Thunder officially won Russell Westbrook trade after full details finalized
The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Russell Westbrook after the 2019 season to embark on a rebuild. It was painful eliminating the franchise icon, however Sam Presti fleeced the Houston Rockets on this trade. Westbrook spent only one season in Houston earlier than his partnership with James Harden failed. The Rockets gave up an enormous haul to win one playoff collection and embark on their very own rebuild one 12 months later. Presti bought Chris Paul and two first-round draft picks for the Thunder legend.
CP3 rebuilt his worth as he shockingly led OKC to the playoffs. He performed a key function in mentoring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Thunder flipped Paul for a first-round draft decide after only one season. It solely added to the worth from the Westbrook trade, and Presti retains maximizing it.
The twenty second total decide within the 2026 NBA Draft is the ultimate piece from the Westbrook deal, however the 76ers chosen Labaron Philon Jr. out of Alabama. OKC handled it as a part of the package for Jared McCain. Presti with the ability to flip the twenty second decide and three second-rounders right into a proficient guard on a rookie contract ought to additional enhance how followers view this trade. It was an enormous win for the Thunder.
Thunder win Russell Westbrook trade as full details are finalized
Westbrook deserves his flowers. He spent his first 11 NBA seasons with the Thunder and have become a Hall of Famer in OKC. Westbrook was the second-leading scorer on the 2012 squad that reached the NBA Finals. It felt like they have been constructing a dynasty, however things quickly fell apart. Still, Westbrook won an MVP and helped the Thunder make the playoffs 9 instances.
It was time to maneuver on in 2019. The Thunder traded Paul George and Russell Westbrook to enter a rebuild. Here are the full details of the Westbrook deal.
Thunder acquired: Chris Paul, Nikola Topic, Labaron Philon Jr.
Rockets acquired:Russell Westbrook
Fans can develop it to incorporate the McCain deal by saying OKC gave the 76ers Philon Jr. and three second-round draft picks. The undeniable fact that OKC continues to be benefiting from the Westbrook trade after seven years is a testomony to Sam Presti. The Thunder’s GM is at all times extracting the utmost worth out of each transfer.
Presti may have taken a haul of draft capital, however he opted for Chris Paul. Landing a star guard in return allowed the Thunder to get much more worth one 12 months later and let his younger gamers be taught from the longer term Hall of Famer. It is the little issues that pay huge dividends for Oklahoma City.
It is not possible to know who OKC would have chosen, however the franchise is proud of Jared McCain. He performed a key function off the bench within the 2026 playoffs and is simply 22 years previous. The 6’3 guard is already turning into a favourite of followers and his teammates. This was one other instance of Presti discovering an undervalued asset and buying it.
The Oklahoma City Thunder unquestionably won the Russell Westbrook trade. It allowed them to get Chris Paul, make the playoffs in 2020, get a further first-round decide for flipping CP3, draft Nikola Topic, and trade for Jared McCain. Consider this one other Sam Presti masterpiece.
