Following the blockbuster trade to send Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Oklahoma City Thunder will look to re-tool their roster, part of which could reportedly include trading point guard Russell Westbrook, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Wojnarowski reports that both the Thunder and Westbrook's camp are in agreement that the time is right to gauge the market and explore trade possibilities for the eight-time All-Star.
The deal to send George to Los Angeles netted the Thunder a massive haul of assets centered around Shai Gilgous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari, as well as a host of future picks, including three unprotected first-round picks (2022, 2024 and 2026) from the Clippers, two first-rounders from Miami (2021 unprotected and 2023 lottery protected), plus two pick swaps in with the Clippers in 2023 and 2025 (unprotected).
OKC acquired THREE unprotected first-round picks from the Clippers in this trade (2022, 2024 and 2026), league sources say, PLUS two firsts from Miami (2021 unprotected and 2023 protected 1-to-14) ... AND the right to swap picks with the Clips in 2023 and 2025. Staggering
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 6, 2019
However, moving Westbrook could be a tall order for the Thunder, with the 30-year-old due $170 million over the next four years, after he signed a five-year, $205-million super-max contract extension in 2017.
With the luxury tax a concern for the Thunder front office, as currently constructed they are still more than $14 million over the threshold, which would mean a luxury tax penalty of approximately $43 million.
Westbrook has spent his entire 11-year career with the Thunder, averaging 23 points, 8.4 assists, and seven rebounds, averaging a triple-double of 26.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 10.4 assists in the last three seasons, winning the Most Valuable Player of the Year award in 2016/17.
