Scott Brooks Doesn't Know What to Think About Dion Waiters Joining Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder joined the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night in the closing of a three-team megatrade that saw several demi-stars relocated about the league.
The deal included the shuffling of Cleveland’s Dion Waiters to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a protected first-round draft pick—a move Scott Brooks appeared to have trouble metabolizing as of Monday night.
After an ugly 117-91 loss to the Golden State Warriors, the Thunder head coach spoke with media on the Waiters trade. Brooks told reporters that he’s studied the Cavaliers guard and appreciates his...toughness.
Grantland’s Netw3rk uploaded some Vines of Brooks attempting to articulate what he thinks of Waiters. He had something for this. Just give him a minute.
In fairness to Brooks, he was reeling in the aftermath of a heavy defeat and had allegedly only heard about the trade hours before the game, according to The Oklahoman's Anthony Slater:
"Scott Brooks said he's unsure how the Thunder will use Dion Waiters: "Just found out about it a few hours ago"
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 6, 2015"
In further fairness to Brooks, it’s difficult to come up with a media-friendly way to say, “This could be a somewhat good thing for our team or an unmitigated church fire.”
Adding Waiters places a serial shooter on a team not lacking in scorers. There’s also a real possibility Waiters and Russell Westbrook engage in a “two guards enter, one guard leaves” cage match before season’s end.
On the flip side, there’s the chance Waiters flourishes in Oklahoma City. Perhaps he finds his rhythm in Brooks’ isolation sets and begins shoveling his way out of the harrowing plus-minus (-59) metric he’s accumulated thus far in the 2014-15 season.
We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, Brooks will have to find a way to speak earnestly about Waiters without using the phrase “J.R. Smith Lite.”
Follow Dan on Twitter for more sports and pop culture filigree.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
