With the recent explosive games of Russell Westbrook, National Basketball Association (NBA) analyst and former executive Tom Penn believes that the Oklahoma City Thunder could very well do away with Kevin Durant in the next season.

Westbrook has been - for lack of a better word - simply amazing. In the last five of his six games, he has made five triple-doubles.

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The feats are noteworthy as the only player to earn a triple-double with as much as 49 points was the Boston Celtics great, Larry Bird.

Vince Carter was the only other player in NBA history to make 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game over the past 30 seasons.

The rarity of his feats though escalates as the only other person to consistently make triple-doubles in the NBA is none other than the great Michael Jordan in 1989.

Due to the performances of Westbrook, Penn states that the Thunder could be thinking about moving Durant next season.

He says that with Westbrook's talents shining on the court, it makes it more likely that Durant could get traded next year.

Penn points out that Sam Presti has proven that he does not want to lose anybody for nothing, identifying the James Harden trade to the Houston Rockets as a way to avoid a potential luxury tax problem now.

On top of all that, Durant is not committing early to play for the Thunder contractually, as the rules are against that. Durant cannot get the same contract if he signs early than if he just goes into free agency and re-signs with the team.

Thus, Penn says that if Presti does not get the commitment from Durant, he could trade him off.

"And looking at the performance of Westbrook and the team around Westbrook will make it easier for him to do that potentially," Penn said.

TagsRussell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Trade