As long as Tilman sees him as a positive financial asset Russ ain't going anywhere. In regards to Gordon...I posted this in the random trade thread....one destination could be Detroit in exchange for a hugeass trade exception of about $20 million. That would be easier to utilize than a player with Gordon's contract and really benefit both teams. Detroit can make a legitimate run at the 7th or 8th seed with a healthy (knock on wood here) Griffin/Rose/Gordon trio and the Pistons get a quality player back because no good free agent in their right mind would sign up to play there. Houston gets a trade exception to absorb another team's high priced player that could work better with Harden and Russ (looking at you Myles!).
Harden* I know Tillman is trash but after seeing his performance in the playoffs and how injured he was, I dont think he would be mad if Morey found some way to move him.
Westbrook* Because he's still a marketable guy and can keep the Houston in the headlines. I think Tilman is more of a "Look at my team! What other NBA owner can say he has TWO MVPs on his team?" kinda guy. He didn't want to be responsible for CP3 because that wasn't his move and he then was forced into paying the guy on a promise made by Les. He can say that Russ is a 100% Fertitta Power Move and if he gives up on that now it might look like defeat which I'm sure Tilman would not want to admit.
So you really think that if Harden didnt care about him getting traded, that Morey woulndt be able to trade him because of Tillman?
My whole argument was based around Tilman but if you want to pivot to what Harden wants then, yea, I think Morey and Tilman would do whatever Harden wants--even trading his buddy.
Uhh I dont mean to make it seem like Im pivoting. I just dont think that Tilman is the obstacle(or that he would be a huge obstacle) that's keeping us from trading Westbrook. That's all I'm saying.
Maybe I'm just in the mindset of thinking that unless Harden goes to him and said "I want you to trade Russ" Fertitta will keep Westbrook on the team, regardless of how badly he performed against the Lakers. Of course I'd prefer for him to be a guy that holds himself accountable and responsible for the f*ckery that he caused by advocating for the Westbrook trade to begin with and say to Morey and Harden "Guys, this clearly did not work out and I don't think it will ever work out. We need to find a trade that can net us pieces to achieve higher success. We need to move Russ" but somehow I don't think Tilman is that kind of guy.
