OKC GM Breaks Silence on Russell Westbrook Move Amid Update on Two Thunder Stars’ Season-Ending Injuries

Just three games into the season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are already in a situation where a retired Russell Westbrook can become the last hope. But seems like Thunder GM Sam Presti is ready to absorb the Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace heartbreaks differently from what many internet pundits would’ve expected.

“I haven't thought about anything relative to the roster spot,” the GM said during Monday’s news conference posted on the team’s official YouTube channel. “I understand the question. But all I'm really focused on right now is players, giving them the right support and then helping everybody in our group realize that we have a tremendous challenge in front of us.”

The Sunday matchup against the LA Clippers can pretty much be considered a horrible one for the Thunder despite the 108-101 win. During the same night, the players, coaches and fans went through the distress of seeing Jalen Williams go down with a fractured left fibula and dislocated left ankle, and Wallace sustain a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The current report says that both players will go through surgery and will be sidelined for several months, if not the entire season.

This situation now leaves the Thunder’s rotation depth in a tight spot, with Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain expected to assume bigger responsibilities.

So, it might look like bringing the only 2-month-retired Westbrook back is the most feasible quick fix. The 37-year-old 2017 MVP retired on August 12 with 18 NBA seasons (11 of them with OKC), nine All-Star selections and an NBA-record 209 career triple-doubles under his belt.

In fact, Westbrook was averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds during his last stint with the Sacramento Kings. These numbers could benefit the Thunder, which has also let go of Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe this offseason to manage their salary cap and avoid the second luxury tax apron. 

However, none of this matters to Presti right now, who sounded pretty optimistic about the return of his players.

“We have to come together and keep grinding, which I think we will do,” he said during the same conference. “Those guys are going to be all right. Sometimes we lose sight of that too. They're super tough, but these are also injuries that players have had, athletes have, people have. They'll be back on the floor wearing our jersey, competing. And when they do, it will be another opportunity.”

Moreover, Westbrook will have to reverse his retirement decision should it come to that. But for the player with a resume like his, and a “retirement message” that read, “Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over,” a reversal of plans seems unlikely.

So, going deeper into the season, what we can expect is a change in starting lineups. But no immediate new face in the Thunder jersey.