Thunder and Westbrook in contract extension talks~

[RJ87]

Okc is not a playoff team without durant and ibaka. Celtics had them for dinner without Durant last season. 

RW is wild and if you expect him to carry your team without another weapon. You are in trouble.

Ibaka's been on a steady decline for the past two seasons. Presti was smart to move on from him now and get a young guy in Oladipo that can help now and continue to get better with a more stable environment. Steven Adams is good - he can be an all-star if he carries over his postseason play. Enes Kanter is talented. They have enough assets to make a move to improve their roster. Getting RW to commit - even if it's just for an additional season - gives Presti more clarity to build that roster. I'll make a bold prediction: OKC makes the playoffs and Russ wins MVP.

So much for "he's an LA guy, he's bouncing out of there first chance he gets."

But, but... he just bought a house in Beverly Hills!

[Dino Pitino]

Disappointing, but the costs to get him being thrown around were astronomical anyway, so I'm glad we're still overloaded with assets and talent, I'm glad we were right there to pounce as the #1 team he would've been traded to (and that's following us being the 2nd or 3rd place team in the Durant sweepstakes), I'm glad we're still there to pounce on whoever is next, Cousins or Griffin or Butler or Davis, whoever. We are first in line.

[PhoSita]

I think the main issue with Boogie is the kings are so starved for even making the playoffs I think they'll want trade pieces that can help them win now rather than picks and young guys.

I don't.  Once they decide to finally move off Boogie, it will be for youth.  The reason they're keeping him is because they're playoff starved.  If they decide to trade him, it will be that they concede they're not getting there any time soon.  Joerger gets half a season to get the current roster to win, and then when it can't, a total gutting of the roster will occur in February.  Their signings this offseason largely reflect that.  Afflalo and Tolliver both are signed to Amir/Zeller style 1+1 deals, for instance.  Gay is certainly opting out this offseason, just to get out of there.

But they're certainly going to try first.  Joerger has himself some gritty wings in Barnes and Afflalo in an effort to change the culture of the team.  He's a good coach -- it's not inconceivable that team wins this year.  I don't find it likely, but Memphis had no business making the playoffs last year, and he got them there.

If Boogie plays the way he did last year, only with some actual effort on defense, it wouldn't shock me to see them win 40ish games and make the playoffs as an 8th seed.

I hope you're right, though, and they have a firesale.  Maybe the Celts can trade for Cousins and part of the inducement will be taking on Gay's money as well.  Perhaps something like Bradley, Amir, Jerebko, Brown, and a pick for Cousins and Gay.  Might be worth it.

[Ilikesports17]

I think the main issue with Boogie is the kings are so starved for even making the playoffs I think they'll want trade pieces that can help them win now rather than picks and young guys.

I don't.  Once they decide to finally move off Boogie, it will be for youth.  The reason they're keeping him is because they're playoff starved.  If they decide to trade him, it will be that they concede they're not getting there any time soon.  Joerger gets half a season to get the current roster to win, and then when it can't, a total gutting of the roster will occur in February.  Their signings this offseason largely reflect that.  Afflalo and Tolliver both are signed to Amir/Zeller style 1+1 deals, for instance.  Gay is certainly opting out this offseason, just to get out of there.

But they're certainly going to try first.  Joerger has himself some gritty wings in Barnes and Afflalo in an effort to change the culture of the team.  He's a good coach -- it's not inconceivable that team wins this year.  I don't find it likely, but Memphis had no business making the playoffs last year, and he got them there.

If Boogie plays the way he did last year, only with some actual effort on defense, it wouldn't shock me to see them win 40ish games and make the playoffs as an 8th seed.

I hope you're right, though, and they have a firesale.  Maybe the Celts can trade for Cousins and part of the inducement will be taking on Gay's money as well.  Perhaps something like Bradley, Amir, Jerebko, Brown, and a pick for Cousins and Gay.  Might be worth it.

They could make it as an 8 seed, but the west is deep.

GSW, LA, SAS, Por, Utah, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, and OKC should all be right there.

[manl_lui]

So Kanter just uploaded this



can't help but to LOL

[Ilikesports17]

A few positive notes here.
1. keeps west deepish. OKC should still be better than Sacramento. If Westbrook goes god mode and Utah has some injuries I suppose you could see Utah missing the playoffs too. Those two teams missing the playoffs would make Cousins and Hayward very available Id imagine
2. means OKC is not tanking. cross a team off the Nets watch.
3. Reinforces idea that no one really wants LA right now.

[Diggles]

I would bet good money they make the playoffs.   They remind me of the Atlanta Hawks of West....    They are just missing a knock down shooter.    Wusssel will have an MVP stat stuffing season.... and if they win a real MVP candidate....   

