Chad Broussard just posted this on ESPN

[bbingham05]

• I'm told OKC will take Hasheem Thabeet at No. 3 if he's there, though there are concerns that he'll struggle on a team where he's the No. 1 post option. I'm also told that if Thabeet's not there, the Thunder will take James Harden. GM Sam Presti loves Ricky Rubio, but he knows Russell Westbrook will be angered to the point of wanting out if OKC drafts another PG.

[rednuhT]

Makes sense. The real action is going to be what we're working out with the Suns (J-RICH, Amare, Shaq, etc....)

[bradis86]

Smoke trails. Sam is an expert

[clippersgm]

haha...if thabust ends up being thabust, and Rubio becomes a young J.Kidd, then OKC fans will kick RW outta town and start twatson instead...

Presti needs to get that kid in check..didn't know RW had attitude problems..looks like a young Z-Bo in the making...

[Durantula]

Smoke trails. Sam is an expert

Maybe Thabeet is the pick at #3 for the Thunder. Personally, I think that Presti sees that Minnesota is trying to pry the #2 pick away from Memphis and is trying to create doubt within the Grizzlies organization that they can still get him if they move down to #5.

[bradis86]

I totally agree. I think if this is for real source it's a bluff. It keeps Memphis honest and gives teams behind us thinking hey we might be able to land our guy. Plus if there was one secret presti would keep to himself it would be that he didn't pick the player he wanted because of being bullied by another player.

[clippersgm]

I totally agree. I think if this is for real source it's a bluff. It keeps Memphis honest and gives teams behind us thinking hey we might be able to land our guy. Plus if there was one secret presti would keep to himself it would be that he didn't pick the player he wanted because of being bullied by another player.

could be double-reverse psychology as well....

[Westbrook0]

If any of these rumors regarding Russell are true, where on earth is that coming from?

Since when did RW turn into such an irritable drama queen?

[Choda Boy]

We might (I'm going way out on a limb here), we might be blowing some small thing like this a little out of proportion. Just my opinion but it could be something we think about a little.

[batsmith]

I would think that too, if I hadn't sat so close to the court for so many games and watched the following scenario play out:

For the first two thirds of the season RW played like he was having the time of his life. The moment they added Thabo Sefolosha, there were issues. RW denied Thabo the ball on numerous occasions and they shot each other dirty looks for quite a few games. It was pretty clear that RW didn't take kindly to the new guy getting so many minutes and stealing the big three's thunder (pardon the pun). Everyone who I pointed it out to in my section agreed that something wasn't right.

They eventually squashed it and started to get along, but it took some time. I hope that is not a sign of things to come.

[bradis86]

Rw0 isn't the star of this team. Last on presti list of things is to only draft people that make him happy. And I noticed the same attitude with certain coaches repetedly walking away while they were coaching him

[clippersgm]

I would think that too, if I hadn't sat so close to the court for so many games and watched the following scenario play out:

For the first two thirds of the season RW played like he was having the time of his life. The moment they added Thabo Sefolosha, there were issues. RW denied Thabo the ball on numerous occasions and they shot each other dirty looks for quite a few games. It was pretty clear that RW didn't take kindly to the new guy getting so many minutes and stealing the big three's thunder (pardon the pun). Everyone who I pointed it out to in my section agreed that something wasn't right.

They eventually squashed it and started to get along, but it took some time. I hope that is not a sign of things to come.

funny..i heard similar story between him and darren collison...but he did that last year as a rookie? nevermind, u guys shouldn't draft rubio..the kid is too nice and humble and will be eaten alive by a jealous idiot

[Grendel_Knight1974]

OMG you have posted 368 times in a month....

I dont know if I should be impressed or pity you.


Im still debating with myself about which one to choose.

[ThunderMonkey]

nevermind, u guys shouldn't draft rubio..the kid is too nice and humble and will be eaten alive by a jealous idiot

This is just crazy talk. The only factual statement we have from Westbrook, who is a good person and competitor, is from the ESPN mag. Are we seriously jumping down the rabbit hole and extrapollating "nah, you trippin'" to Westbrook is a bad teammate? This is crazy talk IMHO.

Relax it's just draft drama. Welcome to the world of professional sports. :)

[clippersgm]

Rw0 isn't the star of this team. Last on presti list of things is to only draft people that make him happy. And I noticed the same attitude with certain coaches repetedly walking away while they were coaching him

you'll never see durant or griffin do something like that tho...even if the team brought on RJ or vince, durant would do whatever he can possible to learn to play with him and have a great attitude about it...daz what i love about blake, his attitude and work ethic

the point is, if u draft rubio and RW starts being a jerk again, then RW's effort goes down, and rubio's confidence will be shot...and daz how the cancer spreads...

zach had a good attitude on the team last year, but i'm very wary of how he'll respond to blake, which is why i said we should drop him at the first sign of trouble

[clippersgm]

OMG you have posted 368 times in a month....

