In an already bad free-agent class, the options for the Miami Heat are getting scarcer by the day.
However, in the aftermath of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat are aiming to reacquire LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, over a dozen years after winning two titles with them, his most with any single team.
While the Heat’s offseason is already a success after acquiring Antetokounmpo, the rest of it will be affected by James’ decision, which has no timetable.
One shoe that could drop, depending on James’ decision, could be one of his former teammates, Russell Westbrook. And one team that could have interest in the 37-year-old’s services is the Miami Heat, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy.
“Everybody is awaiting The Decision 2.0 from LeBron James, including another future Hall of Famer on the market,” Bondy wrote. According to a league source, Russell Westbrook is a candidate to join the Heat, but not if LeBron signs in Miami.”
The two-time scoring champion joining the team that James is not surprising in the slightest. James’ rift with the Lakers reportedly stemmed from the start of the Westbrook era in Los Angeles. And their relationship deteriorated from there.
Analyzing Russell Westbrook’s fit with the Miami Heat:
Miami has been linked to Westbrook dating back to the 2019 offseason — after the organization acquired Jimmy Butler.
Westbrook is far worse than he was then. Last year with the Sacramento Kings, the 18-year veteran averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 42.7 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from 3-point range.
The one aspect of Westbrook’s game that you can never question is his effort; his motor is a 12 out of 10 at all times. However, Westbrook’s production came on an oft-injured, tanking Sacramento Kings squad. He’s not a winning basketball player at this stage of his career.
Still, he’s likely one of the better ball-handling options available on the open market. Miami, which desperately needs ballhandling and shot creation, has three roster spots available and is less than $11 million away from the first apron hard cap. At this stage of free agency, Westbrook for the minimum isn’t the worst idea, but certainly one I would be overly thrilled with.
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League source = Westbrook himself (?). Never been a winning player because he got stats at the expense of defense. His teams had to play 4 v 5 on defense with him. Sacramento got out of Westbrook defense experience but now has the same thing with Acuff
Really?
I hope this is just a bad take.