When it comes to shopping Russell Westbrook, the biggest obstacle is his overwhelming contract. Including next season, when he’ll make $38.5 million, Westbrook has four years left on his deal with a player option for 2022. He’ll probably pick up the option, too, given he’s set to make $47 million in 2022-23.
Additionally, in November of the final year of his current deal, Westbrook turns 34 years old. So not only will he take up the majority of a team’s cap space, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be able to live up to the payday he has lined up.
Despite these factors, there are teams in the NBA willing to take on the contract — for the right deal — according to multiple reports. At this point, the New York Knicks are reportedly not among those teams. In a Thursday appearance on 670 The Score’s “Mully & Haugh,” Chicago Bulls Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson was asked if he’d “do due diligence” and look into what the Thunder are looking for. Paxson didn’t say “no,” but he may as well have.
Everybody pays attention obviously to what’s going on, and you know the deals around the league are. But I think every team is at kind of a different stage of development and evolution. There are teams that are going to take a real shot at someone like that. You have to factor in everything. When you look at the financial aspect of a player that’s 30 going out four years and the amount of money that’s going to be made, those things can tie your hands up and put your organization in a tough position.
