young. That said, he knows one thing: He doesn’t want to be traded before next season.
From Young’s fantastic piece:
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.
It makes sense that he wants to stay in Oklahoma City through at least next season. He has never played without Durant before. They have been teammates for his entire career. The lone season in which they weren’t playing together every night (2014-15), the Thunder missed the playoffs. It’s only natural that Westbrook wants to test the waters of life without Durant before indefinitely tethering himself to it.
Plus, he faces new pressures if he’s moved. Not only will he have been dealt because he didn’t commit to the Thunder, but he’ll have the opportunity to let down another fanbase. What if he gets traded to the Boston Celtics or Denver Nuggets but doesn’t want to stay? What then?
For Westbrook, it’s simple to stay in Oklahoma City through 2017-18, regardless of whether he ultimately decides to stay or leave.
For the Thunder, though, it’s imperative they make Westbrook decide now, lest they put themselves back in this same situation next summer, jilted by their own superstar, with nothing and no one to show for it.
