How Russell Westbrook"s Extension With Thunder Impacts Celtics

Did Russell Westbrook Take A Dig At Kevin Durant During OKC Thunder Press Conference?

By Brian Robb, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) Danny Ainges competition for finding another All-Star just got a little tougher on Thursday following the news that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook has agreed to an multi-year extension.

The 6-foot-3 guard was set to become to become a free agent in the summer of 2017, but his new pact with OKC will push that timetable back by at least one year. Westbrook will get a multi-million dollar raise for the 2016-17 season in his current deal and will be under contract now through the 2017-18 season. He also has a player option for the 2018-19 season as part of the extension, but odds are that he will opt out at that point since h**l be eligible for an even larger max deal after accumulating 10 years of NBA experience.

Since Westbrook was widely rumored to be a potential trade option for the Celtics next season after Kevin Durant departed for Golden State, its fair to wonder just how this new deal will impact Bostons upcoming team building plans. Here are a few thoughts on that subject:

1. Westbrooks new deal probably means he isnt going anywhere next season

While Thunder GM Sam Presti could still technically deal him six months after Westbrook signs his extension (next February), lets be realistic about this possibility. Barring a complete collapse by the Thunder in the Western Conference next season, Prestis top option is retaining one of the top players in the league long-term. Westbrook will be more of a fan favorite than ever in OKC this year after agreeing to this extension following Durants departure. He also wouldnt have signed a new deal if staying for the long haul was not a possibility. Put these factors together with Westbrooks quotes about loyalty from his press conference on Thursday and its fair to connect the dots and assume Westbrooks off the trade block for the Celtics in the short-term.

2. The 2017 free agent crop just got thinner with added competition

Westbrook was one of the headliners of next summers free agent crop and from afar, he was probably one of the few players on that market with a realistic shot of switching teams. This deal not only takes away that possibility, but the Celtics could be forced to fight off another free agent suitor in Oklahoma City for some of the top players on the market. Westbrooks a better player than anyone the Celtics have on their roster currently and Blake Griffin, another Boston trade target thats set to become a free agent in 2017, played his college ball in Oklahoma. If Griffin decides to leave the Clippers, OKC will have the max salary cap space to make a run at the power forward.

3. Any Celtics dream of trading for Westbrook may be dead for the long-term too

Ive already engaged with multiple people about this topic, as some believe the extension is a sign that the Celtics should double down on their offers to acquire the guard since hes under another year of team control now. Heres the problem with that idea: While it may be correct in principle, the realistic truth about the situation is this extension is about more than a pay raise for Westbrook for next season. Its a signal he wants to stay in OKC, assuming that Presti could put the right team around him.

The Thunder are not going to attract anyone of note to OKC without Westbrook in place, so you can bet they arent going to trade Westbrook unless its as a last resort. If that happens, itll be the summer of 2017 at the earliest and you can bet itll only be for a kings ransom. Westbrook is the savior now for the Thunder following Durants departure and they wont be dealing him unless he wants to leave. Based on Thursdays comments, that wont be anytime soon.

With this in mind, holding out any hope for landing Westbrook before the summer of 2018 is a dangerous proposition. The Celtics still have options up their sleeves for the next season, but acquiring Westbrook probably isnt one of them any longer.

Brian Robb coversthe Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other mediaoutlets. You can follow him on Twitter@CelticsHub.

Source: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/08/05/how-russell-westbrooks-extension-with-thunder-impacts-celtics/

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Kevin Durant Fallout: If Russell Westbrook Is Traded, Should Celtics Pursue?

Russell Westbrook Finds Out Kevin Durant Signed To Golden State

And now, the Kevin Durant fallout begins.

The former NBA MVP sent shockwaves through the league Monday when he announced his intentions to sign with the Golden State Warriors, a blockbuster decision with the potential to make the Warriors a dynasty.

Of course, Durants decision affects a lot more parties than just himand the Warriors. Its also a huge blow to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who just saw the most important player in franchise history leave to join the team that defeated OKC in the Western Conference finals.

The Thunder now have some very important decisions to make. Do they try to rebuild on the fly and build around superstar point guard Russell Westbrook? Or, do they tear it all down and start over?

One thing that might affect the Thunders decision is Westbrooks contract situation. The 27-year-old is entering the final season of his deal, and it now sounds like hes very much willing to start looking around at other potential teams rather than sign a long-term extension to stay with the Thunder.

That certainly seems to open the door for a trade. Westbrook, at his best, is one of the NBAs best, most competitive players. Hed be a huge asset to gain for any team in the league, but trading for Westbrook now comes with obvious risk, as theres no guarantee hed sign a long-term extension with his new team and skip out on free agency.

Which brings us to the Boston Celtics. Considered by many to be a relative long shot to sign Durant, the Celtics appeared to be in the running for the former MVP until the very end. Losing out on Durant obviously stings, especially for a team that likely considers itself a superstar player away from being a legitimate contender.

So, could the Celtics turn their attention to Westbrook? Bostons assets make it an ideal trade partner for the Thunder.The Celtics essentially own the Brooklyn Nets first-round pick in 2017, and they also own Brooklyns first-rounder in 2018. They also have a host of good young talent, all of which could ultimately be attractive for a team suddenly staring a rebuild in the face.

But would it be worth the risk with no guarantee the Celtics could keep Westbrook in Boston for the long term? Thats obviously one of the many questions Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and his team must now ponder.

Thumbnail photo via Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports Images

Source: http://nesn.com/2016/07/kevin-durant-fallout-if-russell-westbrook-is-traded-should-celtics-pursue/

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