OT- Around the NBA (2 Viewers)

[Nikolokolus]

Westbrook has a "I wanna be the man too" complex. Probably not the best thing with Durant on the team. I LOVE Aldridge, but Westbrook would be great here, and probably could become our first option.


Felton and a couple of firsts for Westbrook works. Anyone with me?

Sure, I'd do it in a second.

 

[Sedatedfork]

I want absolutely NOTHING to do with Russell Westbrook. I may be wrong, but the guy has Stephon Marbury II written all over him. He's a selfish player that doesn't want to share the spotlight with a better franchise player. Remember how Marbury forced his way out of Minnesota because he could stand to be second fiddle to Kevin Garnett? It wasn't just a coincidence that every time Marbury got traded the team that traded him got better and the team he went to got worse. Maybe Westbrook will grow out it it, but right now I see a whole lot of Marbury in him, and that's never a good thing.

BNM

Interesting thoughts, but I agree with Nik. I would do this deal in a heartbeat. Even when Marbury left KG he still had some pretty good success (until he went to the Knicks and went a little crazy).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Another comparison for Westbrook: Steve Francis.
If I was give a choice of Rajon Rondo, Jrue Holliday or Westbrook, I'd pick him third. (And talking of third: if he isn't the third best OKC player already, Harden will pass him before the playoffs.)

 

[B-Roy]

Another comparison for Westbrook: Steve Francis.
If I was give a choice of Rajon Rondo, Jrue Holliday or Westbrook, I'd pick him third. (And talking of third: if he isn't the third best OKC player already, Harden will pass him before the playoffs.)

You think Harden will become an All-NBA 2nd team calibre player before the playoffs? Damn, OKC is going to be unstoppable...

 

[huevonkiller]

You think Harden will become an All-NBA 2nd team calibre player before the playoffs? Damn, OKC is going to be unstoppable...

Yeah these people sound like they are exaggerating. What exactly is the difference between Westbrook and Rose? They're pretty much exactly the same player.

http://bkref.com/tiny/gDPis

 

[Draco]

or one of the Celts if they leep losing and decide to blow er up?

I'd love to get Ray Allen.

 

[Draco]

Westbrook is enticing, but I too have serious concerns he's the next Marbury or Francis. As a fan of unselfish team basketball I don't want us adding that type of player, especially so at PG. If all we have to give up is Felton and protected picks maybe you just have to do it. The upside of a all-nba second team player is worth the risk. Maybe he matures and accepts Nates coaching well.

I think OKC asking price is going to be higher which wouldn't make any deal feasible.

 

[MickZagger]

Marbury is a one of a kind knucklehead.

You guys are silly if you wouldn't take Westbrook.

 

[MickZagger]

I really, really like Harden's game. People were talking noise after Presti took him so high, but the dude is a baller.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Westbrook is far superior to Frances or Marbury on Defensive end. I would take him as well.
The dude is a competitor.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You think Harden will become an All-NBA 2nd team calibre player before the playoffs? Damn, OKC is going to be unstoppable...

No, of course not. Oh, were you saying Westbrook was? That's silly. (And I don't care if he was voted 2nd team, either. I remember when Latrell Sprewell was voted first team and it was even more ludicrous.)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Westbrook is far superior to Frances or Marbury on Defensive end. I would take him as well.
The dude is a competitor.

Hey, I'm a competitor too! I get really mad when I lose and I try really hard to win! Pick me!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'd love to get Ray Allen.

That is indeed an intriguing idea. Boston would want an expiring deal, though, as they're shooting for cap space next year. If they blow it up I can see them just buying Allen out (and he would go to the Knicks, Dallas or possibly even the Clippers).

 

[PapaG]

OKC isn't going to trade Westbrook to a division rival unless it is lopsided in their favor, and especially while he is still on his rookie contract.

Why not trade for LeBron James as well?

 

[PapaG]

That is indeed an intriguing idea. Boston would want an expiring deal, though, as they're shooting for cap space next year. If they blow it up I can see them just buying Allen out (and he would go to the Knicks, Dallas or possibly even the Clippers).

The Blazers would probably have to give up Camby, which won't happen unless Oden miraculously returns and proves to be healthy, or Wallace.

Matthews and filler could work as well, but I don't think Boston would do it.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Hey, I'm a competitor too! I get really mad when I lose and I try really hard to win! Pick me!