I dont know if I should be impressed or pity you.


Im still debating with myself about which one to choose.

it's draft week, what can i say...i'm caught up in blakemania..i recently joined, as proof

and i have so many fans on here now i wanna be sure to respond to each and every one of them..i'm not a primadonna type

[AD]

I can tell you havent watched Westbrook play... or listened to interviews... or basically know anything about him. Westbrook is a great kid with an awesome attitude. To state otherwise is foolish and disingenuous.

[clippersgm]

I can tell you havent watched Westbrook play... or listened to interviews... or basically know anything about him. Westbrook is a great kid with an awesome attitude. To state otherwise is foolish and disingenuous.

you trippin!

[Clangus]

if you say "daz" instead of "that's" again i am going to scream. It makes your posts very difficult to read. I keep thinking "daz" is a person. Please stop.

On to Westbrook. If this was really going to be an issue, I think one talk from Sam and Scott will help Russell work things out. If he is having a bad attitude in just his second year, then trade his ass. I love Westbrook, but there is no room for princess's on this team. He isn't even the first or second option here, we cannot be ordered around by a second year player that isn't even on of our top 2 guys. If he is going Marbury on us... Good bye Westbrook. Get your attitude checked Russell. You are not a star yet, stop listening to the hype and play the dam game with the dam teammates you are given.

I sense and hope though, that Presti is riding a harmless statement of "you trippin", and using it as a clever piece of misdirection to stop Memphis making a trade. Thus giving us a shot at Rubio.

[Choda Boy]

Durant would feel terrible if we used a top 3 pick on a SF or SG after his roookie season.

[Clangus]

Durant would feel terrible if we used a top 3 pick on a SF or SG after his roookie season.

I really dont think so. They drafted Jeff Green strait after Durant. Both we the same position. There were no issues.

[clippersgm]

I really dont think so. They drafted Jeff Green strait after Durant. Both we the same position. There were no issues.

tell'em Mr. Russell!!

[clippersgm]

if you say "daz" instead of "that's" again i am going to scream. It makes your posts very difficult to read. I keep thinking "daz" is a person. Please stop.



hahahhahahahhaha...i just laughed hysterically for about 20 secs...ok, sorry, i'll try to refrain from using 'daz'

[batsmith]

"daz" good

[batsmith]

And to my previous observation about RW, I think he is a great kid who would likely come around to Rubio. He did with Thabo - eventually.

Rubio could sell tickets and help the team develop a wider fan base, but can he help the team win games? Can he help with range and help spread the floor? I just don't know...

[Clangus]

hahahhahahahhaha...i just laughed hysterically for about 20 secs...ok, sorry, i'll try to refrain from using 'daz'

Thankyou. Very good of you sir.

[clippersgm]

Rubio could sell tickets and help the team develop a wider fan base, but can he help the team win games? Can he help with range and help spread the floor? I just don't know...

Rubio's a winner..unlike players like zach and jamal crawful, and soon to join that group, westbrook....he's a playmaker..jus think of a young j.kidd...not flashy numbers, just results

[clippersgm]

Thankyou. Very good of you sir.

oh no, mr. russell, please don't call me 'sir'...that is not necessary

[Clangus]

And to my previous observation about RW, I think he is a great kid who would likely come around to Rubio. He did with Thabo - eventually.

Rubio could sell tickets and help the team develop a wider fan base, but can he help the team win games? Can he help with range and help spread the floor? I just don't know...

I also think he is a good guy. One of my favorites. I really have large hopes for him. I'd say mosdtly this is a combination of media hype and Presti using it as leverage against the Grizz making a deal.
If not though. Athletic guards who can't shoot are not that rare. We trade Westbrook for the right to draft DeMarr DeRozen (and extra's) and have essentially the same player, but bigger (more 2 guard size)

[DAK!]

I have never heard of this stuff about RW0 until now and think it's wreckless and irresponsible to pidgeon hole him as a certain type of person just from an assumed meaning of a two word response.

[GP20]

I have never heard of this stuff about RW0 until now and think it's wreckless and irresponsible to pidgeon hole him as a certain type of person just from an assumed meaning of a two word response.

Totally agree. Give the kid a break.

[DAK!]

Not only that, but it's completely harsh on the kid when something as small as this could possibly sway many fans to thinking ill of him when he doesn't deserve anything but our utmost respect from the attitude and fan friendly aura he oozes. Since I live in New England I haven't been able to attend a single game, but I payed for the NBA Ticket specifically to watch OKC and watched as many of the games as my work schedule would allow, and EVERY SINGLE TIME I ever watched RW0's face on the camera he had a smile on it and you could tell his youthful exuberance and upbeat attitude rubbed off on the rest of the team and the fans. I've read on here many times that he's spent plenty of time signing things for fans and has always looked like a kid in a candy store.

I'm curious now how many fans that used to love this kid think he's a punk now due to this "rumored" assumption of his comments.