Cookies4Life wrote:It's interesting to hear some of these takes on Westbrook. he didn't fare very well during the playoffs last year, but he did average over 27 ppg, 8 rebounds and 7 assists last season on over 21 PER and the last 3 months of the season he put up scorching numbers at over 30 ppg, 8 rpg and 8 apg.
I get it, he's a terrible 3 point shooter, his shot selection at times is questionable (to put it mildly,) but lets not talk about him like he's some bum on his last leg. He's still an extremely productive player who happened to play last season out of his element which was off the ball a lot more than he's normally accustomed to (which makes sense playing alongside another high usage player in Harden.)
With Russell at least you know the guy plays hard every game and takes losing personally. His cut throat mentality would be such a refreshing change and would probably rub off on guys like Dennis Smith Jr who I'd hope would emulate Russell's style of play and Frankie as well.
With Westbrook leading the helm and playing with his high usage/on the ball like his OKC days, this team will be able to run the floor a lot more and guys like Toppin and Robinson would thrive alongside him.
I get the negatives with Westbrook- that contract is just abysmal and my gosh that final year at 45 million for a guy who will be 35 years old is frightening. I guess the only positive is he'd be an expiring that season which could end up being a blessing in using him for a package in that summer before his final season to trade him for a disgruntled superstar on a long term deal.
As far as what to give up to get him? I'd hope the Rockets first trade Harden so everyone will know they're in full rebuild mode. At that point, Westbrook's contract will be a severe albatross so they couldn't expect to get anything for him besides a salary dump type of situation.
I'd only package Randle in the deal, I don't know if we're allowed to just absorb the remainder of Russell's contract without matching up close salary wise (i.e. around 27-30 million going out,) but if that was the case, I'd do it. I'd like to try and pry at least 1 pick from Houston to helping them accelerate their rebuild, but I absolutely would NOT include any of our young players in the deal. Regardless of what people think of Kevin Knox or Dennis Smith, I don't want to lose them in this package. Randle is ok to get rid of since I'd much rather see Toppin start alongside Robinson.
It would be a very fun season next year, i still think WB has plenty left in the tank and as the primary ballhandler I can see him back to his triple double averages. My only concern with him has been his shot selection and I'd hope a head strong coach like Thibs would know how to reel him in a little bit. Some are making the possibility of him coming here to be an apocalyptic event and I don't see it that way. We'd just need 2 productive years out of him and he'd make for a fine trade piece in that final expiring season.
The contract has 3 years left and he'll be 35 not 38, he isn't an iron man player in terms of injury but I wouldnt call him Kyrie fragile either.
Even in the case he should he not play well that last year of his contract it will have tremendous value as an expiring.
I like the match up of him and Thibs and believe Thibs could get the most out of him.
Pull off getting him and Heyward and we have a team that could contend/make noise in the East. We would be relevant again. The X factors would become if and how quickly could guys like Barrett and Mitch become legit complementary stars. And then can guys like Reggie and Quickly be legit 3 ballers with Westbrook getting them open looks with the attention he gets driving the lane
