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The summer of 2019 will be remembered as the free agency period that leveled the landscape in the NBA. Just 10 days into free agency, a number of franchise-changing moves have already been made from Kawhi Leonard signing with the Clippers and Paul George asking for a trade to join him.
The Lakers did not get a third superstar to join AD and LeBron James but did fill out their roster with a series of good if not impressive signings. KD and Kyrie Irving are now members of the Brooklyn Nets and D'Angelo Russell has moved to Golden State. If these signings and many more moves have not kept basketball fans entertained from usually suffering from withdrawal at this time of year, there are more moves potentially in the works.
One huge question that is being asked now that Paul George has left OKC is what will happen with Russell Westbrook? He has spent his entire 11-year career in Oklahoma City and has averaged a triple-double the past three seasons and a double-double the last 4.
However, after one appearance in the NBA Finals which they lost, the Thunder have bled talent year after year losing players like James Harden to trade, KD to free agency, Serge Ibaka to trade and now Paul George via trade.
Now there is talk that the Miami Heat are interested in a 30-year-old Russell Westbrook and here are the reasons they should not make this trade:
#1 Health, cost, and age of Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is 30 years old. He has played 11 years in the NBA one way. He plays the game fast, hard and with one main goal- attack the basket. It's a style that perhaps has made NBA managers and scouts seek out what was previously known as a “tweener” type player and ignore the small guards and the old school big centers. The constant driving and low post games seem to take the most toll on the biggest and smallest players.
Westbrook is a 6'3 elite player but since the 2013 NBA Playoffs, he has had 4 knee operations. Three of those operations occurred in a nine-month period. The last procedure was arthroscopic maintenance of the joint which happened during training camp in 2018. Miami would be trading for a high usage point guard with wonky knees.
Westbrook went 4 years between procedures but another significant factor that should concern Pat Riley and Miami management is that Westbrook is owed $159 million over the next 4 seasons including approximately $38.5 million in 2019-20. Finally, he is owed that much money at the age of 30 meaning he will be 33 years old with a player option for a 4th year at $47 million. He will be a costly and risky pick up.
#2 Asset management
Under the leadership of Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra, Miami has done a good job of managing young talent and then adding to their core with shrewd free agent signings.
When they won a title in 2006, it was acquiring Shaquille O’Neal at the tail end of his prime paired with a then-emerging Wade. In 2010, it was more to do with already having Dwyane Wade with Chris Bosh and LeBron James wanting to play with their friend that led Miami to four consecutive NBA Finals, winning two of them in the process.
However, at the moment, Miami has a shortage of assets and players to move. Due to the deal that brought them point guard Goran Dragic from the Phoenix Suns, the Heat lost a 2021 first-round pick. They also gave up their 2020 first-rounder and emerging star Josh Richardson to acquire Jimmy Butler in a sign and trade involving 4 teams.
A second trade this summer might mean parting ways with James Johnson (2 years left) and Goran Dragic (1 year left) totaling $34.5 million for 3 years at 38.5 million per year in Westbrook. It would also likely mean a pick or two going OKC’s way.
If Miami also parted with a 2022 and 2024 first-rounder in any deal for Westbrook, It means the Heat will have no first-round selection for three straight years 2020-2022. Their cupboards will be bare and no draft prospects to restock the roster.
#3 The possible volatility of a Westbrook-Butler duo
A pairing of Jimmy Butler and Russell Westbrook could be unique but unique in a good or bad way? The two would provide Miami with instant offense which they struggled to produce in 2018/19 (at 105ppg 26th in NBA) and would electrify the Miami fan base.
On the downside, Butler and Westbrook both like to have the ball. Butler is now on his 3rd team in 3 years and has clashed with the coaches and management in Chicago, Minnesota, and Philadelphia along the way.
Westbrook, on the other hand, is well known for being volatile. Several wagging tongues have doubted his credibility as a teammate and those murmurs refuse to die given the fact that he was first left behind by Kevin Durant and now by Paul George.
The two, Westbrook and Butler, could be great together or it could be a combustible situation. The smart move for Miami is finding a different trade partner to reshape their roster into a contender.
