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The NBA world was rocked a couple of days ago when Kawhi Leonard decided to sign for the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent. Considering how the reigning Finals MVP had been flirting with the Clippers for quite some time now, this did not exactly come as a complete shocker. However, what did was how L.A. somehow snagged Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder to create an incredible pairing that perhaps very few saw coming.
George's unexpected exit from OKC pretty much left the entire organization in the dust, and after a couple of seasons together, former season MVP winner Russell Westbrook is now the lone superstar for the Thunder yet again. This has led to rampant rumors pertaining to Westbrook's potential exit from Oklahoma, with several potential destinations already emerging.
One team that has come up as a contender in the recently-opened Westbrook sweepstakes is no less than the New York Knicks. Below, we will discuss three compelling reasons why it is tantamount for the Knicks to do everything in their power to land the eight-time All-Star point guard.
Saving Grace/Face
We all know how and why New York just went through arguably the worst week or so in their franchise's decorated history. At this point, it seems that the only way for the Knicks front office to redeem themselves from the terrible turn of events would be to somehow sign a superstar before the new season opens.
If New York are indeed able to package some sort of deal that would entice Thunder general manager Sam Presti on pulling the trigger on a Westbrook trade, then this would instantly save the summer for the organization. Westbrook may not be the superstar/s they were looking at prior to the start of the free agency window, but at this point, New York must be more than willing to take any and all opportunities that come their way.
Let's also not forget that this is Russell Westbrook we are talking about here, who is just two years removed from his tremendous MVP season. He is a bona fide superstar, and one that could definitely fit the bill as New York's new face to the franchise.
An Unexpected Gift
Prior to the shock wave-causing moves by the Clippers, the market was already dry. Save for the still undecided Kawhi Leonard, all the other superstar free agents had already signed with their new/old teams, and following their high-profile epic failure to land both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the Knicks were already dead on the water.
However, with Westbrook now reportedly becoming available, New York has been given new life. This was certainly an unexpected turn of events, and for the Knicks, they should undoubtedly view this as an unexpected gift that has been gift-wrapped for them. Well, not exactly. It will definitely be no cake walk, but this is the type of surprise opportunity the Knicks simply cannot and must not pass on.
The Savior
Building on our earlier argument, the fact of the matter is that Russell Westbrook is a proven star. He is certainly a player that the Knicks can rebuild their franchise around, and at just 30-year-old, the two-time scoring champion still has a lot left in the tank. Much like the Jimmy Butler situation in Miami, Westbrook can potentially also be the first step towards luring more stars to The Big Apple in the near future, and maybe, serve as the team's new messiah that might someday deliver the team to the promised land.
The truth is, Westbrook is not capable to bring a championship to any franchise single-handedly. We've seen this story before in Oklahoma. In fact, Russ couldn't even deliver even when he had Kevin Durant or Paul George on his side. If the Knicks do not pair him with another superstar-caliber teammate (or two?) then odds are, he won't be able to bring a title to New York. However, he is definitely a step towards the right direction for the organization, and whichever way you look at it, landing Westbrook is still going to be an absolute win for the Knicks.
Westbrook will without a doubt require a hefty sum, and the Knicks front office will have their work cut out for them. In the first place, we don't even know if he is willing to make the move out to New York. Nevertheless, this opportunity might not come again anytime soon/ever, so at this point, this is pretty much an at-all-costs type of situation right here.
