While the Oklahoma City Thunder's dynamic duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant is no more, they reportedly have visions of a new one-two punch, featuring Westbrook and current Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin.
Westbrook is set to become a free agent after the 2016-17 campaign, and after Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors, there has been plenty of speculation that Westbrook could opt to leave as well.
If the Thunder can convince Westbrook that another top-notch player is potentially on the way, however, it could be enough to at least delay the five-time All-Star's decision.
The 2015-16 season marked the first of Griffin's NBA career in which he wasn't named to the All-Star team, as he missed all but 35 games due to injury and a suspension levied against him after he punched a Clippers staffer and broke his hand.
Griffin still put up strong numbers with 21.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, but his name has come up in trade rumors often in recent years.
The Clips have struggled to become championship contenders despite the immense talent on their roster, and that could lead to a shake-up that sees Griffin end up elsewhere next offseason.
Oklahoma City could be a great fit for him, as he would likely start alongside the defensive-minded Steven Adams following the trade of Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic.
If the Thunder can keep Westbrook, they will boast a dynamic backcourt that would also include Victor Oladipo, making them a potentially dangerous, exciting team that few will want to go up against in the Western Conference.
Griffin has yet to prove he can be a true winner at the NBA level despite his statistical output, but the Thunder need to make a high-impact move to get past the disappointment of losing Durant. Bringing in another perennial All-Star could pay dividends in terms of getting Westbrook to stay and returning to contention.
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