Russell Westbrook’s 4 finest touchdown spots after buyout, ranked

Now that now we have moved previous the insanity of the 2023 NBA commerce deadline, the main focus will swap to the buyout market. Through the years, the buyout market has turn out to be a way more vital issue as groups have been extra keen to purchase out gamers, particularly older gamers who need to end the season on a successful crew.

The buyout market this season just isn’t as deep as in years previous. This season’s listing consists of John Wall, Patrick Beverley, Serge Ibaka, and Russell Westbrook. Westbrook was a part of the Los Angles Laker’s commerce deadline restructuring. Westbrook was despatched to the Utah Jazz in a three-team commerce that returned the Lakers, D’Angelo Russell.

To nobody’s shock, experiences instantly began to floor that Westbrook wouldn’t be taking part in for the Jazz and would search a buyout sooner or later. We now have extra readability on potential touchdown spots for the long run Corridor Of Famer. Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Westbrook camp has been involved with a number of groups.

With an inventory of groups reportedly excited about Westbrook’s companies, let’s rank from worst to finest which crew is a greater match for the previous MVP.

4. Miami Warmth

The Miami Warmth have handled accidents all season. They’ve had a number of lineups and not too long ago have been with out Kyle Lowry, who has missed the final six video games. Nonetheless, his manufacturing has declined even when Lowry has been within the lineup. He has had his lowest scoring output since 2009-10 and has seen his minutes decline not too long ago.

The Warmth have used Max Strus and Gabe Vincent at completely different instances operating the purpose, however with Lowry’s decline in manufacturing and elevated damage historical past, Westbrook might fill in on the level guard place.

The difficulty is Westbrook doesn’t assist unfold the courtroom and would not work properly off the ball. The Warmth aren’t a crew that’s iso heavy. Westbrook might run the bench unit similar to he did for the Lakers, nevertheless it’s unclear if Westbrook continues to be keen to come back off the bench.

3. Chicago Bulls

After one other second-half collapse the place they blew a 20-point lead on the highway to the Indiana Pacers, the Chicago Bulls are actually eleventh within the Japanese Convention, losers of 5 straight. They’ve been with out Lonzo Ball since January fifteenth, and it would not sound like Ball shall be again quickly.

The Bulls, who began the season with excessive hopes, have utterly fallen aside in the previous couple of weeks. Some thought the Bulls entrance workplace would blow up the crew and begin to commerce away veterans, however that did not occur. Regardless of the current struggles, the Bulls are solely two video games within the loss column out of the tenth spot. Westbrook would, in all chance, have a beginning spot with the Bulls.

At this level, expectations aren’t excessive for the Bulls, so Westbrook could possibly be part of the crew and never have the identical stress. As, say, with the Clippers or the immense stress he was underneath with the Lakers.

2. Los Angles Clippers

Paul George has made it clear that he would love for Westbrook to affix the Clippers. The Clippers have been additionally busy through the commerce deadline as they traded for Bones Hyland from the Denver Nuggets and Eric Gordon from the Houston Rockets. Neither is essentially a real level guard, and Gordon will in all probability play extra minutes at taking pictures guard and small ahead, however each have frolicked filling in at level guard this season.

Hyland, of the 2, is extra prone to get minutes on the level, and with the upside he brings, the Clippers could be inclined to see what he has to complete this season. The Clippers additionally nonetheless have Terance Mann, who has began a number of video games on the level. With all that mentioned, Westbrook would nonetheless be the very best level guard on the crew.

We noticed the success George had with Westbrook as a teammate. George had his finest general season in 2018-19, his second and remaining season with the Thunder. George and Kawhi Leonard aren’t as ball dominant as LeBron James, which is a part of what made the match between Westbrook and James so tough. After all, it is not a assure that Westbrook time with the Clippers will work out any higher than his time with the Lakers, however on the very least, we all know they’re keen to make it work.

1. Washington Wizards

A well-known vacation spot makes my no 1 vacation spot for Westbrook. The Washington Wizards and Westbrook had a quick however primarily profitable run collectively within the 2020-21 season. Westbrook joined the Wizards after his commerce from the Rockets in trade for John Wall. Westbrook helped lead the crew to a playoff spot and completed the season averaging a triple-double.

The Wizards could be one other crew with low expectations, however he would nonetheless have an opportunity to assist them get into the playoff. The Wizards are presently holding the final play-in spot and have improved since Westbrook’s time with the crew. They added Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma(who was a part of the Westbrook commerce to the Lakers). Each gamers have had good seasons and will profit from having Westbrook on the level.

The Wizards are presently operating Monte Morris on the level guard place, and he has carried out an honest job, however he is not a game-changer. So Westbrook might get his beginning place again and play in a well-recognized place the place he not too long ago thrived.

Even along with his current struggles, Westbrook can have groups keen to take an opportunity on Westbrook, as he has proven at completely different instances this 12 months that he can nonetheless have a optimistic influence. What crew can he not solely have a optimistic influence on however nonetheless have a distinguished position to finish the season? One factor is for certain is that any crew that indicators Westbrook can have an fascinating second half of the season.