Jeff Zillgitt USA TODAY Published 9:30 PM EDT Jul 11, 2019 Russell Westbrook and James Harden are teammates again — this time with the Houston Rockets. And now the Rockets have the 2017 MVP (Westbrook) and 2018 MVP (Harden). Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti continues to reshape the team's future, sending Westbrook to the Rockets for Chris Paul and two first-round draft picks, a person familiar with the deal told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is announced by the teams. Oklahoma City in the past week has moved fast when it comes to trading All-Stars. First, it was Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, and now it’s Westbrook to the Rockets, where he will join former Thunder teammate Harden. After the Thunder traded George for five first-round round picks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari, it became apparent Westbrook’s time in Oklahoma City was … [Read more...] about Russell Westbrook traded for Chris Paul in blockbuster deal
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Russell Westbrook: Five potential trade destinations
Matt Eppers USA TODAY Published 9:29 PM EDT Jul 7, 2019 Paul George's time in Oklahoma City is over with the Clippers' trade with the Thunder bringing George to Los Angeles to pair with Kawhi Leonard. The stunning moves shook up the NBA and set the Clippers up as title contenders. But where does the deal leave Oklahoma City? The Thunder suddenly find themselves looking at a potential rebuild. They acquired a haul of first-round draft picks from the Clippers, plus a promising young guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a versatile veteran forward in Danilo Gallinari. A complete teardown and rebuild could be in the works, though, as reports began to surface shortly after the trade that Oklahoma City was exploring the possibility of moving former MVP Russell Westbrook. MORE NBA SABOTAGE? Kawhi conspiracy theory only heightens L.A. intrigue MOVING ON: Time for Thunder to rebuild — without Russ | Wolken WILD WEST: Durant's injury and Warriors demise opened the door … [Read more...] about Russell Westbrook: Five potential trade destinations
Opinion: Time for Thunder to jettison Russell Westbrook, rebuild
Dan Wolken USA TODAY Published 2:12 PM EDT Jul 6, 2019 Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti is just 42, which might still qualify him for wonderboy status under different circumstances. But at this point in his life cycle as an NBA executive, you can only imagine he’s been aged in dog years. The chain of events that have led the Thunder from Presti’s would-be dynasty into a decomposing carcass of a contender aren’t entirely anyone’s fault. They probably weren’t even avoidable. But the moment is here for the Thunder in the wake of trading Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for promising guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a mountain of draft assets: It’s time to part with Russell Westbrook, too. With Presti in charge, starting over has never been the goal for Oklahoma City. Even when the Thunder shipped James Harden to the Houston Rockets, even when Kevin Durant walked out the door, the mantra has been whatever it … [Read more...] about Opinion: Time for Thunder to jettison Russell Westbrook, rebuild
NBA: Russell Westbrook stars as Oklahoma City Thunder top Portland Trail Blazers in game three
Russell Westbrook has responded to the critics, leading his Oklahoma City Thunder to a game three win over Portland. The former NBA league MVP, has been a non-factor in the opening two games, thoroughly outplayed by Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard as the Thunder fell behind 2-0 in the seven-game series. Adams' Oklahoma City Thunder facing early playoff exit Adams feeling 'pissed off' before crunch Thunder match But Westbrook made a promise to himself, his team and OKC fans ahead of Saturday's matchup on Oklahoma that he would turn his form around. And he did. Westbrook led all scorers with 33-points, adding 11 assists and five rebounds as the Thunder broke a four-game Western Conference playoff losing streak with a 120-108 victory. Kiwi Steven Adams was relatively quiet in his 35 minutes, pulling down six boards and scoring 10-points. Portland trailed by as many as 16 early in the third quarter but a 25-point quarter from Lillard propelled his side to within two early in the final … [Read more...] about NBA: Russell Westbrook stars as Oklahoma City Thunder top Portland Trail Blazers in game three
NBA playoffs: Russell Westbrook’s offensive woes not new for Thunder
Jeff Zillgitt USA TODAY Published 1:27 PM EDT Apr 19, 2019 Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook called his performance in Game 2 unacceptable. He said he needs to play better. He better if the Thunder, down 2-0, have any chance of getting back in and winning this first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers. Westbrook is off to a horrible start. He is shooting 13-for-37 from the field (35.1 percent), including 5-for-20 in Game 2 and is 1-for-10 on three-pointers. His advanced stats look ugly, too. His offensive rating is 91.4 points per 100 possessions and defensive rating is 114.8 points allowed per 100 possessions for a minus-23.4 net rating. It’s a small sample size without question, yet in this playoff series those are the numbers impacting the result. Digging deeper, Westbrook’s playoff struggles date to Game 5 of the 2016 Western Conference finals against Golden State. Westbrook and the Thunder are 3-13 in … [Read more...] about NBA playoffs: Russell Westbrook’s offensive woes not new for Thunder