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NBA Trade Rumors: Russell Westbrook Should Stay With OKC

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after dunking against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Oklahoma City defeated Toronto 119-100. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after dunking against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Oklahoma City defeated Toronto 119-100. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) and center Enes Kanter (11) react to a call in action against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) and center Enes Kanter (11) react to a call in action against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Still A Contender

Losing Kevin Durant is a devastating blow, but the Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t exactly lost without him. Sam Presti has built a roster with elite defensive potential, and there’s no hyperbole in that statement.

Plain and simple, Oklahoma City is still a contender with Russell Westbrook and without Durant.

Between Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, Andre Roberson, and Steven Adams, four of the Thunder’s five projected starters can genuinely lock players down. Offensively, the pick-and-roll partnership between Westbrook and Enes Kanter has been proven as unstoppable.

Kanter is also working tirelessly to diversify his skill set, already featuring a midrange jumper and a post game, and soon to include a 3-point shot and defense—yes, defense.

Between the starting lineup’s defensive tenacity and offensive potential—Oladipo averaged 19.4 points on 47.4 percent shooting after the All-Star Break—this team is pretty darn good.

For Westbrook, sticking it out in Oklahoma City would mean leading a roster with a postseason-caliber starting lineup. Depth must be acquired in free agency, the NBA Draft, and through trades, but the foundation is already in place for the Thunder to contend.

In the present day, Westbrook should be able to lead the Thunder to somewhere between 45 and 50 wins—a low-ball number if Oladipo and Kanter continue to develop.

must read: NBA Free Agency: New additions who will be 2017 All-Stars

The outlook may not be gorgeous, but Oklahoma City may never get a player like Westbrook again. Likely or not, it’s worth gambling on his return.

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