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The Charlotte Hornets have been viewed as a potential suitor for Russell Westbrook this offseason.
Everyone has been very critical of Westbrook's lone season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Yes, he has struggled to fit in with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but the main reason for that has to be because of injuries to the group. The All-Star trio only played 21 games together.
After the Lakers were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week, the basketball world is anxiously waiting to see what the Lakers will do this summer with the triple-double king. Wherever he does end up, Westbrook still has something to offer to a franchise—just keep him away from Charlotte.
Trading Russell Westbrook … options already on the Lakers’ board, what rival teams project, proceeding straight to waive-and-stretch … ALL covered in today’s piece: https://t.co/88ux2xg2cC
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 7, 2022
Among the biggest reasons the Hornets are one of the more likely destinations for Westbrook at the moment is Michael Jordan. MJ has admired Westbrook since he entered the league and even signed him to Jordan brand. Westbrook has arguably even been the face of the brand until Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson signed with Jumpman a couple years ago.
If Jordan is intent on his team bringing in Westbrook, the Hornets could acquire him with a package of Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward.
Rozier has had a good season thus far, putting up 19 points and four rebounds per game with a solid PER of 17.4. But he is set to start year one of his four-year $97 million deal next season, meaning Charlotte could prioritize future flexibility instead of keeping him in Buzz City. Hayward has two years left on a four-year, $120 million deal, and has only appeared in 49 of the 79 games so far this season.
Pint being, both Rozier and Hayward would have to be moved to make a trade for Westbrook work financially. With their contracts gone, the Hornets could then give Miles Bridges a hefty extension and even prepare themselves for Ball's no-doubt max extension next summer, when Westbrook's contract would come off the books.
So from a cash standpoint, trading Rozier and Hayward for Westbrooks makes sense and could allow Charlotte to make more moves in free agency over the next few seasons to maximize the primes of Ball and Bridges. However, they'd still have to endure at least one season of Westbrook, which could backfire on Charlotte altogether. Despite Hayward not being durable over the past couple seasons, he is one of their best players when he does play. Before COVID-19 and his foot injury, the Hornets were at the five seed.
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Rozier and the team overall were playing some of their best basketball of the season over that timeframe. He and Hayward have been two of the Hornets' best players this season. With both of them healthy and available, the Hornets could make a run into the postseason.
Even though most of the world did quit on Westbrook, don't get it twisted—he still has some good years left in him. James and Westbrook just weren't a good fit together. He essentially plays the same style as LeBron, just without an effective jump shot from the outside.
That could be the same problem if Brodie is brought to Charlotte. Ball is the rare primary creator who makes true magic with the ball in his hands. Adding a ball-dominant guard like Westbrook who can't shoot wouldn't exactly be beneficial for Ball's development, let alone the Hornets' offense as a whole.
BREAKING: The Lakers are trading Russell Westbrook
…but 29 other teams declined. pic.twitter.com/uW3K0ykpQX
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) April 7, 2022
In his defense, Westbrook did have some success with James Harden in Houston for a season. There could be a slight chance Westbrook works in Charlotte, but it's just too risky of a proposition. A move like that can set a franchise back multiple years. The Hornets were basically irrelevant before Ball came to town; now definitely isn't the best time to add a player who's, at best, a questionable fit alongside him.
Jordan's affinity for gambling isn't a second, though, so who knows what could happen? The Lakers would surely pounce on the type of deal that would bring impact rotation players to Southern California in exchange for Westbrook. The NBA offseason is always hectic, so a move like this could suddenly materialize shortly after the end of the season.
Still, Charlotte should definitely resist the temptation to add Westbrook, tough as it may be for Jordan and certain segments of the fan base.
