NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Russell Westbrook, Jahlil Okafor
The free-agent frenzy might be dying down after a frantic week around the NBA, but that doesn't mean that the trade market will.
With new faces and new rosters around the league, there are teams looking to swap some players in order to bolster their respective lineups.
Here is the latest on two of the biggest names that could be on the block:
Kevin Durant's formal introduction at Oracle Arena on Thursday just confirmed the nightmare for Oklahoma City Thunder fans. The face of the franchise has moved on.
There is a possibility that the nightmare might worsen. Turner Sports Analyst David Aldridge reported "there's no chance" that point guard Russell Westbrook, who is set to hit free agency next summer, will renegotiate his contract or sign an extension.
If in fact Westbrook shuts down dialogue on a new contract with the Thunder, league executives believe "the Thunder will consider fielding trade offers" for him, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
It could be the Thunder's best course of action, as they will want some kind of return for Westbrook. Letting him walk in free agency could be a crippling blow to a franchise that already received nothing for Durant.
Even if they just net young talent to develop, a scenario in which they don't trade Westbrook could doom Oklahoma City's chances of contending in the Western Conference for a long time.
Jahlil Okafor
Due to the Philadelphia 76ers' stockpile of young forwards—Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and now Ben Simmons—the team has players to deal who could help address more glaring needs elsewhere on the roster.
Philadelphia has been shopping Okafor and Noel since the end of May, according to a report by ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Chad Ford. They used the two (mostly Noel) as trade bait for the Boston Celtics' No. 3 draft pick, per HoopsCritic's Brian Geltzeiler, but were unable to get anything done.
The Celtics are still interested, according to a report by the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett: "Sources tell us the C’s are still holding the line on their offers from prior to the draft. They will make trades if teams come around to their price."
It's not Noel but Okafor who is said to be available, per Bulpett. The Celtics could use Okafor as a true 5, which would allow new signing Al Horford (who agreed to a four-year, $113 million deal, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne) to play away from the basket and show off his mid-range game.
Okafor does his best work near the hoop. He would give the Celtics a solid rebounding presence that could be a cornerstone of the frontcourt for years to come.
To land him, Boston would probably have to deal one of its young guards, which could add some stability to a Philadelphia backcourt that needs the talent.
