Oklahoma City Thunder Can’t Trade Russell Westbrook
Although he has been highly criticized over the years, the Oklahoma City Thunder would be crazy to trade point guard Russell Westbrook and if they decided to go through with a deal, star forward Kevin Durant wouldn’t be happy
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Although he has turned into one of the top-10 or so players in the
, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has been highly criticized.
Many even have called for the Thunder to trade him in order to get more of a pass-first point guard, believing he takes shots away from Kevin Durant.
Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders believes that only would Kevin Durant be upset about a Russell Westbrook being dealt but the Thunder would not be to get a “potential top-5 player like Westbrook, and 1 top-5 player is irreplaceable”
“All that matters in OKC is winning these next two years now to keep Durant,” Duncan wrote. “Dealing Westbrook for a bunch of guys who aren’t better than guys they already have would be a very poor decision.”
Russell Westbrook is a fantastic player and there is no return the Thunder could get that would even be close to equal value. That’s why it would be insane to deal him. Plus, the Thunder will need him now more than ever with Kevin Durant rehabbing from a Jones fracture that will keep him sidelined for 6-8 weeks.
Russell Westbrook was banged up throughout the season but still averaged 21.8 points, 6.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 43.7% from the field, 31.8% from beyond the arc and 82.6% from the free throw line last season. In his six-year NBA career, he has averaged 20.1 points, 6.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 43.3% from the floor, 30.5% from three and 81.5% from the charity stripe.
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