He and the Thunder have something o prove to the NBA, Warriors and KD!   

[dannyboy35]

I hope Westbrook leads the Thunder to the playoffs as the 8th seed and knocks out GS in the first round. That would be pure comedy.

Oh man, who wouldn't love that. That would be the sports story of the year.

[dannyboy35]

Disappointing, but the costs to get him being thrown around were astronomical anyway, so I'm glad we're still overloaded with assets and talent, I'm glad we were right there to pounce as the #1 team he would've been traded to (and that's following us being the 2nd or 3rd place team in the Durant sweepstakes), I'm glad we're still there to pounce on whoever is next, Cousins or Griffin or Butler or Davis, whoever. We are first in line.

All this talk of Westbrook and Griffin.. I really think Cousins , if anyone, is gonna be our guy.

[dannyboy35]

I think the main issue with Boogie is the kings are so starved for even making the playoffs I think they'll want trade pieces that can help them win now rather than picks and young guys.

I don't.  Once they decide to finally move off Boogie, it will be for youth.  The reason they're keeping him is because they're playoff starved.  If they decide to trade him, it will be that they concede they're not getting there any time soon.  Joerger gets half a season to get the current roster to win, and then when it can't, a total gutting of the roster will occur in February.  Their signings this offseason largely reflect that.  Afflalo and Tolliver both are signed to Amir/Zeller style 1+1 deals, for instance.  Gay is certainly opting out this offseason, just to get out of there.

But they're certainly going to try first.  Joerger has himself some gritty wings in Barnes and Afflalo in an effort to change the culture of the team.  He's a good coach -- it's not inconceivable that team wins this year.  I don't find it likely, but Memphis had no business making the playoffs last year, and he got them there.

If Boogie plays the way he did last year, only with some actual effort on defense, it wouldn't shock me to see them win 40ish games and make the playoffs as an 8th seed.

I hope you're right, though, and they have a firesale.  Maybe the Celts can trade for Cousins and part of the inducement will be taking on Gay's money as well.  Perhaps something like Bradley, Amir, Jerebko, Brown, and a pick for Cousins and Gay.  Might be worth it.
[/quote
Sign me up!

[PhoSita]

I think the main issue with Boogie is the kings are so starved for even making the playoffs I think they'll want trade pieces that can help them win now rather than picks and young guys.

I don't.  Once they decide to finally move off Boogie, it will be for youth.  The reason they're keeping him is because they're playoff starved.  If they decide to trade him, it will be that they concede they're not getting there any time soon.  Joerger gets half a season to get the current roster to win, and then when it can't, a total gutting of the roster will occur in February.  Their signings this offseason largely reflect that.  Afflalo and Tolliver both are signed to Amir/Zeller style 1+1 deals, for instance.  Gay is certainly opting out this offseason, just to get out of there.

But they're certainly going to try first.  Joerger has himself some gritty wings in Barnes and Afflalo in an effort to change the culture of the team.  He's a good coach -- it's not inconceivable that team wins this year.  I don't find it likely, but Memphis had no business making the playoffs last year, and he got them there.

If Boogie plays the way he did last year, only with some actual effort on defense, it wouldn't shock me to see them win 40ish games and make the playoffs as an 8th seed.

I hope you're right, though, and they have a firesale.  Maybe the Celts can trade for Cousins and part of the inducement will be taking on Gay's money as well.  Perhaps something like Bradley, Amir, Jerebko, Brown, and a pick for Cousins and Gay.  Might be worth it.

They could make it as an 8 seed, but the west is deep.

GSW, LA, SAS, Por, Utah, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, and OKC should all be right there.

Dallas and Memphis are very vulnerable to injuries, and I'm skeptical that Houston will defend enough to win 50% of their games.  OKC are a little thin on the wing, as well.

[Ilikesports17]

I think the main issue with Boogie is the kings are so starved for even making the playoffs I think they'll want trade pieces that can help them win now rather than picks and young guys.

I don't.  Once they decide to finally move off Boogie, it will be for youth.  The reason they're keeping him is because they're playoff starved.  If they decide to trade him, it will be that they concede they're not getting there any time soon.  Joerger gets half a season to get the current roster to win, and then when it can't, a total gutting of the roster will occur in February.  Their signings this offseason largely reflect that.  Afflalo and Tolliver both are signed to Amir/Zeller style 1+1 deals, for instance.  Gay is certainly opting out this offseason, just to get out of there.

But they're certainly going to try first.  Joerger has himself some gritty wings in Barnes and Afflalo in an effort to change the culture of the team.  He's a good coach -- it's not inconceivable that team wins this year.  I don't find it likely, but Memphis had no business making the playoffs last year, and he got them there.

