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Poll: 2005 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 3)

August 4th, 2016 at 5:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Drafting players is far from an exact science, and many a GM has been second-guessed for his draft night decisions. While life, and the NBA, doesn’t often allow for second chances, we at Hoops Rumors believe it’s fun to give our readers a second take at picking players, complete with the benefit of hindsight.

We’ve previously tackled the 2003 and 2013 NBA Drafts and the next one we’re tackling is 2005’s, the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll provide a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll continue onward with the Jazz, who held the No. 3 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Utah’s pick and check back Friday night for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the New Orleans Hornets should have taken at No. 4. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

Selections

  1. Bucks — Chris Paul [Actual Pick — Andrew Bogut]
  2. Hawks — Deron Williams [Actual Pick — Marvin Williams]
  3. Jazz — ? [Actual Pick — Deron Williams]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here.

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Community Shootaround: Russell Westbrook

August 4th, 2016 at 3:21pm CST by Luke Adams

After a month of trade speculation, Russell Westbrook shut down that talk earlier today when he signed a brand-new contract extension with the Thunder. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Oklahoma City brass had been prepared to explore the trade market for a package of young players and draft picks if Westbrook had given the team the impression that he was “unenthusiastic” about the future in OKC. However, in the wake of Kevin Durant‘s departure, Westbrook re-committed to the Thunder, forgoing free agency in 2017.

“The idea of running out to find a super team, that isn’t who he is,” a source close to Westbrook told Wojnarowski. “He thought, ‘These are my guys here,’ and he wanted to go to battle with them.”

While Thunder fans – along with GM Sam Presti – can breathe a sigh of relief for now, Westbrook’s “three-year” extension essentially only guarantees him one extra season in Oklahoma City. The first year of the deal is 2016/17, for which he was already under contract, and the third year (2018/19) is a player option, meaning Westbrook could opt out in 2018, when he becomes eligible for a higher maximum salary.

It’s entirely possible that Westbrook intends to re-sign with the Thunder again at that point, but the team certainly can’t take that for granted, and will have to work hard to fortify the roster around Westbrook over the next year or two. Within his column (linked above), Wojnarowski reiterates something he reported in July, writing that OKC has its eye on Blake Griffin, who played his college ball in Oklahoma and can become a free agent in 2017.

With Westbrook locked up, the Thunder would have to make a trade or two – or part ways with one or two of its RFAs-to-be – in order to create room for Griffin, but the cap work certainly wouldn’t be a major roadblock for the team — the bigger challenge would be convincing Griffin to leave Los Angeles to return to Oklahoma City.

Of course, even if signing Griffin isn’t in the cards, there are a number of other avenues – in free agency or on the trade market – that Presti and the front office could explore to upgrade the roster before Westbrook reaches the open market in 2018.

Today’s discussion questions revolve around the future for the Thunder and for Westbrook: Do you expect Westbrook to stay in Oklahoma City beyond 2018? Is this just a temporary reprieve for the Thunder, or is it a sign that Westbrook is committed to the franchise for the long run? What moves do you expect the Thunder to pull off in the next year or two to get back into title contention?

Take to the comments section below to share your opinions on the future for the Thunder and for Westbrook. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

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Free Agent Spending By Division: Pacific

August 4th, 2016 at 2:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the course of the last week, we’ve been breaking down 2016 NBA free agent spending by division, examining which teams – and divisions – were the most active this summer.

These divisional breakdowns won’t present a full picture of teams’ offseason spending. Some notable free agents, including LeBron James, remain unsigned, so there’s still money out there to be spent. Our lists also don’t include money spent on this year’s first- and second-round picks or draft-and-stash signings. There are a few free agent names missing in some instances as well, since those deals aren’t yet official or terms haven’t been reported.

Still, these closer looks at divisional spending should generally reveal how teams invested their money in free agency this summer, identifying which clubs went all-out and which ones played it safe.

With the help of our Free Agent Tracker and contract info from Basketball Insiders, we’ll focus today on the Pacific division. Let’s dive in…

1. Los Angeles Lakers

  • Total money committed: $186,000,000
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $186,000,000
  • Largest expenditure: Luol Deng (four years, $72,000,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • The Lakers have yet to finalize long-ago reported deals for Tarik Black and Marcelo Huertas. Based on estimated values for those contracts, they’ll likely total about $16MM+ combined, but we haven’t included them in the team’s totals for now.

