Russell Westbrook has made significant progress in his recovery from a second surgery on his knee and could return to the Oklahoma City Thunder's lineup within two weeks, according to sources.

The Thunder issued an original timetable of six to eight weeks from Wednesday's opening night for Westbrook, but barring an unforeseen setback he could be back in the lineup by mid-November.

Westbrook has impressed the Thunder with his explosion and return to form.

After rehabilitating a torn meniscus suffered in the Western Conference playoffs in April, Westbrook spent the summer rehabilitating the injury until a loose stitch forced a second surgical procedure in early October.

With the Boston Celtics as the leading candidate to acquire his rights, Romero Osby is finalizing a deal to sign in the NBA D-League, league sources told RealGM.

Osby was a final cut of the Orlando Magic, who selected the rugged, active forward with the No. 51 pick in the NBA draft. Since Osby’s release in training camp, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets have also expressed interest in him, sources said.

Fort Wayne currently owns rights to Osby, but the Celtics’ D-League affiliate – the Maine Red Claws – is working to acquire the 23-year-old. The Celtics have one roster spot open and could call up Osby at a point that is flexible on the team’s salary situation.

Osby averaged 16 points and seven rebounds last season at the University of Oklahoma. He was part of the Magic’s summer league team and became one of the last rookie signings to officially join his drafted organization.

In seven preseason games for the Magic, Osby averaged 5.7 points and four rebounds in 15.4 minutes a game.

Kevin Durant believes he was too obsessed with winning an NBA championship last season and that he often took it out on others.

"Last year, I was obsessed with it," Durant told The Oklahoman of winning a title. "Like, I wasn't going to sleep because I wanted to win so bad. I was screaming at my teammates, at the refs, at the coaches. I got mad because I thought 'if we have a bad game here, we're not going to win a championship.'"

Durant was called for 12 technical fouls last season as the obsession manifested in that way as well.

"So I'm not going to let that overtake my mind," Durant said. "I mean, of course I want to win it, but I'm not obsessed with it. I'm going to put in the work to help my team, but I'm not going to be obsessed with it because that's when I compromise myself, and most of the time it doesn't work out."

Kevin Durant felt stressed and frustrated last season in his goal to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to an NBA championship, feeling the need to perform flawlessly.

“Last year, I was obsessed with it,” Durant said of winning a title. “Like, I wasn't going to sleep because I wanted to win so bad. I was screaming at my teammates, at the refs, at the coaches. I got mad because I thought ‘if we have a bad game here, we're not going to win a championship.'”

Durant said this is part of the reason he was uncharacteristically whistled for 12 technical fouls last season — matching his combined total from his five previous seasons.

Durant is trying to ease up a little mentally.

“So I'm not going to let that overtake my mind,” Durant said of his championship chase. “I mean, of course I want to win it, but I'm not obsessed with it. I'm going to put in the work to help my team, but I'm not going to be obsessed with it because that's when I compromise myself, and most of the time it doesn't work out.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder exercised its fourth-year option on guard Reggie Jackson and third-year options on guard Jeremy Lamb and forward Perry Jones.

In two seasons with the Thunder, Jackson has appeared in 115 games and averaged 4.5 points, 1.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game. Most recently, Jackson appeared in 11 games (nine starts) with Oklahoma City during the 2013 playoffs and posted averages of 13.9 points, 3.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per contest.

In one season with the Thunder, Lamb appeared in 23 games while recording averages of 3.1 points in 6.4 minutes per contest.

During his rookie season with Oklahoma City, Jones saw action in 38 games (one start) and averaged 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder waived guards Diante Garrett and Rodney McGruder.

Garrett appeared in six preseason contests for the Thunder and recorded averages of 3.2 points and 1.5 assists in 10.2 minutes per game.

McGruder saw action in two exhibition games and averaged 1.0 point and 0.5 assists in 10.2 minutes per contest.

Kevin Durant was asked on Wednesday to respond to comments by ESPN's Jalen Rose about the possibility of him signing with the Houston Rockets after the 15-16 season.

Rose believes Russell Westbrook will leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers and join Kevin Love.

"Nah, I’m here for the Thunder (laughs)," said Durant. "I mean, that’s all I can say. I’m not thinking far down the line at all. It’s about today. Today we got better against the Chicago Bulls. I can’t tell the future. I can’t speak on that. That’s his opinion. I’m just going to keep playing for the Thunder. I love playing here."

Durant expects speculation about his free agency to continue over the past three seasons.

"I mean, just let them know I’m not thinking that far down the line, I guess. I mean, I love my teammates. I love where I live. I love playing for this organization. So I’m just taking it a day at a time."

LeBron James is the overwhelming choice by NBA general managers as the player they would most want to build a franchise around with 89.7 percent of the vote.

Kevin Durant was ranked second with 6.9 percent of the vote, followed by Kyrie Irving at 3.4 percent.

James received 80 percent of the vote last season.

Hasheem Thabeet has been suspended one game without pay for head butting Greg Stiemsma, the NBA announced on Monday.

The incident occurred in the Oklahoma City Thunder's preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans last Thursday.

Russell Westbrook was a partial participator in the Oklahoma City Thunder's practice session on Monday, marking a full complement of players on the roster for at least a portion of it.

“There were bits and pieces where Russell participated in practice, so that was good,” coach Scott Brooks said. “It was good to get everybody out there, working together.”

Westbrook, who is recovering from surgery on his knee, received rave reviews for his showing on Monday.

“Oh, man. Russell today…” Reggie Jackson said when asked how Westbrook looked, cracking a sly smile. “It’s actually funny. My brother and his brother talk a little before games. His brother told mine that Russell’s probably bouncing better than ever. I had to see it to believe it. One of the dunks (today), he went up and looked like the old Russell, plus some, head at the rim.

"We’ll be happy when he gets back fully healthy, but it’s good to see him with a smile on his face, being about the team, bouncing back and happy to be back on the court.”