LeBron James rumored to be recruiting Russell Westbrook

[king_james_vers]

Incredible fit

Yeah, I mean, that was my first thought as well. I don't believe there's any truth to this rumor, but just entertaining the idea, it doesn't seem very realistic. Westbrook is a career .311 shooter from 3 in his career (.298 last year). I feel like there would be spacing issues with these two.

Granted I guess there are spacing issues with Ben Simmons, and I am the driver of the LeBron-to-Philly Hype Train.

[Krazykiwi]

for all those who said Lebron and Westbrook wouldnt fit well together. Well, who cares about fit when talents are just overwhelming. It would have to involve Cavs taking back bad contracts of Carmelo for the Thunder to even consider it. Maybe Love, fillers 8pick and 3 future first round picks non protected. But do the cavs have any expiring contracts? Thompson and JR arent expring so thunders probably say no to them.

[Krazykiwi]

westbrook and Lebron alone can give GSW a run for the money. Lebron aint no PG13. Both lebron and Westbrook are uber talented and competitive. they can definitely win the championship if played together.

[Yuri Vaultin]

Sweet! All we need now is for the NBA to allow the game to be played with 2 basketballs simultaneously.

[woosah]

This is a reach but fun to contemplate. Maybe Lebron really does want to play more off the ball now.

[LightTheBeam]

How is this even a rumor? This is one persons crazy idea. Cavs have a ton of dead weight on their roster and I don't think they will get a whole lot in return by trading most of these guys.

Thats not true. What the general public doesnt know is that the Cavs can get out of both JR Smiths and George Hills massive contracts by paying just a few million in a buyout. The can dump JRs 15mill contract with a 2.5mill buyout I believe and Georges 20mill contract for 3.5mill if I remember the numbers correctly. So you spend 6 million in buyout money to create 35mill in cap space.

They have space to wiggle I lot of people and media for whatever reason just dont report it.

2 things.

1. Those non guarantees are next year not this.

2. Even if they did, they still wouldnt have cap space. With Lebrons cap hold, they are still over the salary cap.

Here is some good info for you. I would look into this site if I was you. http://www.spotrac.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cap/

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

How is this even a rumor? This is one persons crazy idea. Cavs have a ton of dead weight on their roster and I don't think they will get a whole lot in return by trading most of these guys.

Thats not true. What the general public doesnt know is that the Cavs can get out of both JR Smiths and George Hills massive contracts by paying just a few million in a buyout. The can dump JRs 15mill contract with a 2.5mill buyout I believe and Georges 20mill contract for 3.5mill if I remember the numbers correctly. So you spend 6 million in buyout money to create 35mill in cap space.

They have space to wiggle I lot of people and media for whatever reason just dont report it.

The media isn't reporting it because none of this matters next season.

The 4th year of Smiths (or 2018/2019) contract is not guaranteed but 45 million out of the 57m is which includes next this upcoming season. They cannot dump Smith until next year or they will have a cap hit.

As for Hill: Still guaranteed 19m for next year. Cavs can dump his contract for 1m in 2019.

If Lebron resigns they are over the cap and if they want Westbrook they need to send 35m back to the thunder.

[slothrop8]

This makes no sense for either side really - not going to happen.

[LivingLegend]

How is this even a rumor? This is one persons crazy idea. Cavs have a ton of dead weight on their roster and I don't think they will get a whole lot in return by trading most of these guys.

Thats not true. What the general public doesnt know is that the Cavs can get out of both JR Smiths and George Hills massive contracts by paying just a few million in a buyout. The can dump JRs 15mill contract with a 2.5mill buyout I believe and Georges 20mill contract for 3.5mill if I remember the numbers correctly. So you spend 6 million in buyout money to create 35mill in cap space.

They have space to wiggle I lot of people and media for whatever reason just dont report it.

The 4th year of smiths contract is not guaranteed but 45 million out of the 57m is. They cannot dump Smith until next year or they will have a cap hit.

As for Hill: Still guaranteed 19m for next year. Cavs can dump his contract for 1m in 2019.

Whoops then yea it was for next year my mistake. But either way they can get dumped. Doesnt help this year however.

[LightTheBeam]

Its hilarious when people pretend like this wouldnt work. As if Kyrie wasn't ball dominant as well. You guys make it seem like Lebron wants to play 48 minutes a game with the ball in his hands non stop. He would love to play 36 minutes while having Westbrook as the lead ball handler half the game so he wouldn't be dying by halftime.

Irving usage rate last year with Lebron - 31%
Westbrook usage rate last year with KD - 31.6%

Only difference is Westbrook is a much better player. Lebron and Kyrie were iso heavy as well, it wasn't Kyrie waiting for the Lebron kick out all the time.

Even if imagine Lebron driving drawing the defender, kicking to Westbrook on the cut for an easy dunk. Plus if anyone hates GS as much as Lebron, its Westbrook. 2 ultimate competitors.