2. Los Angeles Clippers

  • Total money committed: $105,428,788
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $93,928,788
  • Largest expenditure: Jamal Crawford (three years, $42,000,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • Raymond Felton ($1,551,659), Brandon Bass ($1,551,659), and Alan Anderson ($1,315,448) will be paid $980,431 apiece by the Clippers, with the NBA on the hook for the rest of their minimum salaries.
    • Crawford’s $14.5MM third-year salary is only guaranteed for $3MM, creating the gap between the Clippers’ total money and guaranteed money committed.

3. Sacramento Kings

  • Total money committed: $77,525,625
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $60,525,625
  • Largest expenditure: Arron Afflalo (two years, $25,000,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • Afflalo and Tolliver only have small partial guarantees in the second years of their respective contracts. $1.5MM of Afflalo’s $12.5MM second-year salary is guaranteed, while $2MM of Tolliver’s $8MM second-year salary is guaranteed.

4. Golden State Warriors

  • Total money committed: $61,094,229
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $61,094,229
  • Largest expenditure: Kevin Durant (two years, $54,274,505)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • The reported deals for JaVale McGee and Elliot Williams aren’t yet official and exact details on those contracts aren’t known, so they haven’t been included here.
    • West ($1,551,659), Varejao ($1,551,659), and Ian Clark ($1,015,696) will be paid $980,431 apiece by the Warriors, with the NBA on the hook for the rest of their minimum salaries.

5. Phoenix Suns

  • Total money committed: $38,000,000
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $34,500,000
  • Largest expenditure: Jared Dudley (three years, $30,000,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • The second year of Barbosa’s deal, worth $4MM, is only guaranteed for $500K, creating the gap between the Suns’ total money and guaranteed money committed.

Previously:
Southwest
Southeast
Northwest
Atlantic

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Poll: 2005 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 2)

August 3rd, 2016 at 4:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Drafting players is far from an exact science, and many a GM has been second-guessed for his draft night decisions. While life, and the NBA, doesn’t often allow for second chances, we at Hoops Rumors believe it’s fun to give our readers a second take at picking players, complete with the benefit of hindsight.

We’ve previously tackled the 2003 and 2013 NBA Drafts and the next one we’re tackling is 2005’s, the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll provide a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll continue onward with the Hawks, who held the No. 2 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Atlanta’s pick and check back Thursday night for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the Jazz should have taken at No. 3. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

Selections

  1. Bucks — Chris Paul [Actual Pick — Andrew Bogut]
  2. Hawks — ? [Actual Pick — Marvin Williams]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here.

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Free Agent Spending By Division: Atlantic

August 3rd, 2016 at 2:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the course of this week, we’ve been breaking down 2016 NBA free agent spending by division, examining which teams – and divisions – were the most active this July.

These divisional breakdowns won’t present a full picture of teams’ offseason spending. Some notable free agents, including LeBron James, remain unsigned, so there’s still money out there to be spent. Our lists also don’t include money spent on this year’s first- and second-round picks or draft-and-stash signings. There are a few free agent names missing in some instances as well, since those deals aren’t yet official or terms haven’t been reported.

Still, these closer looks at divisional spending should generally reveal how teams invested their money in free agency this summer, identifying which clubs went all-out and which ones played it safe.

With the help of our Free Agent Tracker and contract info from Basketball Insiders, we’ll focus today on the Atlantic division. Let’s dive in…

1. New York Knicks

  • Total money committed: $164,387,929
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $153,474,723
  • Largest expenditure: Joakim Noah (four years, $72,590,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • Sasha Vujacic will earn a $1,410,598 salary, but the Knicks will be on the hook for just $980,431 of that total, with the NBA picking up the rest of the bill.
    • The exact terms of reported deals for Chasson Randle and J.P. Tokoto aren’t yet known, so they haven’t been included here.
    • The Knicks also signed Willy Hernangomez, but he was a draft-and-stash player, rather than a free agent, so his deal isn’t included here.
    • The fourth year of Thomas’ deal, worth $7,583,975, is fully non-guaranteed, contributing significantly to the gap between the team’s total money and guaranteed money committed.

