Report: Westbrook doesn't want Thunder to trade him

Kevin Durant's decision to sign a two-year deal with the 73-win Golden State Warriors this summer has left the Oklahoma City Thunder in a state of panic pertaining to their remaining all-world talent, Russell Westbrook.

The five-time NBA All-Star can leave the organization high and dry next summer as an unrestricted free agent, which is why the Thunder are hoping they can lock him down with a contract extension, build around him, and make him the true face of the franchise. Westbrook hasn't given the team a decision when it comes to his future, though, leading to reports that OKC could trade him before he's given the option to leave with no compensation in return.

When it comes to the 2016-17 campaign, Westbrook wants to be in a Thunder uniform and doesn't want to be traded, sources told ESPN's Royce Young.

He's set to make a touch over $17.7 million, and with Dion Waiters joining the Miami Heat on a one-year, $2.9-million deal, the Thunder are now enough under the salary cap to where they can move Westbrook's contract up to a max-level deal beginning next season, which could reach upwards of $26.5 million.

While the former scoring champion has been quiet to both the media and on social media since Durant's departure, Young notes that he and the Thunder have been in communication often over the past few weeks.

While Durant denies that his on-court relationship with Westbrook played a part in him leaving, reports had emerged suggesting the UCLA product's ball-dominant style "frustrated" him during their time playing alongside one another. Regardless of his reasoning, Durant acknowledges that things will never be the same again with his now ex-teammate.