This is what happens when you have to crank out so many articles so quickly. He got assigned a Westbrook trade article and had to fill it out with some nonsense after the first two obvious possibilities.
I mean, I’d like to hope that the case. But Westbrook is clearly on the block, Jaylen is up for a new deal next year, and I’d be absolutely shocked if Ainge hasn’t at least checked in on Westbrook’s availability. I know for a darn-near certainty that Ainge explored a Westbrook-Isaiah trade a few summers ago, before Russ ultimately signed his pre-supermax extension. And we know that Ainge will always prioritize talent, and much tho I love Jaylen, Russ is clearly the superior talent.
But Hayward-Brown doesn’t go far enough. Try:
Hayward, Brown, Smart, Rob Williams, and Carsen Edwards for Russ and Adams. That deal has Ainge and Presti written all over it, and then I become a thunder fan.