The Houston Rockets will be working to find an interested trade suitor for a favorable deal involving Russell Westbrook. A frequently linked potential landing spot for the NBA All-Star has been the New York Knicks— the return may not be all that favorable though.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks would be ‘all in’ on a trade for Westbrook if he’s ‘on the discount rack.’
“If Russell Westbrook is on the discount rack, Knicks president Leon Rose is all in, according to NBA sources.
“With Chris Paul’s trade situation up in the air, Rose still has some interest in seeing if he can pry Westbrook from Houston, if he’s on sale, but it would seem like a long shot.
“Reports state the explosive point guard wants out. The Knicks feel they have a lot of leverage and aren’t trying to give up any key future pawns, according to sources. Their potential interest could stem from using it as a scare tactic with OKC in any Paul talks.”
There is a lot going against the Rockets in their situation with Westbrook. For starters, the media reporting his desire to be traded is damaging to leverage. Additionally, the 32-year-old has a history of knee surgeries and is owed over $132 million over the net three NBA seasons.
The Knicks do not face circumstances where they have to pull off a trade for Westbrook with the Rockets. Walking away form negotiations is certainly option as other options that could be better suited for a rebuilding team could emerge.
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If the Knicks could land Westbrook in a favorable trade package, it could go a long way in the team making a push for a playoff spot during the upcoming NBA season. It would give New York a big-named player that has proven to lead teams to playoff appearances in the past.
The Houston Rockets will need to work quickly to find Russell Westbrook a new team if they want to trade him before the NBA season. It just remains to be seen which team the former MVP will end up playing for.
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