Could the Cleveland Cavaliers trade for Russell Westbrook?
Russell Westbrook could be the Cleveland Cavaliers answer at point guard in a move that’s more about Kevin Love than LeBron James… and that’s a good thing.
With James’ future in Cleveland a source of constant speculation, as it has been three times in his illustrious career, Love and not Kyrie Irving will be the last man standing from their Big Three.
Love is under contract through 2020 and although he was being used as trade bait before the 2017 NBA Draft, as the Cavs tried to acquire a top-five pick to sweeten their trade package for Westbrook’s current teammate, Paul George.
Now, however, there are two trade assets the Cavs have for Westbrook that they didn’t even have for George.
With Isaiah Thomas (who would be healthy next offseason barring any other injury) and the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round pick, the Cavs could trade for Westbrook under two circumstances, given that he has already turned down an offer to sign an extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder according to ESPN’s Royce Young.
(1) If the Thunder struggle in the first half of the season, it’s possible the Thunder would consider moving Westbrook before the trade deadline for the right package.
(2) In the offseason, if Westbrook again chooses against making a long-term commitment to the Thunder.
For a franchise such as Oklahoma City’s, a top-five pick gives the fans a player to rally around, the team a player to rely on and the front office a young prospect who they can convince to stay on the team for 10+ years thanks to restricted free agency and the Designated Player’s Exception.
Thomas is a fiery point guard whose energy parallels that of the tough, passionate Oklahomans. Considering that he’d also be healthy and a year removed from an MVP-worthy 2016-2017 campaign, the Thunder wouldn’t be losing too much of their firepower by trading Westbrook for Thomas though Westbrook’s game is less about scoring and more about attacking without relent.
Assuming that those two assets are enough to acquire Westbrook, the Cavs have a good chance for Westbrook to commit long-term simply because Love is on the team.
Why Love?
Because he and Love attended, played and starred for UCLA together.
Because he and Love weren’t just roommates but really good friends (and still are).
Because he and Love are seemingly the two players in the league left to wonder who will be a loyal running-mate for them.
Kevin Durant left Westbrook high and dry in Oklahoma City while George had eyes set on the Los Angeles Lakers. James is rumored to want to leave or be fine with Love leaving nearly every season. Kyrie Irving just had his trade wish granted and now plays for the Boston Celtics.
However, with each other, and in the Eastern Conference, the sky is the limit. Especially if Westbrook’s arrival in Cleveland proves to be a catalyst in James’ decision to stay.
While Love is a deft passer at power forward who is a solid off-ball defender, elite rebounder and a great shooter, Westbrook is like a James in a point guard’s body in that you won’t stop him from getting to the rim with a head of steam. With a system that caters to that type of player, kick-out options that include Love will give Westbrook as much space to drive as they give James. Moreso, actually, considering the difference in size between Westbrook and the behemoth body of James.
With just Westbrook and Love, the Cavs have a duo that can average a combined 55 points per game. With James, the Cavs have a Big Three that can average 80+ points per game with ease.
In addition, Westbrook, for all his flaws in shot selection, could very well end up on a team with two All-Stars that he can give the ball to with confidence rather than forcing up a tough shot. Though most of his passes come on the drive, being coached by a former NBA point guard in Tyronn Lue could open up his mind during field study. If he’s playing with James, Westbrook will likely be left to his own devices for the most part. However, there’s a lot a point guard can learn from James in terms of the when, why, how and where to deliver passes and who to pass to.
In many ways, playing in Cleveland with a system already in place for two attacking perimeter players, could unlock Westbrook’s potential.
With the Cavs seemingly a lock to play Durant, Stephen Curry and the rival Golden State Warriors every year in the NBA Finals, it could boost Westbrook’s legend too. That’s a fact that could lure Westbrook to Cleveland as much as anything.
Westbrook’s bark matches Draymond Green. On defense, he’d likely hound Curry in a championship series and with his size and athleticism that could cause quite a few problems. On offense, he’d give Curry headaches with his relentless style and force another defender onto him. Watching Durant across the ball, Westbrook will be able to coach the Cavs up on his old runningmate’s weaknesses and make Durant work on defense too.
His presence (in addition to that of Jae Crowder’s) could firmly tip the scales in the Cavs’ favor.
The Cavs, as unique a situation as any, would give the triple-double king a throne from which he could rule as the heir to the best player in the game since the best player in the game retired. Without a single ring, that title would never come to Westbrook and he’d need at least one other All-Star to win a ring.
The Cavs would likely have much more than that. An All-Star that the lone wolf in Westbrook both respects and likes. Possibly even an All-Star that has led his teams to seven consecutive NBA Finals appearances.
Is this a deal that should go down?