In the wake of Russell Westbrook‘s retirement announcement on Wednesday, Thunder head of basketball operations Sam Presti – who drafted Westbrook during his second year on the job in 2008 – put out a statement recognizing the star point guard’s Hall of Fame career.

“Russell Westbrook is the ultimate competitor,” Presti said. “His internal belief and unbridled fearlessness helped establish the foundation of our organization from day one in 2008 and he elevated the confidence and inspired our community in every year thereafter.

“Russell will be as successful in his life after basketball as he was during his career because his qualities and gifts transfer. His impact on our community is still felt today, and he is beloved for his devotion as much as his talent. He built a Hall of Fame career not by making statements or simply by breaking records, he did it by showing us all the power of asking one simple question: ‘Why Not?’”

Westbrook memorably teamed up with Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City for eight years until Durant left for Golden State in 2016, winning 10 playoff series during that stretch. Durant put out a statement of his own on social media on Thursday (Twitter link), lauding the former UCLA star for an “iconic” career and referring to him as an “inspiring” teammate.

We have more from around the Northwest:

• The Jazz and Timberwolves announced their preseason schedules this week. Utah’s four-game slate begins in Boulder, Colorado against Denver on October 4 and includes a pair of home games vs. the Nuggets and Spurs, while Minnesota has a busy six-game preseason schedule that includes games away from Target Center, including one in Ames, Iowa at the Hilton Coliseum vs. the Pacers.
• After an eventful offseason that saw the team draft Darryn Peterson and revamp its center rotation, Sarah Todd of The Deseret News considers where the Jazz stand in the Western Conference hierarchy. Todd classifies Utah as one of the teams that could “shake up” the West, noting that the team’s roster looks strong on paper. If that translates to the court, Todd believes the Jazz are ready to supplant one of last year’s play-in teams or even make a run at a top-six seed.
• Shane Dixon Kavanaugh of The Oregonian (subscription required) breaks down the seven key details in the term sheet approved by Portland’s city council that will determine whether or not the Trail Blazers will remain in the city long-term. The city wants the Blazers to make a 20-year commitment and play all its home games at Moda Center during that time, as well as paying a total of $85MM in total rent and another $99MM in lieu of property taxes across those two decades.