BOSTON, July 13 (UPI) — In an effort not to be left with a bare cupboard, the Thunder need to shed Russell Westbrook before he leaves Oklahoma City next summer.
The Boston Celtics are the frontrunners to acquire his services.
“What I’m hearing in Las Vegas from some GMs, not only are they hearing that Westbrook will get traded, it’s that it will be sooner rather than later — before the season starts — and the most likely destination is the Boston Celtics,” Howard Beck said in a Bleacher Report video.
Westbrook averaged 23.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 7.8 rebounds last season, all numbers that could rise after the departure of Kevin Durant.
ESPN’s Chris Broussard reported that the Los Angeles Lakers are also high on signing the freakishly athletic guard. The Thunder has “no chance” at signing him to an extension this offseason, according to multiple sources.
“The Lakers think they can sign him,” Broussard said. “And I was talking to some executives yesterday about possible trades they might do or offer. And I was told they think they can sign him as a free agent, so why should they give up anything?”
The Thunder has a track record of shedding players before they were stuck with expired contracts. General Manger Sam Presti dealt Reggie Jackson and Serge Ibaka before their contracts expired.
“Anyone who has been following the NBA the last couple of years, Boston has been loading up on assets, including those great picks from the Brooklyn Nets,” Beck reported. “They’ve got a bunch of young players and they can create a package that can get Westbrook there without giving up key pieces,” Beck said. “They could still have Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, hold onto Jae Crowder, presumably, and add Westbrook to that. That’s the challenge for any team trying to trade for Westbrook. Not only do you have to be concerned about his free agency next summer, but you’ve got to be able to trade for him while still having enough players for him to play with when he arrives.”
Westbrook, 27, is due $17.7 million this season in the final year of his deal.
Last week, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski said he liked the Thunder’s chances of keeping Westbrook.
“Right now, his mindset in on the team they have and can we add pieces in the short term, can we go out in free agency,” Wojnarowski said of Westbrook. “That doesn’t mean he’s not leaving next year, but his attitude isn’t ‘aww man, Kevin left. I’m screwed, I need to get out of here.’