The case for and against trading for Russell Westbrook
Should teams really trade for the star guard?
The race to trade for Russell Westbrook is reportedly on.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Westbrook is “welcoming to idea” of being dealt by the Oklahoma City Thunder and that Miami is “a destination that appeals” to him, something we thought would work for both sides last week.
But is it really worth trading for Westbrook? That’s what we’re here to debate. The immediate knee-jerk reaction is to say, “OF COURSE YOU TRADE FOR WESTBROOK! He’s Russell Westbrook!”
It isn’t really that simple. Let’s break it down, starting with the case for and then against dealing for the eight-time All-Star and former MVP.
The case for
As I said above: It’s Russell Westbrook! How many chances will you get at trading for an ex-MVP who became the second player to average a triple-double in a full season AND THEN DID IT TWO MORE TIMES?
There are only so many superstars to go around, and getting one — even with the flaws in Westbrook’s game — is an opportunity no one should pass up. He’s one of the most lethal scorers inside, is a tough defender and has court vision for miles (he led the league in assists per game for the past two seasons). And, on top of that, he’s one of the more fiery competitors in the league.
He can single-handedly carry a team if he needs to, and that’s what makes him indispensable.
The case against
That contract. Ohhhh no, that contract is all kinds of awful.
Westbrook signed a so-called “supermax” contract in 2017, and there are four years and $171 million left on it. The thing is, Westbrook will turn 31 later this year. There’s no way he can keep up this triple-double stuff that long and be worth that kind of money by then. By the time he potentially takes his player’s option in 2022 for $46.6 million (!) he won’t be worth it — the wear and tear from his game will take a toll. And what it might cost to get a superstar like Westbrook may not ultimately outweigh that contract.
Plus, there are questions about the flaws in his game despite the gaudy stats. He shot just 29 percent from distance in 2018-19. He hit 65.6 percent of his free throws last season, by far a career low.
The big question for a team like Miami is pairing Westbrook with the similarly fiery Jimmy Butler — can you have two of those personalities on the same team and win?