If you had any talent or athletic ability I would give you a look. But my point is Westbrook plays with a lot of intensity. He just needs a coach who will let him know what a bad shot is. As long as he and Nate didn't kill each other, I think it would work.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Interesting thoughts, but I agree with Nik. I would do this deal in a heartbeat. Even when Marbury left KG he still had some pretty good success (until he went to the Knicks and went a little crazy).

Individual success (as in impressive stats), yes. Team success, no way. In the three years he was in New Jersey, they were one of the worst teams in the league and never came close to making the play-offs. His last year in New Jersey, the team was 26-56. A year later, with Jason Kidd, the Nets went 50-32 and made it all the way to the NBA finals. Meanwhile, Phoenix went from from a 51-31 playoff team to a 36-46 lottery team after the Marbury for Kidd trade. And, as hard as it may seem to believe, the Knicks, who were already pretty bad, got even worse after adding Marbury.

BNM

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Food for thought:

Eric Maynor is more than capable of taking over at point guard for the Thunder. According to 82games.com, the lineup of Maynor, Durant, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison had almost identical offensive and defensive points-per-possession numbers as the same unit with Westbrook. And Maynor had a higher net on-court/off-court plus/minus than Westbrook last season. Don’t forget that Maynor played the entire fourth quarter while Westbrook sat on the bench in the Thunder’s lone victory against Dallas in the Western Conference finals.

(Adande suggests Westbrook for Curry. Sort of makes sense, but Curry is starting to look like he has chronic ankle problems.)

 

[Boob-No-More]

The dude is a competitor.

The problem is, he has a very strong tendency to compete with the players on his own team. He completely froze out Durant in the 4th quarter of several playoff games last season. There is a reason Batman drives the Batmobile and Robin sits in the passenger seat. Unless someone can convince Westbrook that the two-time reigning NBA scoring leader is the real Batman, OKC will never reach their full potential.

I do think Westbrook could be "the man" on a mid-level playoff team, but when you're the point guard on a team with Kevin Durant, your 1st, 2nd and 3rd job should be to get him the fucking ball, not call your own number six times in a row in the 4th quarter of a playoff game with the game on the line.

BNM

 

[3RA1N1AC]

No, of course not. Oh, were you saying Westbrook was? That's silly. (And I don't care if he was voted 2nd team, either. I remember when Latrell Sprewell was voted first team and it was even more ludicrous.)

westbrook was last year, is i think his point

 

[Pinwheel1]

The problem is, he has a very strong tendency to compete with the players on his own team. He completely froze out Durant in the 4th quarter of several playoff games last season. There is a reason Batman drives the Batmobile and Robin sits in the passenger seat. Unless someone can convince Westbrook that the two-time reigning NBA scoring leader is the real Batman, OKC will never reach their full potential.BNM

I agree with you, but if he does realize that when he is on OKC he won't get traded. I would take the chance on trading for him and hoping he would learn from it. But it is all moot because OKC would not trade him to Portland.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The Nets are so bad.

So are the Magic.

Dwight and Deron have the same exact problem: surrounded by scrubs.

 

[Masbee]

Look at the rosters of all the teams involved. It isnt as clear as you make it seem. Lot of it was just luck of the draw.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If Brooklyn lands Howard they'll have the best 1-2 punch in the League IMO but the rest of the roster would be D-League material.

Can you still win with that? I don't think so.

 

[magnifier661]

If Brooklyn lands Howard they'll have the best 1-2 punch in the League IMO but the rest of the roster would be D-League material.

Can you still win with that? I don't think so.

But I suspect you may get some veterans chasing the ring, that will come for less.

 

[Nikolokolus]

But I suspect you may get some veterans chasing the ring, that will come for less.

The only veterans that do that typically aren't worth much more than the veteran's minimum anyway. Guys under 32 or so just don't do that.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

The only veterans that do that typically aren't worth much more than the veteran's minimum anyway. Guys under 32 or so just don't do that.

No, but it doesn't hurt when guys like Haslem and Battier take less money to play for you. If NJ got Dwight, I think they could get similar role players to come for less.

 

[crowTrobot]

i just ordered a bunch of sealed 2007 basketball card boxes. anything with durant RCs in it is about to take another jump.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Amare and Melo have to be the worst defending forward duo in the League.

Horrific defense.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Btw, if Amar'e is 6'11" like he proclaimed this fall, Gasol has be be 7'4".