Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin walk to center court during a 109-97 Thunder win at Staples Center. (Photo : Getty Images/Harry How)
The NBA trade rumors continue to develop for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are not resting on their laurels after they secured Russell Westbrook on a contract extension.
The Thunder front office knows where their team stands. They fell short even if they had Kevin Durant in their fold. Keeping Russell Westbrook would not get them over the hump. Westbrook needs help an while Durant is not easily replaceable (may even be impossible), another superstar would definitely be a step in the right direction.
Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers is the most obvious target. His hometown ties and years of frustration with the Clips may be the ticket to gain his services. According to Sports Illustrated blog Thunderous Intentions, the Thunder is already preparing for that.
The latest move by the Thunder is signing Semaj Christon, a point guard who was drafted 55th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat and eventually traded to the Thunder. He was relegated to the D-League and finally called up now.
That was an intriguing move because the Thunder just acquired Victor Oladipo via trade. That led to the assumption by SaintClair Edmunds of TI that Oladipo is likely included in a trade package for Blake Griffin.
"So, what would the Thunder have to offer for Blake Griffin? Well two guys. Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo," Edmunds wrote.
Griffin won't come cheap, so offering the next two best players that the Thunder has is probably the only way to acquire his rights. It's not just the Clippers but other teams will also want a shot at Griffin despite his impending free agency.
The Thunder has an advantage because they are confident that Griffin's Oklahoma roots can sway him to re-sign with them. Also, the Clippers have an agenda of their own. They are not looking at the future just yet because they still want to convince Chris Paul to stay.
Losing Griffin but getting Adams and Oladipo in return will keep the Clippers competitive and also slightly younger. Oladipo can play either guard position and that would be a relief for Paul who never had a solid reliever of Oladipo's caliber.
The issue of Adams fit with DeAndre Jordan might be overstated. Jordan is not a post up scorer and Adams has shown he can play effectively with another center in the tandem with Enes Kanter.
Other news outfits picked up on the Thunderous Intentions article like Morning News USA, who claimed the Thunder are making a "strong push" for Blake.
