Let’s face it: Russell Westbrook doesn’t have a lot of time left playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He might not even be on the team’s roster by Opening Night.
The superstar guard has been linked with a possible trade since Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors. Honestly, the sooner he leaves, the better for him. Oklahoma City is not contending this season, and Westbrook needs to move elsewhere if he doesn’t want to waste his prime years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gf68nmhqLQ&w=854&h=480
The only problem is where. There’s no question every single team in the league would love to have him, but only a few have the assets to entice Oklahoma City for a trade. And even less teams have both the assets and the talent to make him sign a long-term deal.
We could consider the Los Angeles Lakers, but they are a few years away from contention. The Minnesota Timberwolves live a similar situation with a lot of talent, but also a lot of youth. The New York Knicks might not have enough assets to land a deal. And the Los Angeles Clippers are an intriguing, yet unfitting destination. There’s no visible scenario where Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook can co-exist together.
That leaves the Boston Celtics as one of the best options. Danny Ainge has been stockpiling assets to make a move for a player like Westbrook since a few years back. The time is now, and Westbrook would fit quice nicely in Boston as long as he finds a way to play next to Isaiah Thomas.
Boston has enough assets to propose a trade to the Thunder. Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley and Terry Rozier would all become available. There are also several Draft picks, including Brooklyn’s first-rounder in 2017. And this year’s third-overall selection, Jaylen Brown, could be potentially available as well. That’s enough depth for every team to pull the trigger on a deal. Oklahoma City needs as much talent as possible if they lose a star player for the second straight year.
More importantly, however, is the fact that Boston has a roster that’s strong enough to convince Westbrook to sign a mutil-year extension. With a core of Jae Crowder, Thomas and Al Horford, the addition of Westbrook would make them one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. There’s also the historic part of playing for one of the most successful franchises in league’s history.
Boston needs to call Oklahoma City sooner than later. A trade between both parties would be a match made in heaven, and Westbrook would be a great fit in Boston. It needs to happen.