Russell Westbrook (Photo : Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport)
The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics were the only two teams from the East to make the shortlist for Kevin Durant.
The short reason is that they are viewed as the only possible title contenders outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now that Kevin Durant is gone, the fact still remains that they are still the two teams most likely to beat LeBron James and rise out of the East.
Thus, now that Kevin Durant is gone, the question shifts to the fate of Russell Westbrook. As Adi Joseph of Sporting News suggested, the Thunder should trade him before he leaves at the end of the 2016-17 season.
"Russell Westbrook needs to go next," Joseph declared. "The Thunder can't let him walk away next offseason as a free agent like they did with Durant. The situations are very different, of course; Oklahoma City had plenty of reason to think Durant would return, especially after an impressive postseason run. The Thunder have no reason to think Westbrook would stay."
This has already been a real possibility and that's why the Thunder should consider Westbroook's trade value. Michael Pina of Real GM had already weighed the possibilities.
The Miami Heat has the best incentive to make a trade. They are unlikely to have any cap space (unless Chris Bosh would be forced to retire) so they need the Bird Rights. They do have the assets to make a decent package.
Incoming sophomore Justise Winslow is a desirable target and could take the small forward position that Durant vacated. The Heat could also part with point guard Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson.
The Boston Celtics is another team that won't hesitate to pull the trigger on a trade for a superstar. Danny Ainge won't cringe at the risk of free agency and would make a bid to pair Westbrook with their new star Al Horford.
Real GM had the Celtics sending Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas, Jaylen Brown and their main asset, the 2017 first-round pick swap from the Brooklyn Nets-likely to be a lottery pick, top 5 even. This is the asset that they wouldn't give up for Jimmy Butler (along with the 2018 Brooklyn pick), but for Westbrook, it would be worth it.
How will Westbrook react? Will he stay with OKC or form his own superteam in the West to challenge Durant? Or in these scenarios, move to the East and topple LeBron James-possibly meeting with KD in the NBA Finals?