2. Toronto Raptors

  • Total money committed: $146,025,440
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $143,228,000
  • Largest expenditure: DeMar DeRozan (five years, $137,500,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • The Raptors were one of just three teams that didn’t go under the cap this summer, so their free-agent expenditures came using Bird rights (DeRozan), the mid-level exception (Sullinger), and the minimum-salary exception (other signees).

3. Boston Celtics

  • Total money committed: $130,306,661
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $122,306,661
  • Largest expenditure: Al Horford (four years, $113,326,230)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • Gerald Green will earn a $1,410,598 salary, but the Celtics will be on the hook for just $980,431 of that total, with the NBA picking up the rest of the bill.
    • The second year of Zeller’s deal, worth $8MM, is fully non-guaranteed, creating the gap between the team’s total money and guaranteed money committed.

4. Brooklyn Nets

  • Total money committed: $78,488,356
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $74,963,953
  • Largest expenditure: Jeremy Lin (three years, $36,000,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • If offer sheets for Allen Crabbe ($74MM+) and Tyler Johnson ($50MM) hadn’t been matched by the Blazers and Heat, respectively, the Nets likely would have been the Atlantic’s highest-spending team.
    • Anthony Bennett, Joe Harris, Beau Beech, Yogi Ferrell, and Egidijus Mockevicius all have contracts that include some non-guaranteed money.

5. Philadelphia 76ers

  • Total money committed: $57,346,160
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $44,220,000
  • Largest expenditure: Jerryd Bayless (three years, $27,000,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • The totals above don’t include the Sixers’ previously-reported agreement with Cat Barber, which has not been made official.
    • The Sixers also signed Dario Saric, but he was a draft-and-stash player, rather than a free agent, so his deal isn’t included here.
    • The second year of Henderson’s deal, worth $9MM, is fully non-guaranteed, contributing significantly to the gap between the team’s total money and guaranteed money committed.

Previously:
Southwest
Southeast
Northwest

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How Teams Are Using Room Exception, MLE

August 3rd, 2016 at 8:59am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s salary cap is a soft one, and that’s perhaps no better demonstrated than by the existence of the room exception. A form of the mid-level exception, it’s available for teams that have gone under the cap but spent their cap room. In other words, it’s essentially bonus cap room.

This year, the room exception is worth $2.898MM, and teams can use it to give two-year deals that include a 4.5% raise in the second season. So, the greatest total amount a player can receive using the room exception is $5,926,410. That’s not a lot, but it is significantly more than a two-year minimum-salary contract would entail, even for a veteran of 10 or more seasons.

Due to the rising NBA salary cap, more teams than ever have the room exception available to them this year. A year ago, 13 teams stayed over the cap in the offseason, while 17 went under. This time around, the number of teams staying over the cap has dipped to just three — the Clippers, Raptors, and world-champion Cavaliers. That means the league’s other 27 teams will all have the option of using the room exception during the 2016/17 league year.

Below, we’ve detailed how those 27 teams have used – or not used – the room exception so far. We’ve also made a note on how the Clippers, Raps, and Cavs have used their MLEs. This list will be kept up to date throughout the year, and can be found on our right-hand sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features.”

Room Exception (used):

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
    • Used: $2,898,000 (Nene)
    • Available: $0
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Washington Wizards
    • Used: $1,200,000 (Brandon Jennings)
    • Available: $1,698,000

Room Exception (unused):

  • Boston Celtics (cap space remaining)
  • Brooklyn Nets (cap space remaining)
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Denver Nuggets (cap space remaining)
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Indiana Pacers (cap space remaining)
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves (cap space remaining)
  • Oklahoma City Thunder (cap space remaining)
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers (cap space remaining)
  • Phoenix Suns (cap space remaining)
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • Utah Jazz (cap space remaining)

Mid-Level Exception (used):

Information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

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Salary Cap Snapshot: Boston Celtics

August 2nd, 2016 at 9:21pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Here’s a breakdown of where the Celtics currently stand financially:

Guaranteed Salary

Total Guaranteed Salary= $93,035,160

Cash Sent Out Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]

Cash Received Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]

Payroll Exceptions Available

  • Room Exception: $2,898,000

Total Projected Payroll: $93,035,160

Salary Cap: $94,143,000

Estimated Available Cap Space: $1,107,840

Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000

Amount Below Luxury Tax: $20,251,840

Last Updated: 1/10/17

The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.

