Russell Westbrook

Knicks should only be in on Westbrook for the right price

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New York Knicks, Russell Westbrook

The NBA offseason is officially underway. Trades officially can be made as of Monday at noon, and the NBA Draft is Wednesday, which is then followed by the start of free agency on Friday. It’s going to be a jam-packed and super exciting week that will have NBA fans glued to Twitter trying to keep up with everything. As for the New York Knicks, there has been the usual influx of trade, draft, and free agency rumors, and one big name that they are reportedly interested in is star point guard Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook has quickly become the center of Knicks chatter over the past couple of days, especially after seeing long-rumored trade target Chris Paul land in Phoenix.

There are positives and negatives to bringing in any player, especially one of Westbrook’s caliber. The 32-year-old is a future Hall of Famer with nine All-Star appearances and one MVP award under his belt. He is still playing at a very high level and has shown no clear signs of regression, averaging a stat line of 27.2 points, 7.0 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game for Houston last season.

Westbrook is also one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen and plays with an unmatchable level of energy every second he’s on the court. He is a player whose work ethic and toughness would fit right into the kind of culture that Tom Thibodeau wants to build in New York, and he brings the kind of star power to Madison Square Garden that the Knicks haven’t had since Carmelo Anthony.

With all that being said, it would only be logical for the Knicks to make a move for Westbrook, or anyone for that matter, for the right price. As many positives as there are with Westbrook, there are negatives as well. His game is centered around his explosiveness, and that kind of playing style has resulted in multiple knee surgeries throughout Westbrook’s career, which will only increase as he continues to get older in age.

There’s also the issue of his massive contract. Entering the third year of a 5-year, $206 million dollar deal, Westbrook will be due over $41 million this season, $44 million in 2021, and $47 million in 2022. That’s a hefty price to pay for an aging point guard with some injury concerns.

Now, that doesn’t mean the Knicks shouldn’t entertain the possibility of a Westbrook trade. Westbrook is still one of the best point guards and overall players in the league, and he’d fill a huge need in a massive way. If they can acquire him and keep important assets like RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and the 8th overall pick in Wednesday’s draft, then they definitely have to consider it.

If they have to give up one or more of those assets, then it would be best to hold on to what they have and explore other ways to improve the team. After all, the Knicks giving up everything for an aging, oft-injured star is all too familiar for Knicks fans. Giving up all their assets for Westbrook would show that the Knicks haven’t learned anything over the past 20 years and keep making the same mistake over and over again.

So, while Brodie in the Mecca would be must-see TV and a hot commodity, the Knicks shouldn’t value that as reason to blow up everything they have been building and accumulating over the past few seasons.

Report: Brooklyn on top of James Harden’s wishlist but Nets divided on the idea

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The Brooklyn Nets have emerged as the preferred top destination for Houston Rockets’ superstar James Harden, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Ramona Shelburne, and Zach Lowe.

However, the Nets and the Rockets have yet to engage in a trade discussion as everything has been player-driven so far.

Harden and Durant reportedly have talked about a possible reunion as the Rockets’ superstar is mulling over his future in Houston. But Ian Begley of SNY also reported that not all the Nets players contacted are receptive to the idea of trading for Harden.

Harden’s future with the Rockets alongside Russell Westbrook came into question earlier this week on the heels of the sweeping changes in the organization.

Mike D’Antoni and Daryl Morey, the two architects of the small-ball Rockets featuring Harden, have left the team following their Western Conference semifinals defeat at the hands of the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Morey has since joined the Philadelphia 76ers as team president while D’Antoni accepted an assistant coaching role under his former player and first-time coach Steve Nash, in Brooklyn.

The Rockets have maintained that they intend to contend with Harden. But things could quickly escalate if Harden would demand a trade.

The 31-year old Harden has led the Rockets to the active longest playoff streak — eight seasons in a row — since he was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he was the third star to the Durant-Westbrook tandem.

The Nets have the ability trade for Harden with a chest of young assets (Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Jarrett Allen) and draft capital (they own all their first-round picks starting next season). Harden is owed $131.5 million over the next three seasons, including a $46.9 million player option in 2022-23.

Westbrook, meanwhile, has been linked to several trade rumors, including the Nets’ crosstown rival New York Knicks, but nothing is imminent at this point.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks weigh Westbrook trade, Rockets star denies Harden rift

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New York Knicks, Russell Westbrook

Despite Russell Westbrook coming out in the open to deny the supposed rift with James Harden, the trade chatter just wouldn’t die.

