As the Los Angeles Lakers have put a close to the Russell Westbrook era, his future with the Utah Jazz doesn’t look like it will last long. Several teams are already preparing to target the 2017 NBA MVP should he get bought out by Utah. But which team has the highest chance of acquiring him as well as providing him with an ideal situation?
Chicago Bulls
According to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Chicago Bulls are the favorites to land Westbrook.
There are multiple factors that could make the Windy City an ideal spot for the point guard to thrive in a comfortable environment.
With Lonzo Ball being out for the foreseeable future, the Bulls desperately need a true point guard to run the show. Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu have both been inserted in that role many times this season, but neither of them controls the ball as much as the typical point guard should.
Insert Russell Westbrook into the picture, he will be able to draw more attention in the paint and find open looks for his teammates. Additionally, when he won the MVP in 2017, he did so under head coach Billy Donovan. Maybe a reunion with the coach he played best under could be a great fit for him as he approaches free agency this summer.
Miami Heat
There is some skepticism about how Kyle Lowry fits in the mix for the Miami Heat. Not only has he underperformed in comparison to previous seasons, but Lowry’s recent knee injuries have become a point of concern in Miami.
Miami Heat say Kyle Lowry (knee soreness) is continuing to be evaluated and has been ruled out of the next three games.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 7, 2023
The best case for Miami taking a chance on Westbrook is simple. Similar to Chicago, they are missing a true point guard. While Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are great playmakers for their position, it can be a tall task to ask your star players to cover multiple roles in the offense.
Westbrook is a perfect fit for not only the blue-collared history in the culture of the Miami Heat but also their timeline. Aside from Tyler Herro, the Heat’s top ten leaders in minutes per game, this season are above the age of 25. They are the sixth oldest team in the NBA. Adding a veteran like Westbrook seems like a feasible option
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers went into the trade deadline with two point guards, Reggie Jackson, and John Wall, who did not play as well as the team expected prior to the year. Fast forward to the deadline and both players are gone.
While Bones Hyland and Eric Gordon are quality additions for three-point shooting in the backcourt, the Clippers’ isolation game will still be heavily utilized unless a pure point guard is added to this core. However, that is one luxury that the Clippers provide more than the two teams above.
Three-point shooting.
- Denver Nuggets – 39.5%
- Brooklyn Nets – 39.2%
- Golden State Warriors – 38.5%
- Philadelphia 76ers – 38.3%
- Phoenix Suns – 37.9%
- Los Angeles Clippers – 37.7%
The Clippers added multiple three-point shooters at the deadline as well. The loss of Luke Kennard is a tough pill to swallow, but that would not stop Westbrook from getting these shooters open looks. The last time Russell Westbrook was the point guard for a team that was a top ten ranked three-point shooting team was in the 2012-2013 season when his Oklahoma City Thunder was the best record in the league coming off an NBA Finals appearance.
Is that everybody?
One other option should be looked into here, and it might be the most obvious one.
The Utah Jazz.
They just traded their point guard Mike Conley, so there is definitely an open opportunity. Plus, Westbrook is already on that team. In a situation with no expectations, he can finish this season stress-free and serve as a great facilitator to set up guys such as Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson for three-point opportunities. Walker Kessler would be a great pick-and-roll partner for Westbrook, as would Olynyk in the pick-and-pop game.
Even if the Jazz missed the playoffs in this scenario, this was expected. Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were traded in the summer. The fact that the Utah Jazz can potentially make the playoffs this deep into the season is already turning heads. But for a guy who is going to be a free agent this summer in Russell Westbrook, this might be his best chance to resurrect his career and provide this young Jazz group with a taste of playoff experience that could take them a long way moving forward.