NBA: The Russell Westbrook for Chris Paul trade looks like a win-win deal
By Duncan Smith
Oklahoma City Thunder
No matter what happens, the Oklahoma City Thunder are playing with house money. Their core of Russell Westbrook and Paul George had peaked and it was probably time to move on regardless of the summer’s events.
In a way, Leonard and George’s power move gave the Thunder a “get out of jail free card”. They could hit the reset button in a way that wouldn’t alienate their fan base nor betray beloved Oklahoma City son Russell Westbrook.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
In the series of moves that followed, acquiring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari from the Clippers in the process of collecting Chris Paul, the Thunder quickly retooled rather than rebuilding. They were expected to try to flip Paul for pennies on the dollar, sell whatever they could and prepare for the future, but instead they bought in on their roster and have a stunning 33-22 record.
The Thunder have made a more egalitarian approach work this season. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to the heliocentric style they played for years with Russell Westbrook, or at least something different that has been productive.
Whether it’s a result of the talent influx the Thunder got in return for Westbrook and George or simply a matter of being able to flourish once removed from Westbrook’s shadow, everything works and flows better now.
It’s not an indictment on Westbrook, but things are different this year. They’re going to make life miserable for whoever draws them in the first round of the playoffs.