Westbrook replied on ESPN’s Instagram post quoting Stephen A. Smith’s claim of the alleged rift, denying that the Rockets’ superstars no longer want to play together.

”It’s my birthday, but I should say. This is completely fabricated. Y’all have a good night,” Westbrook said.

But even Westbrook’s denial couldn’t stop the trade chatter building up for what could be a blockbuster trade in this compressed offseason.

Marc Stein of the New York Times tweeted on Friday that the New York Knicks have weighed trading for Westbrook.

There’s a debate whether the Knicks are willing to absorb the massive $132.7 million left on his five-year, $206.8 million contract.

The Knicks are one of the only few teams who can absorb Westbrook’s contract without having to match salaries. The other teams who have cap space are the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons.

Jonathan Macri of the New York Film School, on the other hand, wrote in his Friday newsletter that a package centered on Julius Randle had been discussed.

“According to multiple league sources, the Knicks have discussed the specifics of a package that would bring the 2016-17 NBA MVP to New York. The sources indicate that none of the Knicks’ key young pieces are on the table (read: RJ, Mitch, and as far as I can tell, Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina), nor will they be. The same goes for any of New York’s own draft picks. I’ve heard Julius Randle would be going, along with some sort of draft asset – maybe 27, maybe 38, maybe one of the Dallas picks – but I can’t confirm which,” Macri wrote.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Heavy.com also tweeted last night that the Knicks are not the only team in Westbrook/Rockets’ trade partner wishlist.

Robinson also reported that the Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers have also discussed trading Paul George in exchange for Westbrook and Robert Covington.

Westbrook, a nine-time All-NBA team member, had just turned 32 yesterday. The Rockets acquired Westbrook from Oklahoma City Thunder last year in exchange for Chris Paul. The Rockets also sent two protected first-round picks to the Thunder.

Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.6 steals in 57 games for the Rockets last season.

Earlier this week, ESPN reported that both Westbrook and Harden had expressed concern on the franchise’s direction after parting ways with former coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey.

The Rockets, who elevated Rafael Stone from assistant to general manager, and hiring first-time head coach Stephen Silas, have maintained they are still committed to contending for the title around their superstars.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Kevin O’Connor: New York Knicks have interest in Russell Westbrook

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New York Knicks, Russell Westbrook

Another day, another superstar has been linked to the New York Knicks.

The Ringer’s NBA insider Kevin O’Connor dropped some bombshell on The Mismatch podcast on Tuesday.

“It is interesting the last 24 hours. I did have multiple sources that I trust tell me that teams believe Russell Westbrook could be had—that Westbrook could be had—and I’ve heard the Clippers have interest, I’ve heard the Knicks have interest in Westbrook, and whether anything materializes there, who knows? Who knows? But the fact is that there is a belief that a guy like Westbrook could become available,” O’Connor said.

Both the Knicks and the Clippers need a capable lead guard to right their respective ships.

The Clippers squandered a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Knicks, on the other hand, have missed the postseason for the seventh straight season.

Westbrook, who will turn 32 on Thursday, is owed $132.5 million over the next three years with a $47 million player option in 2022. He is coming off his first season with the Rockets in which he averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists.

Westbrook helped the Rockets reach the Western Conference semifinals but lost to eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in five games after winning the series opener.

Westbrook came to the Rockets via trade from Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Chris Paul, who is reportedly on the move again.

Paul, who has also been linked to the Knicks, is now the subject of a trade discussion between the Phoenix Suns and the Thunder, as per ESPN.

Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta, meanwhile, has maintained that “there’s no reason to blow up” the team’s core.

“This is still our window, the next couple of years. James [Harden] and Russell are in their early 30s,” Fertitta said last month. “We’re not blowing up anything. We plan on contending.”

Appearing on The First Take last week, new Rockets head coach Paul Silas said he expects Westbrook and Harden to remain with the team.

“As far as James [Harden], he is our guy,” Silas said during his live interview on ESPN. “In the interview process, I talked to both James and Russell [Westbrook], to let them know, the reason why I wanted this job was because of them. I expect those guys to be here.”

Silas added the Rockets plan to add a traditional center as the team moves on from former GM Daryl Morey’s small-ball approach.

But with 90 percent of the team’s salaries already tied to the trio of Harden, Westbrook, and Eric Gordon, the Rockets have limited options to upgrade their roster.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo