Russell Westbrook (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics were involved in another trade rumor for Russell Westbrook, this time, with talks actually taking place.
The confirmation came from Adam Joseph of SB Nation as he quoted his sources on the matter. The details on the trade for the Boston Celtics front were not revealed.
per sources, Presti discussed Westbrook deals with several different teams (inc. SAS, MIL, LAL, BOS), but no middle ground was found.
— Adam Joseph (@AdamJosephSport) July 21, 2016
deals included players & picks from BOS, LAL. Spurs deal was player centric, Bucks very keen but backed away w/o an extension guarantee. — Adam Joseph (@AdamJosephSport) July 21, 2016
In previous reports during the Las Vegas Summer League, it was not confirmed that there were indeed negotiations and eventually both sides denied any conversation. Joseph's tweets dispute that.
The trade for Westbrook would be predicated on whether they can have an agreement in place for the triple-double machine to re-sign with the Celtics. Otherwise, someone like Danny Ainge is unlikely to budge.
Still, speculating on the possible trade package was diligently pursued by Mass Live as they outline different scenarios for the Celtics. The offers, again, are hinged on the idea that Westbrook will re-sign.
It would not be an easy task because Thunder GM Sam Presti will have only one thing in mind if and when Westbrook refuses to sign the contract extension they offer him. The trades proposed all involve a combination of the 2017 Brooklyn pick swap or the 2018 Brooklyn pick.
The best case scenario for the Celtics is getting Westbrook for a package of the 2017 Brooklyn Nets pick, Marcus Smart, Amir Johnson and RJ Hunter. In this scenario, they do lose the 2017 pick swap but the Celtics get to keep their important players (Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley).
Mass Live called it "the starting point of Ainge's negotiations" and is pessimistic on the chances that it could actually work. Truth be told, Ainge would probably start off offering the 2018 pick instead of 2017, which the Thunder will probably refuse unless better players are offered. If this was the offer, Presti will probably hold off until the deadline for better offers to emerge.
On the other extreme, the Celtics could make "the Godfather" offer if a real bidding war does emerge and Westbrook really has the intention to re-sign with the teams making the trade offers (say, if Minnesota offers Kris Dunn and Andrew Wiggins which is unlikely).
The offer would probably consist of Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas and both 2017 and 2018 Brooklyn Nets' picks package. The Celtics get to salvage Jae Crowder but they will be sending three years worth of lottery picks-similar to what Presti got in 2007-2009 that made the Thunder franchise contenders for half a decade. That would be a staggering price to pay, but it would make the Celtics contenders in the East.
