Westbrook for Sale?: Looking at potential teams for the all-time guard
Russell Westbrook has been an NBA phenomenon for the last decade with his superhuman athleticism, Kobe-like competitiveness, and ability to register exceptional stats on the offensive and defensive end. Westbrook has not only been a good player but an all-time player. In the 2016-17 season, he won the MVP award and averaged a triple-double for an entire season—a feat that most thought would never happen after Oscar Robinson accomplished it in 1962. Although Westbrook seems like the perfect player, his ball-dominant playstyle has made him nearly incompatible with players like James Harden—a scoring guard that is accustomed to running the Houston Rockets offense. While Westbrook demands the ball most of the time, Harden demands the ball nearly half of the entire game. Both he and Harden lead the NBA in isolation plays last season, showing how they are too demanding to be on the same team. This lack of command over the court has led Westbrook to ask for a trade, but there is yet to be a definitive answer on where he will end up.
First, Westbrook’s contract will be a large factor in determining where the Rockets trade the guard. Currently, Westbrook is on a 5 year, $206 million contract—one of the largest in the NBA. Due to this substantial salary, many believe that a larger market team will eventually land Westbrook, as many teams in the league have already found their star and can’t afford his price tag. Second, with his contract, the team who lands Westbrook likely wouldn’t be able to obtain another ball-first star to pair with the point guard. . The team needs to have players that can support him off-ball while also allowing Westbrook to fulfill his potential as an isolation playmaker. This leaves Westbrook with a few options, which include the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and the Detroit Pistons.
The New York Knicks are most likely Westbrook’s next team. The Knicks have struggled season after season in landing a star, yet they have the second-highest available salary cap in the entire league. On top of this, players like R.J. Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Julius Randle, and Kevin Knox are young players that would not only benefit under a veteran like Westbrook but could shine while giving Westbrook support. Although none of these players are stars yet, they have shown glimpses of great potential, especially Mitchell Robinson, who looks to be the next Ben Wallace. If the Knicks front office decides to capitalize on Westbrook’s desire for a new team and their large salary cap, they could possibly land the star to lead them to the playoffs.
The Detroit Pistons have flown somewhat under the radar on Westbrooks potential next destination. The Pistons rank fourth in salary cap, so with a trade or two, and possibly salary cuts, they could easily obtain Westbrook. The Pistons’ current best player is Blake Griffin. Although his stats have fallen off in the last few years, he still is an elite playmaker and can move off the ball well. Westbrook would be able to utilize Griffin as another star player while still being in the ball-dominant position. Furthermore, having Derrick Rose as a backup for Westbrook would be an ideal opportunity for the Pistons, as Rose would bring good scoring and defense off the bench.
The Miami Heat are less likely to gain the star than the Knicks and Pistons but are nonetheless a strong, potential spot for Westbrook. While Miami ranks 11th in salary cap, they have an extremely strong team that reached the NBA Finals this past season. With young stars like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, along with five-time all-star Jimmy Butler, Westbrook would be able to quickly find his role within this team. Westbrook might not have the same first-option role that he would on the Knicks or Pistons, but a much stronger core of players would surround him–even more so than the Rockets. Butler would continue to be a star, as his defensive playmaking is almost unmatched at his position, as well as his willingness to adjust to the team’s situation and be the second or even third option on a roster. Westbrook would also help Herro develop and utilize Bam Adebayo’s off-ball playstyle and ability to stretch the floor as a center to attack the paint.
