The Oklahoma City Thunder were "especially interested" in drafting Khris Middleton at the 2012 NBA Draft.

The Thunder instead selected Perry Jones III at No. 28 with Middleton going 39th overall to the Detroit Pistons.

Oklahoma City traded away James Harden several months later.

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Markieff Morris to a free-agent deal.

The 29-year-old Morris was recently waived by the Pelicans. The Lakers, Raptors, and Rockets were also reportedly interested in adding Morris.

After waiving Alex Abrines last weekend, the Thunder signed Richard Solomon, Scotty Hopson, and Morris to fill out their roster.

Russell Westbrook has typically been able to tune out criticism during his career, which is the opposite of his former teammate Kevin Durant.

“I’ve been blessed with the talent to not give a (expletive),” said Westbrook.

Westbrook is married with three children.

“Regardless of what happens, it doesn’t change the way I live, what I think. I have an unbelievable family. Great friends. An unbelievable life. Unbelievable job. I make a lot of money at my job. I’m extremely blessed, thankful, humble. I haven’t been in trouble. I don’t cause no problems. I’m perfectly fine. I’m living my best life and I can’t complain one bit. He say, she say, what somebody says about shooting, passing, dribbling, every year it’s something … they’ve got to make up something about me, which is fine, it’s good. One thing I always know is if they’re not talking about you you’re doing something right.”

Westbrook was asked about if the criticism is part of what has made him so successful.

“It’s something I’ve had to fight through my whole life,” Westbrook said. “It’s the reason I have the motto of ‘Why Not.’ It’s what I really believe in. It’s truly what I stand by because there are many people in the world that will let somebody or people tell them they can or can not do something. ‘Oh that can’t happen again. You can’t do that again. You may never see that again.’

“Those words I don’t use in my vocabulary ‘Can’t. Never.’ It doesn’t work. Why not me? Why not be able to do something to change the culture, change basketball, change the way it’s played? I just think differently man, and that’s how I’ve always thought.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder plan to sign Richard Solomon to a 10-day contract.

Solomon was with the Thunder during the preseason.

Solomon averaged 13.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 26.5 minutes per game with the Oklahoma City Blue of the G League this season.

Russell Westbrook set a new NBA record with his 10th consecutive triple-double in a 120-111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Westbrook had 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 15 assists in the game. He broke Wilt Chamberlain's record of consecutive triple-doubles in a season.

The Thunder are 17-6 when Westbrook has a triple-double this season, and are 103-24 over his career when he posts a triple-double.

Bojan Bogdanovic and Paul George have been named the NBA's Players of the Week.

Bogdanovic averaged 22.5 points while shooting 46.4 percent from three as the Indiana Pacers went 4-0.

George averaged 37.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in Oklahoma City's 3-0 week.

Russell Westbrook recorded his 9th straight triple-double in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 117-112 win over the Houston Rockets, tying Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive triple-doubles.

Westbrook recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in the game. He's averaging 19.6 points, 14.1 assists, and 13.1 rebounds during this recent streak.

Westbrook is also currently averaging a triple-double on the season, with 21.2 points, 11.2 assists, and 11.1 rebounds per game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have released Alex Abrines.

Abrines has appeared in only 2 games since December 23rd, citing personal reasons.

"He's still battling through some things and wasn't able to be here tonight. Honestly, we go day-by-day with him and continue to be supportive with him. He's around the team, we always talk and communicate," said Billy Donovan on February 5th.

The Thunder now have 12 guaranteed players on their roster, and will need to sign 2 players within the next 2 weeks.

The Chicago Bulls have waived Carmelo Anthony to open up a roster spot to acquire Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Anthony was never asked to report to the Bulls after they acquired him from the Rockets on January 22nd.

The Thunder will save $7.3 million off their luxury tax bill by trading Luwawu-Cabarrot. 

Kevin Durant plans on returning to Oklahoma City for Nick Collison's jersey retirement ceremony on March 20th. The Warriors play the Pacers the following day.

"That group was so special, that whole group from 2010 until I left there, it was special. It's about time for us to let go of all that extra stuff, and just come together -- especially around this time, because it's Nick," said Durant.

The Thunder are aware of Durant's plans and will happily accommodate him. Several ex-Sonics and Thunder teammates are expected to be in attendance.

Durant's return has no bearing on his free agency choice this summer as both sides have moved on.