Russell Westbrook rumors aren’t going to stop until he’s traded, and that could happen sooner than later, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
So do the Timberwolves have a chance to get Westbrook?
It still appears to be a long shot, especially with the Miami Heat and Westbrook reportedly interested in each other, but ESPN’s Bobby Marks said on SportsCenter that the Wolves are an “under-the-radar” team to watch out for on the Westbrook market.
“I think we have to look at some of these small market teams. When you’re looking at teams like Detroit or possibly a team like Minnesota – teams that could not afford to go out and sign Westbrook if he was a free agent, or would not even be a destination for Westbrook as a free agent – those are the teams we have to look at,” said Marks.
Marks then compared to the Westbrook situation to his time as a front office employee in Brooklyn when the Nets made a trade for former All-Star guard Deron Williams, who Marks said never would’ve become available to Brooklyn if not for a similar situation.
“I think it’s Minnesota and Detroit. Those are the type of under-the-radar teams to focus on,” Marks added.
A report out of the Detroit Free Press earlier this week cited a source with knowledge of the Pistons’ plans who said there’s no chance Detroit gets Westbrook.
Marks is not saying Minnesota has discussed a trade with the Thunder about Westbrook. In fact, there haven’t been any substantiated reports linking the Thunder and Wolves about a possible deal.
Related: How deep is the market for Westbrook, and are the Wolves in it?
In order for the Wolves to pull off a trade for Westbrook, they would need to send the Thunder players with salaries that combine to match or slightly exceed the $38 million Westbrook is due to make next season.
Westbrook, 30, still has four years and $171 million left on his contract.
The All-Star point guard has averaged a triple-double three seasons in a row, but the Thunder has been ousted from the playoffs in the first round all three years.
No matter where you look, you’ll see opinions stating that the Thunder should make the trade with the Wolves because getting Wiggins back almost guarantees the Thunder to have one of the worst records in the NBA next season. Not because Wiggins is that bad, but because he’d be their best player, which doesn’t stack up against any other team in the NBA.
But the reality is that whatever package the Thunder receives for Westbrook, they’re going to be horrible next season and have a legit shot at a top-four pick in the draft lottery.
