Report: Russell Westbrook, Thunder working together to facilitate trade
The Oklahoma City Thunder appear to be headed toward a total rebuild after trading Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Russell Westbrook could be the next piece to go.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Thunder have been fielding trade calls for Westbrook and are working with the star point guard to help facilitate a potential deal.
This is based upon relationships on all sides — Russell Westbrook, agent Thad Foucher and GM Sam Presti — and collaborating together and examining alternative solutions. Trade timing is challenging this late in the summer due to salaries frozen across NBA from free-agent deals. https://t.co/L0ABYFwAfH
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 8, 2019
Westbrook is owed a whopping $170 million over the next four seasons, and finding a team that wants to take on that kind of contract for a 30-year-old player may be challenging. It will be even more difficult this late in the offseason, but it is certainly possible if both sides are motivated to make it happen.
There have already been several teams mentioned that could be interested in adding Westbrook, but making the money work will be the big obstacle. If the Thunder are able to move him and add more draft picks to the haul they received in return for George, they will have an unprecedented amount of draft capital moving forward.
