PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 23: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on before Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 23, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE

Report: Thunder discussing next steps, potential trade exit with Westbrook

7 years ago
Sam Forencich / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Russell Westbrook are discussing the next steps in the guard's career, including a potential separation through a trade this summer, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Both sides are believed to be in agreement that the time is right to explore trades involving the eight-time All-Star, Wojnarowski adds.

News of a potential departure for Westbrook comes mere hours after the Thunder reportedly agreed to trade their other franchise star in Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Trading a 30-year-old Westbrook could come with difficulties. The guard is set to earn $170 million over the next four seasons after signing a five-year, $205-million super-max contract extension with Oklahoma City in 2017.

Westbrook has been with the Thunder franchise since its first season in Oklahoma City following its relocation from Seattle in 2008-09. He owns career averages of 23 points, 8.4 assists, and seven rebounds over 11 seasons and averaged a triple-double of 26.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 10.4 assists across the last three.

He was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 2016-17 as the first player to average a triple-double over an entire season since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62.

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