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Poll: 2005 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 1)

August 2nd, 2016 at 5:23pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Drafting players is far from an exact science, and many a GM has been second-guessed for his draft night decisions. While life, and the NBA, doesn’t often allow for second chances, we at Hoops Rumors believe it’s fun to give our readers a second take at picking players, complete with the benefit of hindsight.

We’ve previously tackled the 2003 and 2013 NBA Drafts and the next one we’ll tackle is 2005’s, the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll provide a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll kick this off with the Bucks, who held the No. 1 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Milwaukee’s pick and check back Wednesday night for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the Hawks should have taken at No. 2. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here.

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Free Agent Spending By Division: Northwest

August 2nd, 2016 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the next several days, we’ll be breaking down 2016 NBA free agent spending by division, examining which teams – and divisions – were the most active this July.

These divisional breakdowns won’t present a full picture of teams’ offseason spending. Some notable free agents, including LeBron James, remain unsigned, so there’s still money out there to be spent. Our lists also don’t include money spent on this year’s first- and second-round picks or draft-and-stash signings. There are a few free agent names missing in some instances as well, since those deals aren’t yet official or terms haven’t been reported.

Still, these closer looks at divisional spending should generally reveal how teams invested their money in free agency this summer, identifying which clubs went all-out and which ones played it safe.

With the help of our Free Agent Tracker and contract info from Basketball Insiders, we’ll focus today on the Northwest division. Let’s dive in…

1. Portland Trail Blazers

  • Total money committed: $242,414,220
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $234,307,500
  • Largest expenditure: Allen Crabbe (four years, $74,832,500)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • Crabbe’s deal was an offer sheet extended by the Nets that was matched by the Trail Blazers. Crabbe, Leonard, and Harkless were all restricted free agents.
    • Ezeli’s second-year salary of $7.733MM is currently guaranteed for just $1MM.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves

  • Total money committed: $33,580,000
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $24,500,000
  • Largest expenditure: Cole Aldrich (three years, $21,900,000)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • Hill has a non-guaranteed $4.18MM salary in the second year of his contract, while $4.9MM of Aldrich’s total third-year salary is non-guaranteed.

3. Denver Nuggets

  • Total money committed: $29,999,999
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $26,499,999
  • Largest expenditure: Darrell Arthur (three years, $22,999,999)
  • Other notable signings:
  • Notes:
    • Miller’s deal is non-guaranteed in its second year, creating the $3.5MM gap between the Nuggets’ total money and guaranteed money committed in free agency.

4. Utah Jazz

  • Total money committed: $21,505,000
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $21,505,000
  • Largest expenditure: Joe Johnson (two years, $21,505,000)
  • Other notable signings:
    • None
  • Notes:
    • Rather than signing free agents, the Jazz focused on using their cap room to acquire players in trades, landing Boris Diaw and George Hill.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Total money committed: $0
  • Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $0
  • Largest expenditure: None
  • Other notable signings:
    • None
  • Notes:
    • After losing Kevin Durant, the Thunder made one notable signing this summer, bringing over Alex Abrines on a three-year, $17MM+ deal. However, Abrines was a draft-and-stash player, not a free agent.

Previously:
Southwest
Southeast

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Extension Candidate: Russell Westbrook

August 1st, 2016 at 9:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kevin Durant‘s decision to join the Warriors presents All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook with a difficult dilemma. The way the Collective Bargaining Agreement is structured makes Westbrook’s decision even more complex.

NBA: Playoffs-Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City ThunderIn most cases, productive veteran players have little incentive to restructure their current contracts and sign an extension. Not so in Westbrook’s case. The Thunder exercised caution this summer once Durant chose to join forces with the two-time Western Conference champions. Outside of adding Euro Alex Abrines via free agency, they essentially stood pat.

When free agent guard Dion Waiters signed with the Heat, his cap hold disappeared and Oklahoma City had more than enough salary-cap room to offer Westbrook a maximum extension.

