The Rockets don't have the assets, but assets don't matter if he isn't willing to sign an extension with that team. I think he would only agree to resign with teams like the Lakers, Rockets, etc. I would throw everything we can at OKC if they can get Russel to commit. Get James and Russel back together and go from there.
I don't think OKC deals Westbrook. They still have a solid core, and I think they use their available cap space to improve the roster and make a run with the pieces they have. I wouldn't be shocked to see them make deals to acquire pieces to put around Westbrook. Maybe they look to acquire Love for a UCLA reunion?
I would not do anything with D-Mo or any other free agent that would affect our ability to offer Westbrook a max slot next year.
You're pretty much left knowing you are not winning a championship this year. You try and see if you can sign Russell Westbrook next summer. If no go, we have to trade Harden next summer to the Lakers for Brandon Ingram and a few other of their young guys.
Westbrooke for Harden would be great, but Westbrooke isn't young enough to continue building for next decade.
Rockets have nothing to offer. Westbrook looking like a laker depending on how OKC is doing this season.
No. No team with Westbrook on it will ever win a Championship. I have said it for years and I will keep saying it. He is a great player, yes, no doubt about it. But when the pressure is on, he goes insane and his team will LOSE when it needs him to keep cool the most. It's sad really, so talented, everywhere but between the ears.
Jimmy Buss must be catatonically happy as if I'm Presti I'm dealing Russ for Russell/Ingram and fill in the gaps, as necessary. Who else is happy (out of the Bay area, that is)? The Seattle fanbase!!!
But, seriously, folks - - Russ walks in a year. Buss is on record w/sis and sibs that the return to glory is now or he is banished from the kingdom. Presti can sell the rebuild in OKC as it probably cannot be sold anywhere else. This is a deal waiting to happen. I say it's done by the 10th.
If we do not get him somehow, Harden will bounce to go play with him and we'll be screwed for a long time.
