It feels like ancient history now, but flash back a year ago and many in the NBA world were imploring Sam Presti, general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, to trade Russell Westbrook. Presti, you see, had just lost the best player in franchise history to his team’s most intimidating rival, and Westbrook would enter free agency the next summer – this summer.
For a brief moment, Presti was looking at the possibility of having let Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka slip through his fingers. Westbrook eventually signed an extension with the Thunder, of course, meaning no trade occurred.