If Boogie plays the way he did last year, only with some actual effort on defense, it wouldn't shock me to see them win 40ish games and make the playoffs as an 8th seed.

I hope you're right, though, and they have a firesale.  Maybe the Celts can trade for Cousins and part of the inducement will be taking on Gay's money as well.  Perhaps something like Bradley, Amir, Jerebko, Brown, and a pick for Cousins and Gay.  Might be worth it.

They could make it as an 8 seed, but the west is deep.

GSW, LA, SAS, Por, Utah, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, and OKC should all be right there.

Dallas and Memphis are very vulnerable to injuries, and I'm skeptical that Houston will defend enough to win 50% of their games.  OKC are a little thin on the wing, as well.

yeah, I think Sac has a chance to make the playoffs but Id give those 9 teams and maybe Minnesota the edge over Sacramento right now. Its an uphill battle for them. I do like Joerger. that hiring could change everything for them.

[Diggles]

http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-westbrook-160804?ls=iref:nbahpt13a

He is a beast!   Carear
In eight seasons with the Thunder, Westbrook holds career averages of 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.73 steals in 34.0 minutes per game. The UCLA product has helped guide the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals in four of the past six seasons.

MR Tripple Double at only 35 minutes a game! 

This past season Westbrook appeared in 80 games (all starts) and averaged 23.5 points (eighth in the NBA), 10.4 assists (second in the NBA), 7.8 rebounds and 2.04 steals (fifth in the NBA) in 34.4 minutes to become just the second player in NBA history (Oscar Robertson) to average at least 23 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for a single season.

[saltlover]

I think the main issue with Boogie is the kings are so starved for even making the playoffs I think they'll want trade pieces that can help them win now rather than picks and young guys.

I don't.  Once they decide to finally move off Boogie, it will be for youth.  The reason they're keeping him is because they're playoff starved.  If they decide to trade him, it will be that they concede they're not getting there any time soon.  Joerger gets half a season to get the current roster to win, and then when it can't, a total gutting of the roster will occur in February.  Their signings this offseason largely reflect that.  Afflalo and Tolliver both are signed to Amir/Zeller style 1+1 deals, for instance.  Gay is certainly opting out this offseason, just to get out of there.

But they're certainly going to try first.  Joerger has himself some gritty wings in Barnes and Afflalo in an effort to change the culture of the team.  He's a good coach -- it's not inconceivable that team wins this year.  I don't find it likely, but Memphis had no business making the playoffs last year, and he got them there.

If Boogie plays the way he did last year, only with some actual effort on defense, it wouldn't shock me to see them win 40ish games and make the playoffs as an 8th seed.

I hope you're right, though, and they have a firesale.  Maybe the Celts can trade for Cousins and part of the inducement will be taking on Gay's money as well.  Perhaps something like Bradley, Amir, Jerebko, Brown, and a pick for Cousins and Gay.  Might be worth it.

They won't have to take on Gay if they don't want to.  His contract isn't terrible enough that he's a negative asset.  He's getting 6th man money under the new cap, and will probably opt out of next year.  If he doesn't get traded he's for sure opting out.

I don't expect the Kings to be successful.  Joerger deserves serious award consideration if they are.  Management has completely poisoned the well for the players who remain.  This interview that Gay gave last week was incredibly candid, and not in a way that comes off as intentionally bashing the organization.  Just one of abject frustration.  And with Boogie's tweets, you know he feels the same way and wants out -- it will be incredibly difficult for Joerger to walk in and fix things, especially when players who want to be traded know that losing makes that more likely than winning.

http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2016/7/26/12283364/sacramento-kings-rudy-gay-frustration

[jpotter33]

Looks like it just got done.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/761058155111391232

So does an extension put any time limit on trading him like signing a new contract does, like December 15th or January 15th?

EDIT: I still don't necessarily think this means that he plans on staying or they aren't going to end up trading him.  They apparently couldn't get anything near his value due to his contract situation beforehand, so maybe this opens things up now. Or at the very least he's now much more tradable in the middle of the season when they're on the fringe of the playoffs and look to be nothing more than a first round exit.

Just noticed your question, but due to the extension, he cannot be traded for 6 months.  So if he signs today, February 4th.  That's in time for the trade deadline, although I expect a trade to occur no earlier than next summer (but I do expect it.)

It all depends on the season up to the trade deadline. If they're merely fighting for a playoff spot, which is most likely, then it makes much more sense for them to trade him then than in the summer, which would put them right back into the issue that they had this summer with trading him on essentially an expiring contract.