Pau Gasol rumors: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook pitched Oklahoma City Thunder move directly
By Jack Crosby
On Wednesday, just two days into the free agency period, a new suitor for the services of star forward Pau Gasol emerged and it was quite the intriguing one. Out of nowhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged as a huge threat to sign him away from the Los Angeles Lakers. Apparently, as well, they had some help from their two biggest stars in pitching the idea.
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Gasol had a conversation with the Thunder on Wednesday, and according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook pitched the idea to Gasol of coming to Oklahoma City to help get the team to a championship.
ESPN has learned that Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook made a come-to-OKC pitch directly to Pau Gasol today in Los Angeles
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 3, 2014
Of course, it makes sense that these two would get in on the recruiting process, because they know as much as anyone else that if Gasol chooses to make the move, the Thunder may instantly become the favorites to win the NBA Championship next season, and maybe a few more after that. Undoubtedly, an athletic big man is something this team could use, and OKC stealing away Gasol could be the ultimate coup of the free agency period.
We’ll find out soon enough whether or not their pitches were good enough.