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Miami Heat: Pros and cons of trading for Russell Westbrook

By Simon Smith

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 21: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Four of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 21: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Four of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Pros for Westbrook

Heat Culture

If there’s any player in the league that would be perfectly suited to the famed “Heat Culture,” it’s Westbrook. One of the most ferocious competitors in the history of the sport, his trademark all-out hustle and never-say-die attitude would simply be music to the ears of team president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra.

Fresh off averaging a triple-double for a record-setting third consecutive season, Westbrook still appears to have at least a couple of seasons left of performing at an elite level.

On a very recent episode of The Lowe Post, Zach Lowe of ESPN echoed his thoughts on the Heat getting in the running for Westbrook:

"“My expectation of why Miami makes a lot of sense is A) clearly they’re hungry for stars that they can get now and maybe sell in the summer of 2021…and No. 2, you just have to look for a team that’s always in win-now mode….they really do, to their credit, want to win.”"

Legitimate star

When announcing the addition of Butler, Riley effusively stated the following:

While all the traits he’s describing of Butler also fit Westbrook to a T, the statement about adding a multiple-time All-Star as being something that has to be done is crucial. In addition to being an eight-time All-Star, Westbrook has also achieved the following:

  • 2017 NBA MVP
  • Two-time All-NBA First Team
  • Two-time NBA scoring champion
  • Two-time NBA assists leader

Of course, Riley has a history of trading for players who are presumed to have already had their best years behind them.

Riley’s track record

In February 1996, Riley took a swing in trading for point guard Tim Hardaway, despite him missing an entire season with a knee injury and backing up B.J. Armstrong during his final season with the Golden State Warriors at age 29. Fast forward the clock, and Hardaway rewards Riley and the Heat by being named an All-Star in his first two full seasons with the team.

Then there was the major splash for Shaquille O’Neal in the summer of 2004, who at 31 appeared to be on a slight decline as a player. However, this didn’t deter Riley from trading away two young guns in Caron Butler and Lamar Odom, in addition to veteran Brian Grant, in order to obtain the future Hall-of-Famer. The result, of course, was the franchise winning its first title in 2006.

Given his record of success in nabbing All-Stars on the back ends of their careers, Westbrook could very well be another huge gamble that pays off for Riley.

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