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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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Cons for Westbrook

Contract

Turning 31 in November, Westbrook is owed $171 million over the coming four seasons, with the final year of his deal being a player option. Needless to say, this clearly comes to the forefront of the Heat’s thinking when ascertaining whether to pursue Westbrook this summer.

While the salary cap is expected to gradually increase over the coming years, paying any player $47 million when turning 34 is clearly an enormous risk.

Knee surgeries

Thus far, Westbrook has played 28,330 regular season minutes since being selected No. 4 overall in 2008, ranking only behind LeBron James, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Durant during this time. Given the breakneck speed and all-out intensity that embodies Westbrook’s game, this is bound to have some consequences.

In Westbrook’s case, it’s been the multiple knee surgeries he’s undergone throughout the course of his career. According to Erik Horne of The Oklahoman, Westbrook has had four separate knee surgeries, with the latest coming in September 2018, which caused him to miss the beginning of this past season.

Shooting efficiency

When digging past the jaw-dropping triple-double numbers, Westbrook’s shortcomings are quite noteworthy.

For his career, Westbrook has shot at a 43.4 percent clip from the field, and a woeful 30.8 return from 3-point range. Disturbingly, Westbrook shot at a 29.0 percent clip from long range last season on 5.6 attempts per game. However, the worst part was his return from the free throw line.

A career 80.1 percent shooter from the charity stripe, Westbrook converted at a woeful 65.6 percent clip last season. Furthermore, this marked the second straight season in which his volume from the line dropped along with his efficiency.

So given he’s returned .428/.290/.656 shooting splits as a 30-year-old, it’s only natural to wonder just where his shooting numbers will venture as he gets deeper into his contract.

From an overall perspective, the Thunder posted a 37-7 record over the past two seasons when Westbrook took 17 field goal attempts or less.

Needless to say, the Heat will have a number of factors to take into account when assessing their options with Westbrook.

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