Apr 17, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings fans hold up a sign during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Sleep Train Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

EDITORS NOTE: Occasionally when big NBA news breaks (like this or the Jason Collins story) I’ll post something on Fully Clips because I feel like something THIS big should be discussed on all sites.

Today’s been a great day for basketball fans across the globe. First the heroic deed by center Jason Collins becoming the first active homosexual NBA player. Now the Sacramento Kings are keeping their team.

RT @nbapr: NBA Relocation Committee unanimously recommends that the Board of Governors deny Kings’ request to relocate.

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2013

You have to be legitimately happy for this franchise. I can’t imagine the stress they’ve gone through over the past few months not knowing whether their franchise would remain in the city, but they done it. Unanimously is the biggest surprise. At the beginning I wasn’t sure if the Kings were gonna get it done, but from the announced moment that the Maloof’s were considering selling to the city of Seattle this city, led by former NBA player Mayor Kevin Johnson, put forth all the effort they could in retaining the team. And they’ve done it.

In all of the celebration, we as NBA can’t just ignore the city of Seattle also. This is the second time in the last decade this city has been spurned when it comes to owning a NBA team. Obviously they’ll turn to a lesser team in the league (maybe Charlotte or Milwaukee) and try to reclaim a franchise of their own, but the best solution for this will be expansion. Taking a team to give a team isn’t the proper way to handle this situation and I think the NBA committee knows that. We’ll see how things unfold for Seattle in the next few years.

Congratulations to the Sacramento Kings though. Your #HereWeStay campaign pulled through. Here’s a message from the Kings fearless leader Kevin Johnson that he posted on twitter

That’s what I’m talking about SACRAMENTO!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!

— Kevin Johnson (@KJ_MayorJohnson) April 29, 2013

Nov 21, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) handles ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

If you haven’t heard the news, Oklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook is out indefinitely due to a torn meniscus in his right knee suffered in Game 2 of their first round series after Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverly inadvertedly ran into Russ’ leg on an attempted steal.

And as tragic as it is to see another superstar go down with an injury (Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo, etc), the path to the Western Conference may have just gotten a bit easier for the Los Angeles Clippers if they can escape the first round of the playoffs unscathed. And truth be told: If they can’t make it to the Western Conference after this event, it’ll likely never happen.

In three games this season, Russell Westbrook has averaged 26 points, 8.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game on 47 percent shooting (46 percent from three) while the Thunder went 3-0 over Los Angeles on the season. Only in two of those games did Chris Paul play, but when he did match up against Westbrook he struggled due to Russ’ aggressive defense.

A second round series between the Clippers and Thunder obviously favored the Thunder, but with little or no Westbrook, the favors swing towards the Clips unless Vinny Del Negro decides to forget how to properly coach a basketball team. Playing Reggie Jackson and Derek Fisher against Chris Paul isn’t nearly as effective as Westbrook would be. The proper matchup would be placing Thabo Sefalosha unto Paul since he seldom struggles against bigger defenders, but the overall impact of Westbrook’s absence can’t be made up on the on the defensive end.

There may be more pressure on Vinny Del Negro to make it to the Western Conference finals now and a loss definitely means he’ll be out of a job next season. He’s already pressured with, at least, making it out of the first round. Now if he can’t defeat an Oklahoma City team that is led by one Kevin Durant, then it’s clear he isn’t worthy of this job. With Phil Jackson, Byron Scott, Stan/Jeff Van Gundy awaiting in the shadows, we’ll see how Del Negro responds to the much added pressure.