The big news in the Las Vegas Summer League is the possibility of Russell Westbrook being traded.
The usual frontrunners are the Boston Celtics as they have the clear desire to acquire a franchise superstar to take them to the next level. They already have Al Horford and they still have a multitude of assets to use for a top 5 player like Westbrook.
Sports Livestream ⚽ JOIN NOW for FREE
Instant access to the BT Sport, Sky Sports and Eurosport
For the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Celtics can offer the Brooklyn Nets’ picks that the Thunder can build their future on. GM Sam Presti is one of the best at drafting talent and a lottery pick (possibly top 5) could allow them to start again.
But there is one opinion that is usually not considered: that of Russell Westbrook himself.
Sean Deveney of Sporting News refuted the idea that a big trade would happen soon since the Celtics have not reached out to Westbrook himself. As Deveney stated, “sources told Sporting News that Westbrook’s representatives have been given no word of a potential deal. Westbrook can become a free agent after the season, so it would be part of the due diligence of the Celtics to find out if he’d be willing to consider staying in Boston long-term.”
While it only takes a phone call or a meeting to change all that, Westbrook’s free agency status is almost as stringent as a no-trade clause. Trading assets for him would be very risky and every team needs to consider that.
One team that could have the assets to sway the Thunder to trade Westbrook and could also make a case to keep Westbrook is the Washington Wizards.
Pat Bradley of NESN has suggested that John Wall would be the center of the package. “Bradley Beal is locked up at shooting guard, but John Wall isn’t a bad consolation prize for moving Westbrook. Throw in Otto Porter Jr. and a few picks and you’ve got a decent return.”
Wall is locked up until the end of the 2018-19 season and Otto Porter could be a restricted free agent at the end of 2016-17. With Wall and Porter, they would replace the positions that Westbrook and Durant occupied.
For Westbrook, Washington DC is also a big city. While it’s not Los Angeles or New York, the team is more competitive (except for the Clippers-who could have two star free agents leaving in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin) and they also have Scott Brooks, Westbrook’s coach for seven years.
A reunion with Brooks in the nation’s capital could make the Wizards a free agent destination and challenge LeBron James and the Cavs.