[CallMeKahn]

I could see that as something good for OKC in the longrun. I don't see a patch where OKC can straight compete with RWB on the books and his playstyle. My problem is who owns what in terms of Cleveland's picks. But something like Love, #8, and Filler for RWB may work for both teams maybe? Don't know.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

This may be possible if LeBron goes to the Lakers, where the Lakers might throw a package of Ball, Deng, Ingram, Kuzma, #25, future 1st to the Thunder. Thunder reset after George leaves.

[alebaba]

I don't see how they can co-exist, both are horrible at playing with out the ball.

Its hilarious when people pretend like this wouldnt work. As if Kyrie wasn't ball dominant as well. You guys make it seem like Lebron wants to play 48 minutes a game with the ball in his hands non stop. He would love to play 36 minutes while having Westbrook as the lead ball handler half the game so he wouldn't be dying by halftime.

Irving usage rate last year with Lebron - 31%
Westbrook usage rate last year with KD - 31.6%

Only difference is Westbrook is a much better player. Lebron and Kyrie were iso heavy as well, it wasn't Kyrie waiting for the Lebron kick out all the time.

Even if imagine Lebron driving drawing the defender, kicking to Westbrook on the cut for an easy dunk. Plus if anyone hates GS as much as Lebron, its Westbrook. 2 ultimate competitors.

The thing is, Kyrie can shoot, Westrook cannot.

[Ballerhogger]

So hes going ot the thunder?

[Ainosterhaspie]

I don't see how they can co-exist, both are horrible at playing with out the ball.

Its hilarious when people pretend like this wouldnt work. As if Kyrie wasn't ball dominant as well. You guys make it seem like Lebron wants to play 48 minutes a game with the ball in his hands non stop. He would love to play 36 minutes while having Westbrook as the lead ball handler half the game so he wouldn't be dying by halftime.

Irving usage rate last year with Lebron - 31%
Westbrook usage rate last year with KD - 31.6%

Only difference is Westbrook is a much better player. Lebron and Kyrie were iso heavy as well, it wasn't Kyrie waiting for the Lebron kick out all the time.

Even if imagine Lebron driving drawing the defender, kicking to Westbrook on the cut for an easy dunk. Plus if anyone hates GS as much as Lebron, its Westbrook. 2 ultimate competitors.

The thing is, Kyrie can shoot, Westrook cannot.

And Westbrook doesn't know it which is the worst part of this.

[LightTheBeam]

I don't see how they can co-exist, both are horrible at playing with out the ball.

Its hilarious when people pretend like this wouldnt work. As if Kyrie wasn't ball dominant as well. You guys make it seem like Lebron wants to play 48 minutes a game with the ball in his hands non stop. He would love to play 36 minutes while having Westbrook as the lead ball handler half the game so he wouldn't be dying by halftime.

Irving usage rate last year with Lebron - 31%
Westbrook usage rate last year with KD - 31.6%

Only difference is Westbrook is a much better player. Lebron and Kyrie were iso heavy as well, it wasn't Kyrie waiting for the Lebron kick out all the time.

Even if imagine Lebron driving drawing the defender, kicking to Westbrook on the cut for an easy dunk. Plus if anyone hates GS as much as Lebron, its Westbrook. 2 ultimate competitors.

The thing is, Kyrie can shoot, Westrook cannot.

When 2 players are as talented as these guys. They make it work. They would definitely need shooters around them, but with the right pieces it would work.

[The_Hater]

Incredible fit

At the end of the day, teams win in the playoffs by having more high end talent. It’s up to those players to make it work.

Westbrook has flaws but is still one of the 7-8 top players in the league.

[Prince187]

how they get him? using the 8th pick?

Kevin Love has to be in the deal for it to happen.

That wouldn't nearly be enough. Keep in mind how savy Presti is. Altman would get wreaked in a trade with okc.

Yeah given Westbook's way inflated reputation in the league and Love's undeserved bad reputation I could see Presti pulling off a huge heist here.

[lambchop]

Incredible fit

Yeah, I mean, that was my first thought as well. I don't believe there's any truth to this rumor, but just entertaining the idea, it doesn't seem very realistic. Westbrook is a career .311 shooter from 3 in his career (.298 last year). I feel like there would be spacing issues with these two.

Granted I guess there are spacing issues with Ben Simmons, and I am the driver of the LeBron-to-Philly Hype Train.

similar to cp3 and harden, they could still just take turns and bron could even sit out full quarters and let russ go to work. He can run a team, he just offers little offensive variation over time and better teams come out on top because he shoots too much. The idea that all bron needs is guys who stand around ready to shoot isflawed.
Westbrook is also durable and can switch on defense.

[dontforget]

I dunno, it could work. Let's say No.8 pick, Kevin Love (expiring deal), George Hill (essentially expiring) and future picks for Westbrook and Roberson?

Haha, not likely but I guess OKC could consider it as they can dump a whole lot of salary after this year and start a rebuild around the no8 and then next yrs pick (or picks).