It turns out Russell Westbrook’s party was to celebrate Paul George re-signing
By Josh Hill
Paul George committed to returning to Oklahoma City, and Russell Westbrook’s party just became the stuff of legend.
As we approached the start of NBA free agency on Saturday night, something went mostly unnoticed. Russell Westbrook, the superstar guard and reason many believe Oklahoma City was devoid of multiple players like him, was throwing a party.
Paul George was going to be at this party.
It’s a detail we all assumed was relevant because it meant the party was the first big pitch George would get during his free agency. Some thought we might have another DeAndre Jordan hostage situation on our hands.
As it turns out, the party wasn’t a recruitment ploy. It wasn’t a pitch or a ruse — it was a celebration. Just before free agency opened, it leaked out that George would be returning to the Thunder and foregoing the charade.
That party was exactly that, a party to welcome George back to Oklahoma City and was hosted by the one guy everyone thought might be the reason he’d be driven away.
Of course, it shouldn’t be lost on anyone that exactly a year ago George was traded from Indiana to OKC, with the idea that he would leave after a year.
Exactly one year ago, Paul George was traded to the Thunder. One year later, George and OKC are poised to come to terms on the first night of free agency ... before the Lakers even get a meeting with the free agent so many have penciled into purple and gold for ages. #thisleague https://t.co/kOjh6iFpWo
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
This changes more than just our perception of Westbrook’s party. Many thought that George would be a major piece in getting LeBron James to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. There’s still a chance Kawhi Leonard lands there and convinces LeBron to head west, but this throws a major wrench in that plan.
It also takes one of the premier free agents off a market that is really only skin deep. Beyond LeBron and George, there isn’t a whole lot of intrigue.