The Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks have interest in trading for Houston Rockets point guard Russell Westbrook, according to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.
O'Connor reports that he's heard the Rockets are open to trading Westbrook after just one season with him in the fold.
During the 2019-20 regular season, Russell Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. The former MVP and triple-double machine shot 47.2 percent from the field, 25.8 percent from beyond the arc and 76.3 percent from the free-throw line. He was playing some of the best basketball of his career before games were suspended in March due to COVID-19.
However, Westbrook contracted COVID-19 and later dealt with a quad injury once the 2020 playoffs started at Walt Disney World in the NBA bubble. He played in eight games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers and wasn't efficient at all. Westbrook put up 17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists, but he shot just 42.1 percent from the floor, 24.2 percent from the 3-point line and 53.1 percent from the charity stripe.
Westbrook is owed $41 million in 2020-21, $44 million in 2021-22 and has a player option worth $47 million for 2022-23. Russ is going to pick up that lucrative player option due to the uncertain economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Clippers are looking for a point guard next to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, whom Westbrook played with on the Thunder. One would surmise, though, that the Rockets would want George in a potential Westbrook deal.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are just trying to acquire any star and Westbrook fits that bill.
It's going to be very interesting to see where Westbrook, 31, is playing next season.
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