The Washington Wizards have been eliminated from the playoffs and the franchise moves onto the offseason. This already has resulted in Bradley Beal trade and Russell Westbrook trade rumors.
It might be a busy summer for the Wizards, as there is already speculation that Beal wants out of Washington. If that's the case and the Wizards send him away, then Washington is likely accepting a rebuild.
With that in mind, the Wizards would possibly hope to find a trade partner for Russell Westbrook as well, as his $40 million+ contract is not ideal for the Wizards. Dishing him away could be a great move, especially if Washington receives a solid return.
Due to his large contract, it might be difficult to find a trade partner. However, there will be teams interested in the 13-year veteran. He's still a dominant force on the court and provides a unique spark that boosts the confidence of his teammates around him. If Washington looks to embrace a full rebuild, trading Westbrook away could give them a decent haul.
With that said there are a couple of teams that could give the Wizards a decent trade package to kick off a rebuild, especially if Bradley Beal winds up getting traded away as well. Here are two perfect trade destinations for Russell Westbrook.
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the best teams in the NBA right now, but something seems to be missing. Joel Embiid is undoubtedly a superstar center while Tobias Harris serves as a consistent sidekick. However, Ben Simmons hasn't quite lived up to expectations so far, and he could be a trade piece to land an upgrade at the point guard position. To do so, one trade that could work out is Ben Simmons and Seth Curry go to Washington in exchange for Russell Westbrook and a second-round pick.
Washington isn't going to want to dish away a first-rounder, but acquiring Ben Simmons would bring a new regime to the nation's capital. Curry would also give Washington a nice perimeter shooter that would mesh into the Wizards' lineup. As for the 76ers, they would receive a fierce competitor that brings an edge the team has been missing. The triple-double monster working alongside Joel Embiid would be a deadly threat in the Eastern Conference.
Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala, KZ Okpala, and 2 first-round picks for Russell Westbrook
The Miami Heat couldn't put it together in the 2021 NBA Playoffs after their impressive run in The Bubble. The front office also made an aggressive move to acquire Victor Oladipo, but injuries kept him on the sideline. The Heat have a decent squad right now, but they need another superstar to really emerge as a legitimate threat in the NBA. Jimmy Butler cant' do it all himself and Bam Adebayo is still developing at the pro level. In comes, a possible trade offer, as the Heat could acquire Russell Westbrook by trading away Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala, KZ Okpala, and two first-round picks.
Miami doesn't have much draft capital to begin with after trading for Oladipo. Although their future could look a tad wonky, the roster would become a legitimate playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. With a lineup of Westbrook, Oladipo (if he re-signs), Butler, and Adebayo in the starting lineup, not many teams will be able to slow them down. The Wizards would have to eat some unwanted cap space for a year, but considering they'd acquire two first-round selections, the front office might be willing to pull the trigger.
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