Sonics go with Westbrook
By Darnell Mayberry
The Oklahoman
The Seattle SuperSonics selected UCLA guard Russell Westbrook with the No. 4 overall pick in Thursday night’s NBA Draft.
Westbrook will join Kevin Durant and Jeff Green as the foundation of a rebuilding Sonics team that could soon be headed for Oklahoma City. The six-day trial between the city of Seattle and the Sonics concluded earlier in the day Thursday, and a Seattle federal judge will now announce Wednesday whether the Sonics are permitted to relocate immediately or must wait until their arena lease expires in 2010.
Westbrook, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard, averaged 12.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds for the bruins this season.
Westbrook is known as a hard-nosed defender and athletic and versatile guard. But there are also questions about whether Westbrook can play the point guard position or if he’s more of a shooting guard.
“I’m a point guard,” Westbrook told ESPN after being drafted. “I’m going to try my best and go out and do what I can for the team and try to help in any way I can.”
Durant, the reigning Rookie of the Year whom the Sonics selected with the No. 2 overall pick last year, approved the selection, grinning ear to ear as he stood and cheered Westbrook’s selection.
“He’s a great defender, a great guy to be around, I heard,” Durant told ESPN. “He’s a great addition to our team. So I’m excited to play with him next year and I can’t wait.”
Westbrook helped a star-studded UCLA team go 35-4 this season and reach the Final Four before losing to Memphis in San Antonio.
The Sonics also have the No. 24 pick in the first round as well as four second-round picks. Earlier this afternoon, ESPN reported the Sonics had agreed to trade the fourth pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for the Clippers’ seventh pick.
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Comments
Blazers are stacked. Big reasons are former Sonic Nate McMillan and Seattle product Brandon Roy. Not to mention Paul Allen’s Microsoft money. And Martell Webster. God Seattle’s awesome.
It’s good to see that you guys are so enamored with the Trailblazers. It will make it easier to shift you’re loyalty to them when the team formerly known as the Sonics moves to OKC.
okc’s pre-mature excitement, is just that. you must remember, judge pechman is a seattlite!
GOOD WILL PREVAIL!!!
I have been big on giving Sam Presti the benefit of the doubt and supporting him…but I will tell you what. Pritchard is schooling Sammy right now. It’s pretty disgusting how good that Trailblazer team is going to be. Jermaine Duckworth, Jerome Kersey, Buck Williams, Cliff Robinson, Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler, Danny Ainge….anyone remember that team? That was the 92′ Finals team. This team that Pritchard is building is going to be just as deep and just as deadly.
Whether you live in OKC or in Seattle, whether you want the team in OKC or in Seattle….I don’t see how we can’t at least agree that Presti is dropping the ball…