Westbrook could elevate his salary for the upcoming season from approximately $17.8MM to $26.5MM. Since these types of extensions are capped at four seasons and include the remaining years on the current deal, Westbrook could sign only through the 2019/20 season. As Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders details, Westbrook would essentially be agreeing to a four-year contract worth nearly $118MM.

The bump in salary for the upcoming season would allow Westbrook to make more money over the next four seasons than he could through unrestricted free agency. With a projected cap of $102MM, Westbrook would make $110.7MM if he re-signed with Oklahoma City as a free agent or $108.2MM if he signed elsewhere.

The flip side is that Westbrook could get two additional years by re-signing with the Thunder via free agency and add another $74MM to his coffers, or one more year and approximately $33MM if he chose to leave Oklahoma City.

Another intriguing scenario, as The Vertical’s Bobby Marks recently pointed out, is that Westbrook could sign a shorter extension with a player opt-out. In that case, Westbrook could become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018. By virtue of being a 10-year player at that point, his starting salary would be $35MM and the team owning his Bird Rights could pay him upwards of $200MM over five seasons.

Westbrook could sign an extension any time before the end of February, though he’d be leaving money on the table if he waited until after the season started.

So which way is Westbrook leaning? Thunder management probably doesn’t know the answer at this juncture. He reportedly was surprised and upset that Durant didn’t re-sign to continue chasing a championship with him in Oklahoma City. Westbrook has also kept an extremely low profile this offseason, shunning the media and social platforms.

He’s fully aware that the Thunder, as presently constituted, are no longer a serious contender and could struggle to make the playoffs. Oklahoma City made a big trade on draft night, acquiring shooting guard Victor Oladipo in a package that sent power forward Serge Ibaka to Orlando. The Thunder brass felt that Oladipo’s scoring ability could take some pressure off Westbrook and Durant, particularly in the postseason.

Now, Oladipo becomes the Thunder’s No. 2 option behind Westbrook. Center Steven Adams, a solid defender, is probably the third-best player on the team ahead of scoring big Enes Kanter, who had a minus 3-1 Defensive Box Rating last season. The rest of the roster is filled with role players or unproven commodities.

Certainly, there are plenty of teams that would love to add Westbrook, if the price is right and if he’s willing make some type of long-term commitment. The team that acquires him could also offer an extension, but getting something done would likely hinge on opening up enough extra cap space ($8.8MM) to offer him a max contract.

While the Thunder don’t want to lose a superstar without compensation two summers in a row, they would prefer to keep Westbrook. They would have to convince Westbrook that they’d bring in other quality pieces next summer to regain the status of serious title contender. Blake Griffin, an unrestricted free agent next season, reportedly tops their wish list.

If Westbrook balks at an extension, the Thunder would have to shelve their current plan. They would obviously be in a rebuild mode at that point and could accelerate the process by getting the best package available for Westbrook.

The Celtics have long been rumored to be the logical trade partner for Oklahoma City, given their stash of draft picks and renewed status as a playoff team. The Lakers, trying to find some relevance in the post-Kobe Bryant era, could offer young talent, if not the promise of being a contender. Other teams, such as the Timberwolves, could jump into the fray and make a bold move.

Westbrook’s personality may rub some people the wrong way and some may question his leadership but there’s little doubt he’s worth the money. The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career and a triple-double machine. Two seasons ago when Durant was often sidelined by a foot injury, Westbrook led the NBA in scoring at 28.1 points per game while also averaging 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists. With a healthy Durant last season, Westbrook’s scoring average dropped to 23.5 but he averaged career highs in rebounds (7.8) and assists (10.4). His Offensive Box Rating was a league-high 8.0 and he’s also an intense defender. He had a career-best 3.7 Defensive Box Rating last season.

If Westbrook remains with the Thunder this season, it’s conceivable he could average a triple-double, or something close to it. He’ll have to carry a heavy burden, something he wasn’t expecting as Durant entered free agency. He’ll have decide whether it’s worth sticking it out with the weakened Thunder by signing an extension, or chase a ring with another franchise as Durant chose to do.

Photo courtesy of Mark D. Smith (USA Today Sports Images).

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