Westbrook Re-signs with OKC

I knew there would be (at least) one more Westbrook-related story coming out of OKC this summer. Either he would be traded or he would sign an extension, one or the other had to happen. Westbrook answered the OKC prayers and signed a 3yr/$85m extension that comes with a raise for this coming year and a player option in the 3rd year. He could still be traded but I think the Thunder would rather add to their newly re-signed PG rather than look to the post-Westbrook future. 

There are still a handful of NBA players rumored to be on the trade block, can any be brought to OKC? Greg Monroe (Bucks) is not an upgrade over Kanter, Rudy Gay (Kings) is not a good fit salary-wise, Eric Bledsoe (Suns) is a bit redundant with Westbrook, and Jahlil Okafor (Sixers) doesn't add enough to the Thunder offense (or much at all to the defense). 

However, Blake Griffin (Clippers) would be intriguing alongside Westbrook and has a salary very close to Kanter's. Will that happen? It could. Griffin is set to make $20.1m this year with an early termination option (of $24.2m) in the following year. With salaries skyrocketing this summer, it is likely that Griffin will opt out next summer in hopes of getting a raise whether he is still with the Clippers or in a new city. I'm not sure but I suspect the Thunder would be more than happy to give Griffin a raise next summer (whereas the Clippers might not able to considering Chris Paul also has an ETO next summer). The Thunder have Enes Kanter at $17.1m and locked in for two more years, which could be attractive to the Clippers. Kanter is not as good as Griffin in general but Kanter is an excellent scorer around the rim and I think would fit between Chris Paul and Deandre Jordan just fine. And though his contract seemed exorbitant last summer, it'll look like a bargain next summer. 

A straight up Griffin for Kanter deal doesn't seem so sexy but tacking on Ilyasova or Oladipo becomes cost prohibitive. And frankly offensively the Clippers would be fine with Kanter, he would save them a coupla bucks and leave them with a $3m trade exception that might come in handy in February. Like I said, it doesn't seem so sexy but I think its actually a pretty good deal for both teams. And I think it could happen. We'll see in the next 6 weeks or so.