So then you have a shooting guard who can't shoot. That doesn't solve any problems--it just means teams can sag off him. It also takes away perhaps his greatest strength--elite passing. Westbrook has to dominate the ball to be effective, and he really has to be the point guard. The real issue is that you've got this guy who is like a shorter, crazier version of LeBron, and the only way he can succeed is with lots of driving lanes created by shooters. Honestly, I think if they somehow magically traded Paul George + Adams for shooters like our role players (Aminu, Hark, Collins, Seth) they'd probably be a better team with a stronger identity. I'm definitely not a big fan in general of trading a superstar. But they can't trade Russ, and George is the only asset they have that's worth anything in a trade. *shrug* Anyway, glad it's not my problem. There are no easy answers for Russ in OKC. Truth is that Westbrook is just too comfortable there. He needs to be traded by several teams a la Zach Randolph, passed around until he gets things straightened out in his own head. OKC had Harden, Durant and Westbrook, and they put all their money on the wrong horse.
Wrong Horse? Absolutely. I said this after right after Lillard's rookie year: OKC could have had a Dynasty. Here's how: Russ's stock was through the roof. Just trade Russ to the Blazers for ending contracts, draft picks, and Lillard - which the Blazers would have happily done. Then they have the $$$ to pay Harden. Their lineup? Adams, Ibaka, KD, Lillard, Harden. That's some serious stuff, right there.
Fact is, the Thunder had numerous franchise-making draft picks fall in their lap, got some great players, then management blundered it away. That makes me happy.
To add to that... They took some of those "big risks" the haters in here always bag on Portland for not taking. Westbrook and PG are now 3-8 in their 11 games together in the playoffs.
Stop. Utter bullshit. The blazers would've never traded Lillard. Also, they wouldn't have Steven Adams. They would've had a worse pick. What they should've done was pay Harden.
I hate to do this to you @Wizard Mentor BUT...... Harden was traded before Dame's rookie year so there is no way you could've thought that because the timing doesn't make sense. They got the Adams pick (#12 in 2013) from the Harden trade too so if they didn't trade Harden they wouldn't have Adams.
Lillard was drafted in June 28, 2012. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_NBA_draft ) Harden was traded months later in Oct. 2012 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Harden ) Instead of trading Harden, they could have traded Russ to the Blazers. Yes, I was spitballing with the Adams part, but the rest works fine.
I hate him because he prefers honeycomb over the delicious taste of General Mills™ Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
