Kathy Villains / Associated Press
Although it took a few more months to get there, it’s officially the trading season at the NBA.
“Russell wants Westbrook out of Houston, ” Shams Charania Athletic and Stadium on Wednesday tweeted.
The day before, Ringers Kevin O’Connor Reportedly wants to join the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks, the former MVP.
However, working for Westbrook will not be easy. Interested suitors also see the remaining three years and 2 132.6 million left on his contract and feel a little uneasy.
It’s a monster commitment, especially since such a game makes it difficult to build around Russia almost every year. He is a ball-dominant defender (close to the most impressive ball ever), never having the above average three-point percentage and not having an average true shooting percentage above 2016-17.
This season, the Rockets had a plus 2.4 points in 100 assets with a rush on the floor and a plus -3.3 with it. That’s not terrible, but any degree of negative net-rating swing isn’t ideal if your $ 40-plus million dollar player comes along.
That effect changed a bit after Houston’s Clint Capella’s trade and the overall overhaul of how it went to suit Westbrook. But if that’s what it takes to make him a positive player going forward, it becomes more difficult to justify the asking price.
Still, Westbrook averaged 28.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists with a 59.2 true shooting percentage per 75 assets when he played in 2019-20 without the traditional 5. The true highest shooting percentage of his career for the entire season is 55.4.
If a team could combine that version of Rush to play every game, it would be suitable for gambling at the age of 32 and even with that horrible contract.
So, what exactly will it take to get it?
New York Knicks
Kathy Villains / Associated Press
Deals: Wayne Ellington, Bobby Portis, Frank Nutilikina, Capin Knox II and 2021 second round selection for Russell Westbrook
The Rockets may have the vision of a round of elections before they dance in the head, but in the Westbrook trade it can be difficult to secure. Again, that agreement is a nightmare.
If the Rockets hadn’t spent almost all of their draft capital to achieve the Rush Last Final Ason, the teams would really be asking Them For the sweeteners to take the rest of his deal.
Even without high-end draft considerations, this particular trade helps Houston on a few fronts, though.
New York is full of salary matching fodder. Van Ellington, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Alfred Payton, Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Nutilikina and Reggie Bullull are all on contract. That means the Knicks could easily put together packages for big deals around the league.
Ellington and Ports do not move the needles for the Rockets in the short term (if at all), but once the deal expires it will bring financial relief after next season. And yet, Frank Nutilikina and Capin Knox II, having so far failed to live up to their draft status, are still as young as the prospect. Perhaps the Rockets coaching staff could potentially draw what New York could not.
Meanwhile, the Knicks will take the risk here. Westbrook will make their cap situation more difficult over the next three seasons, and a decline could be on the way.
But if he has a few elite asons left, he will bring some excitement to Madison Square Garden to make the league’s worst team home for the past two decades.
Los Angeles Clippers
David J. Philip / Associated Press
Deals: Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams, Ivica Zubek, Rodney McGrader and Mephiendu Cabengle for Russell Westbrook and 2021 second round selection
This seems like a pretty ridiculous ending for Westbrook. It’s kind of. But if the Clippers are really interested in it, they’ll have to suffer about every pay-match deal they have (unless George is on the George table, which shouldn’t be the case if Westbrook is the target).
The drastic increase in depth depth, the return of the traditional center and a young (ish) prospect deal for Houston make it unbalanced without any draft picks, but tapped out as much as the Rockets get a tap. If they want this much, they have to pair the sweetener with Westbrook’s heavy deals.
For LA, the Knicks trade is a worse proposal than for New York. He will snatch the roster for a player who may not fit in well with Kavi Leonard and George, both of whom have a wealth of demands.
And if things don’t go right, Star Forwards could pull out of their deal and leave the Clippers with Westbrook in 2021 and sign whatever deal they want to move to Houston to replace the lead.
L.A. without the realization that talent ultimately figures things out. It’s hard to get a great realization of why Westbrook might be interested in acquiring.
Detroit Pistons
Michael Wick / Associated Press
Deals: Black Griffin and 2021 second-round pick for Russell Westbrook
Once again, the Rockets are a team that picks drafts in this deal. Even with questions about Black Griffin’s long-term health, there are some costs to his contract, which expires a year ago. Another rounder balances it.
Is that enough to persuade the Detroit Pistons to abandon the rebuild build kickstarted by Andre Drummond’s trade earlier this year?
The piston should not feel desperate to make placements. Griffin took them there in 2019. But a two-man game with Westbrook and Christian Wood, which is the top available big of this season, would be almost Detroit in 2021 in search of a postseason.
There were pistons Plus-2..7 100 property points with Wood on the floor in 2019-20, compared to minus-8.3 when it was closed. And its ability to put the floor into space (38.6 percent on 2.3 three-point attempts per game) would fit well with Westbrook. It can pull centers off the street for rush drives.
As for the Rockets, apart from keeping Westbrook’s last year of contract off the pay table, it will also give them a player who can fit in better with Harden when he is healthy.
Griffin also needs the ball, but unlike Westbrook he doesn’t dominate it. And for his days at the Clippers with Chris Paul he has a lot of practice playing with elite pick-and-roll ball-handlers thanks.
The defense of the lineup drawn by Harden and Griffin will likely be less than average, but Westbrook is not exactly defensively proud, either.
This trade will balance Houston’s roster. And if the extra cost is taken in the second-round in a weak draft, it’s worth it.
