Minnesota Timberwolves: A look at a potential Russell Westbrook trade

The good

Westbrook’s numbers are unmatched. Since the 2016-17 season, Brodie has averaged 26.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 10.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Although some look at his triple-double stat line as forced, Westbrook is still one of the elite passers and rebounders in the game.

Despite having dealt with knee injuries early in his career, he has been extremely durable, only missing 14 games in the past four seasons while playing around 36 minutes per game.

He’s an obvious upgrade at the point guard position, as the trio of Jeff Teague, Derrick Rose, and Tyus Jones were either injured, inefficient or both.

Westbrook has the size and strength to be a great defender against other guards, and showed it last season. Brodie’s 103.0 defensive rating ranked seventh in the league. A major contributor to his improved play on the defensive end was Paul George guarding the other team’s best perimeter player.

The Timberwolves have Robert Covington, one of the best 3-and-D players in the league. Covington could help him similar to the way George did.

Westbrook also played with Steven Adams the past few seasons in OKC. Adams had virtually no outside game and clogged the paint whenever he drove to the basket. Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most offensively gifted centers in the game, and a pick-and-roll featuring this duo would be potent.

A potential starting lineup of Westbrook, Jarrett Culver, Covington, Noah Vonleh and Towns shows real promise. Jerryd Bayless, Jordan Bell, Keita Bates-Diop, Gorgui Dieng and Jake Layman would come off the bench.

Westbrook might get lots of hate, but he is one of the best point guards in the league and plays hard every night. He would make the young Wolves a playoff-caliber team while KAT enters his prime.