Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is preparing to step into the point guard position Russell Westbrook held for 11 years for the Oklahoma City Thunder, wants to temper expectations. Maybe that is understandable.
Brian Windhorst, Kevin Arnovitz and Royce Young open the show by breaking down the "Rich Paul Rule" and what it really means. Then, the guys discuss Team USA's roster, Gregg Popovich's coaching plans and how the Celtics players in camp are using this as a chance to build team chemistry (8:52). Plus, they talk about Kyle Lowry's important role on the team (25:10) and Carmelo Anthony's fallout with the Thunder (34:11).
After a year in a unique role with New Balance, the Oklahoma City Thunder forward is ready for the transition to the NBA and ready to help anyone who wants to follow his path.
Patrick Patterson intends to sign with the Clippers once the final year of his contract clears waivers.
After spending his first 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook officially embarked on his new chapter Friday. "I only care about one team," he said, "and that's the Houston Rockets."
Thunder general manager Sam Presti says Paul George's claim that the team and he mutually wanted a trade is not true.
Brian Windhorst, Jackie MacMullan and Tim MacMahon talk about how the Hornets and Kemba Walker parted ways (2:20), how the Thunder will move forward with Chris Paul (18:50), if Kawhi Leonard really makes his teammates better (33:46) and some of the hidden details behind the Leonard/Paul George move (37:35).
The Thunder's attempts to trade Chris Paul have stalled, meaning he might stay with the team this season, sources told ESPN.
Bill is joined by ESPN NBA writer Kevin Pelton to do some NBA "what-ifs" in the wake of the wild free agency period. The first of which being if the Thunder had not traded James Harden to the Rockets in 2012 (0:22), including what other packages were available at the time and what other player movement it would have affected. The second being if the Thunder had beaten the Warriors in Game 6 of the 2016 WCF after leading 3-1 and gone on to face an injury-riddled Cavaliers team in the NBA Finals (21:01).
In a news release Tuesday, Thunder GM Sam Presti called Russell Westbrook the most important player in OKC's history.
Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni joins The Woj Pod to discuss the Chris Paul/Russell Westbrook trade, tensions within the Rockets locker room, why James Harden's voice is so important in personnel decisions, coaching the season without an extension, how he's had to compromise his offensive system to fit Harden's talents, working for a new, hands-on owner and a lingering regret of how he coached the Suns/Spurs battles a decade ago.
Longtime Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, now bound for Houston, took to Instagram on Friday to thank the Oklahoma City community, saying he was "eternally grateful" for the 11 years he spent with the organization.
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 54 | 28 | .659 | - | W1 |
| Portland | 53 | 29 | .646 | 1 | W3 |
| Utah | 50 | 32 | .610 | 4 | L1 |
| Oklahoma City | 49 | 33 | .598 | 5 | W5 |
| Minnesota | 36 | 46 | .439 | 18 | L3 |
