Crazy idea that nobody will like: Russell Westbrook

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Trade for Westbrook (without giving up any or our big three)

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Rastapopoulos

Rastapopoulos

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Last year I suggested we should trade for Chris Paul. Nobody liked it then, but something pretty similar worked out amazingly well for OKC. I have the same motivation for this suggestion: we're nobody's free agent destination and we have very few assets. So if we want to improve the team, we have to gamble on players other teams want to dump. And now that the Rockets are burning the franchise to the ground, I have a feeling they'll want to unload Russ's crazy contract.
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Now, there are a lot of problems with this. Most serious is that the sheer size of Westbrook's contract means we'd have to sign Hassan to a $20 M contract to make up the difference, and the Rockets would have to want him. But if they're really moving on from smallball, they might be tempted.
The other serious problem is that everyone on here (except possibly HCP) HATES Westbrook. Well, me too, in theory. But he actually sounds like a decent guy, and his teammates in OKC ALL sided with him against KD. Now, that probably wasn't a sound basketball decision (not that it would have stopped Durant leaving), but it shows that he inspires loyalty, when you might think some might resent him for his ball-domination.
Also: I thought he would be a disaster with Harden, but he really made it work. People forget, given the way their season ended, but there were stretches last season when the Rockets were humming along like a finely-tuned sports car.
So, how would Dame+CJ+Westbrook work? Well, OKC played CP, SGA and Schröder together a lot, and it worked out well. And Westbrook averages more rebounds than anyone under 7 foot on our team.
"But he can't shoot threes". Well, neither can Jimmy Butler, and if you're looking for a player similar to Butler, Westbrook is probably the closest you're going to get.
 
Just cannot see Dame and him on the court together? The minute Westbrook tried to take a game over it would be the end.
 
That's different situation to CP3. Paul is a great player and can fit into any situation. Problems with him were his injury proneness and huge contract. On the other hand Westbrook is not on that level as a player and has a play style that demands our team to build around him so as to take advantage of his strengths.
 
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kjironman1 said:
Just cannot see Dame and him on the court together? The minute Westbrook tried to take a game over it would be the end.
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I think that actually they would get on well. Name one teammate Russ has ever had a problem with. I know - the whole Dame waving goodbye thing, but I just don't get the impression that Russ has genuine beefs with people - he's just really competitive.
 
GDiama said:
That's different situation to CP3. Paul is a great player and can fit into any situation. Problems with him were his injury proneness and huge contract. On the other hand Westbrook is not on that level as a player and has a play style that demands our team to build around him so as to take advantage of his strengths.
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Sure, Westbrook is not Chris Paul. But he's not chopped liver. And I would've agreed with that last part before last year - the Rockets were very much built around Harden, and yet Russ fitted in.
 
Rastapopoulos said:
Last year I suggested we should trade for Chris Paul. Nobody liked it then, but something pretty similar worked out amazingly well for OKC. I have the same motivation for this suggestion: we're nobody's free agent destination and we have very few assets. So if we want to improve the team, we have to gamble on players other teams want to dump. And now that the Rockets are burning the franchise to the ground, I have a feeling they'll want to unload Russ's crazy contract.
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Now, there are a lot of problems with this. Most serious is that the sheer size of Westbrook's contract means we'd have to sign Hassan to a $20 M contract to make up the difference, and the Rockets would have to want him. But if they're really moving on from smallball, they might be tempted.
The other serious problem is that everyone on here (except possibly HCP) HATES Westbrook. Well, me too, in theory. But he actually sounds like a decent guy, and his teammates in OKC ALL sided with him against KD. Now, that probably wasn't a sound basketball decision (not that it would have stopped Durant leaving), but it shows that he inspires loyalty, when you might think some might resent him for his ball-domination.
Also: I thought he would be a disaster with Harden, but he really made it work. People forget, given the way their season ended, but there were stretches last season when the Rockets were humming along like a finely-tuned sports car.
So, how would Dame+CJ+Westbrook work? Well, OKC played CP, SGA and Schröder together a lot, and it worked out well. And Westbrook averages more rebounds than anyone under 7 foot on our team.
"But he can't shoot threes". Well, neither can Jimmy Butler, and if you're looking for a player similar to Butler, Westbrook is probably the closest you're going to get.
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I like the idea of getting Houston and Whiteside to agree to this trade and then finding out who wants Westbrook so we can send him on over there for a ton more value than we can get out of trading Ariza, Hoodie and a signed and traded Whiteside. Obviously I would still want CJ moved as well. As far as combining another ball dominant 6'3" guard with Dame and CJ? Fuck no I wouldn't do that shit. Dedicating over 93% of your salary cap to three players even if all three are all stars isn't a crazy idea it's an absolutely terrible idea (unless you think you're getting the three best players in the league). Dedicating that much to three players under 6'4" is absolutely asinine. Oh and not one of those guys, as much as I love Dame, is a top three player in this league. You have Dame who was solidly on the all-nba second team and it could be argued that he's a top 5-7 player, Russ who barely made the all-nba third team but it could be argued that he is a top 13-20 player and CJ who has never sniffed the all-star game let alone an all-nba team so some CJ fanboys might put him in the top 30 which he's definitely not.

If you wanted to make a crazy thread that nobody would like regarding us getting Russell Westbrook, you should have at least figured out a way that trade or a subsequent one moved CJ for a couple of players that would make a modicum of sense with the madness of a Dame/Russ back court. All three of these guys at their price on one roster GTFOH.
 
lawai'a said:
lol, hollinger's analysis of expected team improvement after adding lebron is only a single win. we must be really, really bad. sh*t, i am so wrong, we are 6 in the loss column after we get him. ariza must be really really good!!
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Somehow, I suspect that the problem lies in the Hollinger calculation method.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
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This is how you build a team around three players making like 90% of the cap that can actually win a title. Great Job!!! I mean sure Los Angeles might not be getting quite equal value and Milwaukee might see a little dip in production but hey... when the trade works it works. I think this trade for the Lakers and Bucks would be about as smart as the trade that started this thread would be for us.
 
couple of ifs

If Hood returns as he was
Ariza?
Whats the plan with whiteside? from what i saw of zach, i was beyond unimpressed.
Melo?

could we get away with moving CJ for a better SF or PF and starting GTJ

we dont need russ tho.
 
It's a crazy idea and I think that's why I like it. I think I'm like that guy yesterday who said he is just getting bored with the Blazers. I think Houston would want to get more in exchange for him though.
 
Rastapopoulos said:
I think that actually they would get on well. Name one teammate Russ has ever had a problem with. I know - the whole Dame waving goodbye thing, but I just don't get the impression that Russ has genuine beefs with people - he's just really competitive.
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Ahhh maybe every player he has ever played with? Dude is a great player no question but you cannot say you have not seen pretty much every major player that guy has played with shake their heads at the way he manages a game.
You yourself pointed out Durant. Obviously George was happy to leave. Doesn't sound like Melo really got working well with him? It didn't work with Harden no matter how you want to try to spin it.
This would never work from the way i see it. Nope. Absolutely not a team player.
 
That is a crazy idea and I don’t like it.
 
kjironman1 said:
Ahhh maybe every player he has ever played with? Dude is a great player no question but you cannot say you have not seen pretty much every major player that guy has played with shake their heads at the way he manages a game.
You yourself pointed out Durant. Obviously George was happy to leave.
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"Playoff P" is always happy to leave.

Doesn't sound like Melo really got working well with him?
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I haven't heard that.

It didn't work with Harden no matter how you want to try to spin it.
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https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/20...l-westbrook-grows-his-scoring-shooting-rates/
 
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